Donal Buchanan

Born of missionary parents on 16 June 1928 in Japan, Donal B. Buchanan received a BA in history from the University of Colorado in 1951. His post-graduate studies included Archaeology, Old Norse, Old Irish, Early Welsh, Comparative Greek and Latin Grammar, and Basic Computer Programming. He worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for 25 years, serving in the US and overseas (Japan, India and Vietnam) as a research analyst and,intelligence officer in the fields of counter-intelligence and counter-espionage. As a result of work and personal inclination, he has traveled widely throughout Europe and Asia.

Since leaving government service in 1976, he has worked as a computer salesman, librarian, font creator, graphic designer, and professional genealogist; and served for many years as an official genealogist for the Clan Buchanan Society in America. For the past fifty years he has also conducted linguistic and epigraphic research, deciphering a number of inscriptions from France, Spain, Portugal, and Scandinavia as well as various Ogham and Old Italian inscriptions. He produced a large number of epigraphic publications between 1972 and the present.

Since 1994 he has functioned as Secretary/Treasurer and Board Member of the Epigraphic Society and as Editor of their journal: ESOP. In addition, he has published two mystery novelettes (1977). A cartoon book on bridge, two western novels, and other books on Buchanan genealogy are in the works. As an adjunct to this activity (and for purposes of building up epigraphic, linguistic and genealogical databases), he established a home computer system as well as a large library (something close to 30,000 volumes).

Mr. Buchanan is married, with two marvelous children and three grandchildren and five great grandchildren by his first wife, Nancy Lee, and proudly claims two step children and three grandchildren by his second beloved wife, Annie. He lives at 97 Village Post Rd., Danvers, MA 01923.
Address: 97 Village Post Rd.
Danvers, MA
01923