Jim Mackovjak was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1948 and graduated from Bowling Green State University. He came to Alaska in 1969 and has worked mostly in various capacities in the commercial fishing industry. he moved to Gustavus in 1974, and married his wife, Ann, in 1978. They have three children.
Jim's first book, Hope and Hard Work: The Early Settlers at Gustavus, Alaska was published in 1988 by Goose Cove Press (Gustavus). Tongass Timber: A History of Logging & Timber Utilization in Southeast Alaska was published by the Forest History Society in September 2010. Aleutian Freighter, a manuscript on the history of maritime transportation to the Aleutian Islands area that was completed in 2009, awaits printing. Jim is currently working under contract with the National Park Service on an administrative history of Lake Clark National Park.
