John DeHaas was born on July 4, 1926, in Philadelphia to parents John N. and Sadie DeHaas. His family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in the 1940s. After high school John attended Texas A & M University, earning his bachelor''s degree in architectural design in 1948. He later received a master's degree in education, also from Texas A & M. It was while teaching in Texas that he met and married Bernice Wallace in 1950. John was offered a one-year position at Montana State College (now Montana State University) in 1951 then stayed until he retired from MSU in 1980. He became a registered architect within a few years of his arrival and designed a number of homes in the Bozeman area. Of particular academic and personal interest to Mr. DeHaas were Montana's ghost towns and he travelled across the state to visit and photograph them. He also gave many public talks, slide shows, and guided tours. In 1972 he co-founded the Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society in which he remained active for almost 40 years. His book, Historic Uptown Butte, chronicled the buildings of Butte many of which were in danger of being demolished due to urban renewal programs. He published an article on the Bozeman City Hall and Opera House in Montana: The Magazine of Western History. Mr. DeHaas was also a published and award-winning photographer, and was a member of the Bozeman City Planning Commission, Zoning Board, and Historic Preservation Advisory Board. He also served on the state Historic Preservation Advisory Board and most recently was a member of the Gallatin County Historic Preservation Board. Although he lost his sight to a hereditary eye disease, John remained active, become an active supporter of the Montana Association for the Blind and its Summer Orientation Program. He was president of the local MAB chapter for many years and served on the MAB state Board of Directors for about 20 years as well as president of the state association for one term. Dr. DeHaas was a member of the American Institute of Architects and served on its Historic Resources Committee. In 1984, the AIA inducted him into its College of Fellows for his services in preservation and for integrating that interest into his teaching to motivate his students.
From the description of John N. DeHaas Papers, 1950-1990. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 759607672
