John Gardner

John Gardner (1905–1995) born in Calais, Maine, USA; was a historian of water craft, a writer, a labor organizer, and a designer and builder of wooden boats.

Education Gardner graduated from Calais Academy, Maine, in the class of 1923; he studied to be a teacher at Machias Normal School, Maine; and obtained a Master's Degree from The Teacher's College at Columbia University in 1932.

Career In the 1930s Gardner worked as a labor organizer for the Congress of Industrial Organizations. and during World War II Gardner worked in a boat yard in Quincy, Massachusetts. His work in marine history and in analyzing traditional boat designs preserved many classic small craft designs from being lost. Gardner also popularized many small boat designs that had been unique to a certain town or region by making plans available and offering commentary on their attributes. He worked tirelessly to show that traditional working small craft could be readily adapted to pleasure use, starting a trend among small boat aficionados which endures today. He is honored by the Traditional Small Craft Association through its John Gardner Fund.

Death Gardner died in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1995.

Publications 1970 Woodenboats to Build and Use Mystic Seaport Museum (January 1, 1970) 1977 Building Classic Small Craft (vol.1) International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press 1984 More Building Classic Small Craft, which is a re-issue of Building Classic Small Craft (vol.2) 1987 Dory Book. Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic Connecticut. 1993 Classic Small Craft You Can Build and Use Mystic Seaport Museum Inc (July 1993) 1996 Building Classic Small Craft: Complete Plans and Instructions for Building 47 Boats. Includes Building Classic Small Craft (vol.1) & More Building Classic Small Craft.

Obituaries NY Times: John Gardner 90 Boat Curator at Mystic Seaport Museum Dies