Abigail Quigley McCarthy

Background

McCarthy, Abigail Quigley was born on April 16, 1915 in Wabasha, Minnesota, United States. Daughter of Stephen Michael and Mary Cecelia (O'Leary) Quigley.

Education

Abigail Quigley graduated as a Phi Beta Kappa from the College of Saint Catherine (now Street Catherine University) in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1936. She received her Master of Arts from the in 1942 and did postgraduate work at the University of Chicago and the Middlebury School of English.

Career

They met as teachers in Mandan, North Dakota, and were wed on June 5, 1945, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Their first home was in Watkins, Minnesota, at an agriculture commune formed by Catholic couples. She had an apartment in Washington, District of Columbia on Connecticut Avenue, which is where she died in 2001, aged 85.

Abigail Quigley McCarthy was a Catholic author, educator, and activist.

She wrote several successful books and was a regular columnist for Commonweal, a liberal Catholic magazine, from 1974 to 1999. She wrote reviews for The New York Times and The Washington Post.

She founded and was first president of Church Women United, a lay Catholic group. The Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women was established at her alma mater, Saint Catherine University, in her honor.

Achievements

• Abigail Quigley McCarthy has been listed as a notable writer, columnist, educator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Founding president Clearinghouse Women's Issues. Member first advising committee Women's Equity Action League and Women's Political Caucus. Former member Bishops' Committee Education, Ecumenism.

Former vice president Church Women United, United States of America. Board directors National Conference Interracial Justice. Member Washington Indiana Writers Organisation (member of advisory board), Cosmos Club, Phi Beta Kappa.

Connections

Married Eugene Joseph McCarthy, June 25, 1945 (separated 1970). Children: Ellen Anne, Mary Abigail, Michael Benet, Margaret Alice.

Father:

Stephen Michael Quigley

Mother:

Mary Cecelia (O'Leary) Quigley

Spouse:

Eugene Joseph McCarthy

child:

Michael Benet McCarthy

child:

Mary Abigail McCarthy

child:

Ellen Anne McCarthy

child:

Margaret Alice McCarthy