John D. (John Dietrich) Long

Born in 1860, John D. Long—John Dietrich Long—was a Presbyterian clergyman as well as an author. A local church history published in 1912 identifies him as Rev. John Dietrich Long, showing that he served in ministry and was part of the religious life of Babylon, Long Island.

Long is best known today for writing about travel and the outdoors in a clear, useful style. His books include Motor Camping, a title that places him among early writers who helped popularize automobile touring and camping at a time when both were still fairly new experiences.

That mix of ministry and practical nonfiction gives his work a distinctive character: grounded, approachable, and closely tied to everyday life. For listeners interested in early 20th-century American travel writing, his books offer a window into how new technology was changing the way people explored the world.