The Writings of John Muir
The books, letters, essays, and journals recording John Muir's adventures in nature, particularly in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, have been enjoyed by millions.
Muirs lyrical expression of nature's beauty, taken from his journal entries around the campfire in the summer of 1869, is today his most popular work.
Books by John Muir
All of the books published in John Muir's lifetime, or posthumously, are still in print today.
Read MoreSome of John Muir's journals are filled with miscellaneous notes and jotted writings, while others feature diary-like narratives.
The Journals of John Muir
John Muir kept 78 journals, usually written in the field, between 1867 and 1913. They offer a unique perspective on Muir's life and experiences in his own words and drawings.
Read MoreYou can volunteer to help transcribe John Muir's journals.
Letters by John Muir
John Muir wrote thousands of letters over the course of his life to many different correspondents.
Read More"American Forests", Atlantic Monthly , No. 80, 1897 August. Muir revised this article as chapter 10 of Our National Parks.
Articles by John Muir
Although Muir's books are more well-known today, during his lifetime, his articles enjoyed an enormous following. Many of these articles are illustrated by engravings and artwork of interest.
Read MoreJohn Muir, Mrs. Herbert Gleason, Edward T. Parsons, Marion R. Parsons
John Muir's Writings About People
Muir is well-known for his writings about nature's grandeur. But he wrote many eulogies, tributes, and stories about the interesting people he met during his life. He wrote about the rich and poor alike with sympathy, but often with a bit of Scots humor thrown in.
Read MoreQuotations and Meditations of John Muir
The quotations of John Muir are a source of inspiration for conservationists everywhere. They are the distillation of his thought, the essence of his beliefs.
Read MoreCopyright statues of the works of John Muir
Generally speaking, as of January 1, 2025, books and articles published prior to 1929 are in the public domain.
So, given that the majority of John Muir's writings were published prior to 1929, most of John Muir's writings - including books and articles published during his lifetime - and with some exceptions noted below - are in the "public domain" under U.S. copyright law. See Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States by Peter Hirtle, Cornell Copyright Information Center.
Special Case: The Life and Letters of John Muir by William Frederic Badè in Two volumes.
Copyright 1923, copyright for volume 1 renewed 1951 by John Muir Hanna. Although the 1951 renewal extended the copyright term, this recently expired, as these two volumes were published prior to 1927, it is now in the public domain due to copyright expiration.
Additionally, we are aware of the following writings of John Muir which are NOT in the public domain, and remain under copyright protection under U.S. law:
1. John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir edited by Linnie Marsh Wolfe.
Copyright 1938 by Wanda Muir Hanna, copyright renewed 1966 by John Muir Hanna and Ralph Eugene Wolfe. It will be at least 95 years after its original publication before this work becomes public domain, unless Congress extends the copyright period yet again. For permission to publish excerpts, contact the Holt-Atherton Libary at the University of the Pacific.
2. Limbaugh, Ronald H. and Kirsten E. Lewis, editors, The John Muir Papers, 1858-1957 MICROFORM, (Stockton, CA: University of the Pacific , 1980).
With accompanying Guide (Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyk Healey, 1986). With 40 copies in libraries throughout the United States, and available to scholars through interlibrary loan, this is the complete collection of all extant Muir correspondence, manuscripts, notes, and illustrations. See John Muir Papers, University of the Pacific. You must pay a fee and obtain permission to reprint any of these documents.
3. In 1984, the Muir-Hanna Trust renewed the copyright on all of John Muir's unpublished works, including his journals, drawings, letters, and manuscripts. This occurred right before this material would have gone into the public domain, 70 years after Muir's death in 1914. As the direct descendents of Muir, the Trust was able to renew the copyright on unpublished works and this is why the "permission to publish" form for the John Muir Papers at the University of the Pacific includes the credit line: "John Muir Papers, Holt-Atherton Special Collections and Archives, University of the Pacific Library. Copyright 1984 Muir-Hanna Trust."
4. There may very well be additional writings of John Muir which were published after the current copyright expiration period for the first time. Any of those writings may still be under copyright protection.
Disclaimer: The Sierra Club can make no guarantee or representation of the complete accuracy of the foregoing.
Readers are advised to determine copyright status of John Muir's writings with legal counsel as may be appropriate. The following are the informed opinions of the webmaster of the John Muir Exhibit, not of the Sierra Club itself, and does not constitute legal advice nor does it claim to be authoritative.
26 April 2025