Archives West Finding Aid

John Jobson was a Western outdoor sports writer. He was born in Tennessee, but grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was a staff writer for Sports Afield Magazine for more than 20 years, as camping and later hunting editor. He was recognized as an authority on big game hunting in North America and Africa. A “short biography” (see box 4) notes two major influences that aided his successful career. First, the Sioux Indian Reservation was near the ranch where he spent several summers as a boy. Native folk taught him the lore of the outdoors. Second, the arctic explorer Earl F. Hammond with whom he worked and traveled for five years provided many insights about publicity and advertising. Prior becoming an editor for Sports Afield Magazine, he worked in Hollywood, including RKD, MGM, and Fox. He also owned a small advertising business in Philadelphia. He was married to Anne Marie D’Olio Jobson. He is the author of The Complete Book of Practical Camping (Winchester Press, [1974]).