Unpublished manuscripts of John E. Cayford

John E. Cayford, author, lecturer and historian, passed away peacefully Oct. 7, 2007, after a long illness. He was born Nov. 22, 1930, in Brewer, the son of John C. and Pearl G. (Robinson) Cayford. John graduated from Bangor High School and attended the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maine in Orono, majoring in journalism and science. During the Korean War, he served as an Armed Forces photojournalist, supplying articles for military and civilian newspapers throughout the United States and 26 allied nations. He was a master diver and associated with International Undersea Services, I.U.S. As president of I.U.S., his underwater work was varied and complex, including the underwater work for the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge and the Bluenose Ferry docks in Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He worked for Eastern Maine Medical Center for almost 30 years as a boiler engineer, until his retirement in January 2000. John was a Maine historian and authored many books on the subject. He also wrote numerous articles about diving and shipping. His articles appeared in magazines such as, Down East, American Heritage, Sea Classics, Muzzle Blasts, New England Galaxy, World Construction, Maine Life and Soundings Magazine, plus many others in the United States as well as foreign publications. He also wrote “Underwater Work,” “Underwater Logging,” “The How-To Book of Skin and Scuba Diving,” “The Penobscot Expedition,” “Fort Knox Fortress in Maine,” “Maine Firsts,” “All About Maine” and “Great Maine Men,” to name a few. He was an active member of the Smithsonian and Naval History Foundation, Washington, D.C.; North American Society of Oceanic History; Maine Divers Association, technical advisor; National Divers Association, advisor; past president, Brewer (Maine) Historical Society and Brewer Public Library. The last lecture he gave was at Fort Knox, his favorite Maine historical site. Many of the treasures he found while diving the Penobscot River have been donated and are on exhibit in museums throughout the State of Maine. (from Bangor Daily News, https://bangordailynews.com/2008/09/25/obituaries/john-e-cayford/; accessed 6/6/2022)