Margaret Ahern

Margaret T. McCrohan Ahern
Born(1921-02-16)February 16, 1921
New York City, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 1999(1999-08-27) (aged 78)
Chicago, U.S.
Education
Alma mater
Notable workBeano
SpouseEdward Ahern (1947–1999)

Margaret McCrohan Ahern[1] (February 16, 1921 – August 27, 1999) was an American cartoonist and illustrator.[2] She was educated at Providence High School,[3] the Harrison Art School, and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.[4] Ahern worked for the Chicago Archdiocese's New World newspaper (later the Chicago Catholic), as well as the 1950s WGN television show, Cartuno.[4] She drew the monthly strips, Beano, from 1948 to 1999, and Angelo, from 1951 to 1954 for The Waifs' Messenger, but is best known as the author and cartoonist for An Altar Boy Named Speck, which was syndicated by the National Catholic News Service (later known simply as Catholic News Service), from 1954 to 1979.[2] Speck was featured in books published separately as: Speck, the Altar Boy (Hanover House, 1958),[5] Presenting Speck, the Altar Boy (Hanover House, 1960),[6] and A Speck of Trouble; New Escapades of the Inimitable and Irresistible Speck, the Altar Boy (Doubleday, 1964).[7] Under the pseudonym Margarita, Ahern was also the creator of the comic strip Little Reggie (syndicated by Western Newspaper Union)[8] and, under the pseudonym Peg O'Connell, Our Parish, which was syndicated and then collected in Our Parish (John Knox Press, 1968).[9] She died in 1999.

  1. ^ Atkinson, Frank (1986). Dictionary of literary pseudonyms: a selection of popular modern writers in English. London: Clive Bingley. p. 2. ISBN 0838920454.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Kennedy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ahern, Margaret (1963). Speck: The Altar Boy. All Saints Press. p. Dedication (unnumbered).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Zemaitis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ahern1958 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ahern1960 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ahern1964 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Tate, Hal (August 31, 1960). "I've Got News For You". Chicago Austin News. p. 39. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ahern1968 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).