J. T. Van Campen

author

J. T. Van Campen

A local historian with a clear, readable style, this writer is best known for bringing early St. Augustine to life for general readers. His work focuses on the city’s colonial past, from its Spanish beginnings to the conflicts and cultural forces that shaped it.

1 Audiobook

St. Augustine, Florida's Colonial Capital

St. Augustine, Florida's Colonial Capital

by J. T. Van Campen

About the author

J. T. Van Campen is credited as the author of St. Augustine, Florida's Colonial Capital, a short history of the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement. Sources also identify the author’s full name as John Tyler Van Campen.

The book was issued by the St. Augustine Historical Society, which fits the strongly local, public-history feel of the work. Rather than writing for specialists, Van Campen presents the city’s story in an accessible way, covering its founding, colonial struggles, and long Spanish influence.

Very little verified biographical information about Van Campen appears to be readily available online beyond his authorship of this history title. Because of that, it’s safest to remember him through the work itself: a concise introduction to St. Augustine’s past written for curious readers and visitors.