John Bell Henneman ’57

Distinguished historian, John Henneman died July 7, 1998, in Princeton, of cancer. At the time of his death, he was the history bibliographer for Firestone Library.

After graduation, John served in the Navy from 1957-60, finishing as lieutenant (jg). He earned his MA and PhD from Harvard in 1966 and received a master's of library science from Iowa in 1982.

Fulfilling his lifelong ambition, in 1966 John became a professor of history, first at McMaster U. in Hamilton, Ontario, then at the U. of Iowa from 1969-83. He chaired Iowa's history department from 1980-83, and then moved on to Firestone.

John wrote three books on medieval French history, including a biography of Olivier De Clisson, a 14th-century French aristocrat and politician, published by the U. of Pennsylvania Press in 1996. He also published articles, edited historical encyclopedias, and was an officer of numerous learned societies.

John's ashes were interred at Indian Gap Farm, Buckingham County, Va., a property his ancestors had received by royal patent from King George II prior to the Revolution. It was his wish that memorial contributions be made to the Class of 1957 Fund.

He is survived by his mother, Esther; his wife, Gerry; and three children, Jack '83, Charlie, and Laurie '90. The class, with them, mourns his passing and salutes his achievements.

The Class of 1957