The Shepard family came to the Midwest from Malone County, New York. The family settled for a time in Greenfield, Illinois where John F. Shepard was born on January 30, 1881. After attending Greenfield High School, Shepard entered St. Lawrence College in 1897 and was graduated with a B.S. degree in 1901. He began graduate study at the University of Chicago the following year, but transferred to The University of Michigan in 1903, with appointment as Assistant in Psychology. In 1906, he became the first student to receive the Ph.D. degree in Psychology at this university and was then appointed Instructor. In 1909, he married Berenice Barnes of Marshall, Michigan, who died in 1952. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor in 1911, Associate Professor in 1915, and Professor in 1918.
In 1914, the Regents appointed Shepard inspector and advisor to the architect and building committee for the construction of the Natural Science Building. He also advised with the Librarian on the construction of the University Library building. He was so effective in this capacity that in 1921 he was appointed by the Regents as Supervisor of Plans, which position he held until 1925. During his tenure as Supervisor of Plans, besides several additions to existing structures, the following new buildings were completed: Store House Office building, Store House and Shops Addition, Clements Library, East Engineering Building, University High School, Angell Hall, East Physics Building, Law club, Couzens Hall, East Medical Building, and the University Hospital.
During World War I, Professor Shepard was a member of the Committee on Classification of Personnel in the Army War Department. He held membership in the American Psychological Association, the Research Club of which he was secretary for three years, the Society of Experimental Psychologists, and Phi Beta Kappa. He served as president of the Michigan chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1938-39 and as President of the Michigan Chapter of the Association of University Professors in 1939-40. He was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Science from St. Lawrence College in 1925.
Professor Shepard served on the College Executive Committee from 1936 until 1939 and was Acting Chairman of the Department of Psychology for the first semester of the academic year 1940-41 and again for the years 1943 to 1945. He retired from the University at the age of 70 on January 30, 1951. He died in November 1965.
From the guide to the Shepard family papers, 1807-1934, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
