Dr. John O Jensen

Join little Skipper, a curious puppy in an orange life preserver, as she meets a galaxy of sea dogs from past and present. Inspired by the exhibit Sea Dogs! Great Tails of the Sea at Mystic Seaport, What Is a Sea Dog? combines poetry, history, and fun in a celebration of the many dogs who love the water.
Inspired by the exhibit Sea Dogs! Great Tails of the Sea at Mystic Seaport, What Is a Sea Dog? was written and illustrated by two seafaring storytellers, historian John Jensen and artist/writer Richard J. King. Both have known many real sea dogs. (Publisher's website)

"Shipwrecks are junction points of history. In seeking to make sense of the submerged material culture found in shipwrecks, this book explores maritime-related stories that shaped the Midwest and the nation during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In shipwrecks, we find stories of the frontier, the environment, immigration, politics, and the rise of large-scale agriculture, lumbering, and heavy industry. Individually and collectively, the chapters that comprise this book also place the Great Lakes against a broader background of international and national maritime processes that shaped the Upper Midwest during the 19th and early 20th centuries. For those interested in the Wisconsin or Midwestern history, yet unfamiliar with ships and the historical power of water, this book will also provide exciting new perspectives for understanding the past"--Provided by publisher.

Every shipwreck has a story that extends far beyond its tragic end. The dramatic tales of disaster, heroism, and folly become even more compelling when viewed as junction points in history—connecting to stories about the frontier, the environment, immigration, politics, technology, and industry. In Stories from the Wreckage, John Odin Jensen examines a selection of Great Lakes shipwrecks of the wooden age for a deeper dive into this transformative chapter of maritime history. He mines the archeological evidence and historic record to show how their tragic ends fit in with the larger narrative of Midwestern history. Featuring the underwater photography of maritime archeologist Tamara Thomsen, this vibrant volume is a must-have for shipping enthusiasts as well as anyone interested in the power of water to shape history.

In the mid-1990s, Mystic Seaport documented the fishing families and fishing fleet of Stonington, Connecticut, with tape recorder and camera. In honor of the 50th anniversary of Stonington's Blessing of the Fleet, oral historian Fred Calabretta has compiled reflections on the practice and meaning of fishing to the community of Stonington captured in the oral history interviews. More than 80 images document the fishermen and their world, in summer and in winter, at work and in celebration. An introduction by Dr. Glenn Gordinier offers an overview of the role of fishing in Stonington's history, and an afterword by Dr. John O. Jensen discusses changes in the industry since this material was gathered.