John L. Nau III

John L. Nau III
Department of the Interior. National Business Center. Administrative Operations · Public domain · source
Name	John L. Nau III
Birth date	1944
Birth place	San Antonio, Texas
Occupation	Businessman, philanthropist, historian
Known for	Preservation of Civil War history, Real estate investment, Philanthropy
Spouse	Libbie Rice

John L. Nau III is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and historian noted for his leadership in real estate investment, extensive support for American Civil War scholarship, and service on national boards. He has been active in preservation of historical collections, governance of cultural institutions, and Republican political circles, combining business leadership in San Antonio with national civic engagement in museums, archives, and universities.

Early life and education

Nau was born in San Antonio and raised in a family with roots in Texas ranching and commerce, connecting him to local institutions such as San Antonio River Walk, Travis County, and regional histories like the Texas Revolution and Battle of the Alamo. He attended public schools before earning degrees from institutions including University of Texas at Austin and later executive programs associated with Harvard University and Stanford University executive education, linking him to alumni networks associated with Texas A&M University and Rice University through philanthropic collaborations. His formative years placed him amid Texas political figures such as Lyndon B. Johnson and regional business leaders like the families behind H-E-B and Kroger expansions in the Sun Belt.

Business career

Nau built a career in real estate investment and development, founding and leading firms that operated alongside peers in Dallas and Houston markets, interacting with national financial institutions including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and investment groups like Goldman Sachs and BlackRock. His companies engaged in commercial property management similar to enterprises run by executives of The Rouse Company and Trammell Crow Company, and negotiated municipal projects with local authorities such as the City of San Antonio and regional planning bodies like the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Nau's business activities connected him with corporate governance circles common to boards of AT&T, ExxonMobil, and Southwest Airlines through civic leadership and civic-commercial partnerships.

Civil War scholarship and philanthropy

A prominent collector and patron of American Civil War history, Nau has supported archival institutions including the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Virginia Historical Society. He has funded projects at the Museum of the Confederacy, the American Battlefield Trust, and university presses such as University of North Carolina Press and University of Virginia Press, collaborating with scholars like James M. McPherson, Drew Gilpin Faust, and Gary W. Gallagher. Nau's philanthropy has enabled conservation work at battle sites like Gettysburg National Military Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, and Shiloh National Military Park, and supported exhibitions at museums like the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution. He has endowed fellowships and chairs at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, and William & Mary, and worked with preservation organizations such as Historic New England, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Save Our History. His collection and donations intersect with archival collections of figures like Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and with manuscript repositories such as the New York Public Library and Baylor University.

Public service and political involvement

Nau has served on national boards and commissions connected to institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the White House Historical Association. He has participated in advisory roles for presidential libraries including the George W. Bush Presidential Library and engaged with policy forums such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Council on Foreign Relations. Politically, Nau has been active within the Republican Party and supported candidates and committees associated with figures like George W. Bush, John McCain, and Rick Perry, while contributing to civic campaigns in Texas and national initiatives tied to institutions such as The Heritage Foundation and Conservative Political Action Conference. His public appointments have linked him to federal cultural policy through interactions with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Awards, honors, and affiliations

Nau's honors include recognitions from organizations like the Library of Congress, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the American Historical Association. He has been elected to boards of trustees at universities such as University of Texas System, Washington and Lee University, and professional societies like the Society of American Historians. His affiliations span cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National World War II Museum, and philanthropic networks such as GiveWell-style foundations and community foundations in San Antonio and Austin. He has received awards in preservation and philanthropy comparable to honors bestowed by the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Civil War Trust.

Personal life and family

Nau is married to Libbie Rice; the couple has four children and maintains residences in San Antonio and vacation properties reflecting connections to regions such as Hilton Head Island, The Woodlands, Texas, and coastal areas like Galveston. His family participates in social and cultural circles that include affiliations with institutions like The University Club (San Antonio), equestrian interests connected to Kentucky Horse Park patrons, and charitable boards similar to those of leaders at The Meadows Foundation and The Brown Foundation. The Nau family's philanthropic reach encompasses collaborations with Confederate heritage and reconciliation initiatives, veterans' organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and educational endowments supporting students at colleges such as Trinity University and St. Edward's University.

Category:People from San Antonio Category:American philanthropists Category:American historians of the Civil War