John C. Dann, third Director of the Clements Library, is recognized internationally as an expert on Americana and an audacious collector of historical material -- rare books, manuscripts, maps, prints, music, photographs and ephemera.

As a scholar, his interests range across the full spectrum of American history, with special concentration on Colonial and Revolutionary America, naval history, the history of religion and humanitarian reform movements, and the Civil War. Dann has written articles on various aspects of rare book collecting. His publications include two award winning books, The Revolution remembered: eyewitness accounts of the War for Independence (1980) and The Nagle journal: a diary of the life of Jacob Nagle, sailor, from the year 1775 to 1841 (1988).

Dann has served on the boards and advisory committees of numerous historical organizations. He is a Professor in the Department of History, University of Michigan.

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