Thoreau MacDonald
- May 30, 1989
- 88 years
About Thoreau MacDonald
Thoreau MacDonald, 88, Canadian illustrator, graphic and book designer, and artist.
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Full Biography
|Thoreau MacDonald (April 21, 1901 – May 30, 1989) was a Canadian illustrator, graphic and book designer, and artist.
Career
MacDonald was the son of Group of Seven member J. E. H. MacDonald. He was self-taught, but had worked on commercial art with his father, who was famous for his work in design. Thoreau MacDonald was colour blind and as a result he worked primarily in black and white.
MacDonald's contribution was mainly to the history of the area of graphic art in Canada and the United States. As an illustrator, MacDonald worked for Ryerson Press; Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire; the Canadian Forum magazine for which he designed many covers; and on books in general, including those from his private press. (In 1933 MacDonald launched Woodchuck Press, his own imprint for which he provided some text, illustrations, and design (it lasted until 1946)).
He considered his finest book to be Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon for Macmillan Company (1938). He also designed lettering, and did paintings, watercolours and drawings. His work is found in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Hart House at the University of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection among other collections. There was one major exhibition of his work in Canada during his lifetime in 1952 at Museum London (then called the London Public Library and Art Museum). In 1972, he was made an Honorary Life member of the Society of Ontario Naturalists whose cause he considered he had served life-long.
His former home and 4-acre (16,000 m2) garden in Vaughan, Ontario, which he inherited from his father, was donated to the City of Vaughan in 1974. The building and grounds have been restored and are open to the public.
Thoreau Mcdonald's fonds is in the E.P. Taylor Research Library & Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Thoreau MacDonald Collection CA OTAG SC104.
Artworks
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Bookplate designed by Thoreau MacDonald. University of British Columbia. Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. Thomas Murray Collection
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J. E. H. MacDonald, Thoreau MacDonald, January 12, 1902. McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg
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Tom Thomson, Day Dreaming, Winter 1913–15. Location unknown
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoreau_MacDonald
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Thoreau MacDonald's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was the artist Thoreau MacDonald born?
- A.May 30, 1901
- B.May 30, 1989
- C.April 21, 1910
- D.April 21, 1901correct
Thoreau MacDonald was born on April 21, 1901.
Source: biographical introduction
2.Who was the father of the Canadian artist Thoreau MacDonald?
- A.J. E. H. MacDonaldcorrect
- B.E.P. Taylor
- C.Richard Landon
- D.Louis Hémon
Thoreau MacDonald was the son of Group of Seven member J. E. H. MacDonald.
Source: career section
3.Why did Thoreau MacDonald work primarily in black and white?
- A.He preferred minimalist styles
- B.He was colour blindcorrect
- C.His tools were limited
- D.His father forbade color
Thoreau MacDonald was colour blind and as a result he worked primarily in black and white.
Source: career section
4.What magazine did Thoreau MacDonald design many covers for?
- A.Ontario Naturalist
- B.Canadian Forumcorrect
- C.Ryerson Review
- D.Woodchuck Gazette
Thoreau MacDonald designed many covers for the Canadian Forum magazine.
Source: career section
5.What was the name of the private press Thoreau MacDonald launched in 1933?
- A.Woodchuck Presscorrect
- B.Hart House Press
- C.Maple Leaf Press
- D.Canadian Art Press
In 1933, Thoreau MacDonald launched Woodchuck Press, his own imprint.
Source: career section
6.Which book did Thoreau MacDonald consider to be his finest work?
- A.The Canadian Forum
- B.Maria Chapdelainecorrect
- C.Vaughan Garden History
- D.Group of Seven
Thoreau MacDonald considered his finest book to be Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon.
Source: career section
7.In what year was the major exhibition of Thoreau MacDonald's work held at Museum London?
- A.1952correct
- B.1938
- C.1974
- D.1972
There was one major exhibition of his work in Canada during his lifetime in 1952 at Museum London.
Source: career section
8.Thoreau MacDonald was made an Honorary Life member of which organization in 1972?
- A.Society of Ontario Naturalistscorrect
- B.Canadian Graphic Arts Council
- C.Ryerson Press Guild
- D.National Gallery Society
In 1972, Thoreau MacDonald was made an Honorary Life member of the Society of Ontario Naturalists.
Source: career section
9.In what city is the National Gallery of Canada, which holds some of Thoreau MacDonald's work, located?
- A.Toronto
- B.Vaughan
- C.Hamilton
- D.Ottawacorrect
Thoreau MacDonald's work is found in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
Source: career section
10.To which city did Thoreau MacDonald donate his home and garden in 1974?
- A.London
- B.Ottawa
- C.Vaughancorrect
- D.Toronto
His former home and garden were donated to the City of Vaughan in 1974.
Source: career section
11.What was the professional background of Thoreau MacDonald?
- A.Apprenticeship at a museum
- B.University degree in design
- C.Formal art school training
- D.Self-taughtcorrect
Thoreau MacDonald was self-taught, although he worked on commercial art with his father.
Source: career section
12.When did Thoreau MacDonald's own imprint, Woodchuck Press, cease operations?
- A.1974
- B.1933
- C.1946correct
- D.1952
Woodchuck Press, the imprint Thoreau MacDonald launched, lasted until 1946.
Source: career section
13.Where is the Thoreau MacDonald fonds currently housed?
- A.Museum London
- B.McMaster Museum of Art
- C.E.P. Taylor Research Library & Archivescorrect
- D.Dartmouth College Library
Thoreau MacDonald's fonds is in the E.P. Taylor Research Library & Archives at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Source: career section
14.On what date did Thoreau MacDonald die?
- A.April 21, 1989
- B.May 30, 1989correct
- C.May 30, 1974
- D.April 21, 1952
Thoreau MacDonald died on May 30, 1989.
Source: biographical introduction
15.Which educational institution in Hanover, New Hampshire employed Thoreau MacDonald as an illustrator?
- A.Museum London
- B.McMaster University
- C.University of Toronto
- D.Dartmouth Collegecorrect
As an illustrator, MacDonald worked for Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Source: career section
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