Atkinson, J. H. (James Harris), 1888-1973

Arkansas educator and historian.

Educator and historian.

James Harris Atkinson was born 7 June 1888 in Columbia County, Ark. He began his teaching career in Hempstead County in 1908, two years before his graduation from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. After serving in World War I, he became principal of schools at Nashville and Foreman, and after that, superintendent at Wilmot in Ashley County. He also taught at Little Rock High School until he received a master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1927. Atkinson was then named chairman of the History Department of the new Little Rock Junior College and remained in that position until his retirement in 1957. His involvement in school activities through the years was quite varied: he helped organize the Classroom Teachers Association and served as its president; he acted as sponsor for the Delta Kappa fraternity for twenty years; he was debate coach at Little Rock Junior College; he was in charge of student employment at LRJC for many years; and, he was one of the pioneers in establishing the Teacher Retirement System. Atkinson was one of the organizers of the Arkansas Historical Association when it was formed in 1941, and was thereafter active in its affairs. He frequently wrote articles for the Arkansas Historical Quarterly and served as an associate editor for many years. On several occasions he headed membership drives to increase membership and procure financing for the struggling organization. Atkinson served as the Association's president in 1952-1953. He organized the state's second county historical society---the Pulaski County Historical Society---in 1951. Atkinson served as president of that group and edited its publication for thirteen years. He also provided leadership in the move to organize other local historical societies across the state. Appointed to the Arkansas History Commission by Gov. Sid McMath in 1949, Atkinson served twelve years, the last eight as chairman. Under his leadership, the History Commission selected and hired the present Director and State Historian, John L. Ferguson. With Ferguson, Atkinson co-authored a textbook, Historic Arkansas, which was used in the public schools for many years. Almost fifty years earlier Atkinson had written an earlier text book which the state had adopted for use in all public schools for the years 1917-1923. He died on 17 Sept. 1973.