John T. Mickel grew up in Hudson, Ohio, earned his bachelor's degree at Oberlin College, and his master's and doctorate at the University of Michigan. He taught botany at Iowa State University at Ames for eight years before going to the New York Botanical Garden as curator of ferns in 1969. His scientific research concentrates on the ferns of Mexico, and his horticultural interests include the testing of hardy ferns from temperate parts around the world. He lives in New York City.