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 in 1932.
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 in 1932.
In the 1930s Gardner worked as a labor organizer for the Congress of Industrial Organizations. During World World War II Gardner went to work building boas in a Marblehead boat shop and during World World War II Gardner worked in a boat yard in Quincy, Massachusetts. From 1969 to 1995 Gardner was Associate Curator of Small Craft at Mystic Seaport Museum, Connecticut.
He was technical editor of National Fisherman magazine.
His work in marine history and in analyzing traditional boat designs preserved many classic small craft designs from being lost. He is honored by the Traditional Small Craft Association through its John Gardner Fund.
Gardner died in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1995. New York Times: John Gardner 90 Boat Curator at Mystic Seaport Museum Dies.