Edmund J. James
Encyclopedia
Edmund Janes James was an American
academic, president of the University of Illinois
from 1904 to 1920, and the primary founder of, first president of, and first editor for the American Academy of Political and Social Science
.
James was born in Illinois
, and attended both Northwestern University
and Harvard
, before receiving his doctorate
in political economy from the University of Halle
in 1877. Upon his return to the United States he received an appointment as a high school principal. In 1883, James was appointed at the University of Pennsylvania as professor of public finance and administration. It was there that he became the director of the Wharton School of Finance and Economy
. While in Philadelphia, James organized the American Academy of Political and Social Science to foster research to help solve important social problems. In 1893, James left Philadelphia to accept a professorship in public administration and directorship of the university's extension program at the University of Chicago
. In January 1902 he accepted the presidency of Northwestern University
, but quickly became disenchanted with the school's lack of foresight, and began negotiations with the University of Illinois where he became president in 1904.
In 1919, James fell ill and took a leave of absence from the university. In 1920 he permanently retired.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic, president of the University of Illinois
University of Illinois system
The University of Illinois is a system of public universities in Illinois consisting of three campuses: Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield. Across its three campuses, the University of Illinois enrolls about 70,000 students. It had an operating budget of $4.17 billion in 2007.-System:The...
from 1904 to 1920, and the primary founder of, first president of, and first editor for the American Academy of Political and Social Science
American Academy of Political and Social Science
The American Academy of Political and Social Science was founded in 1889 to promote progress in the social sciences. Sparked by Professor Edmund J. James and drawing from members of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College, the Academy sought to...
.
James was born in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and attended both Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, before receiving his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in political economy from the University of Halle
University of Halle-Wittenberg
The Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg , also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...
in 1877. Upon his return to the United States he received an appointment as a high school principal. In 1883, James was appointed at the University of Pennsylvania as professor of public finance and administration. It was there that he became the director of the Wharton School of Finance and Economy
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
. While in Philadelphia, James organized the American Academy of Political and Social Science to foster research to help solve important social problems. In 1893, James left Philadelphia to accept a professorship in public administration and directorship of the university's extension program at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. In January 1902 he accepted the presidency of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, but quickly became disenchanted with the school's lack of foresight, and began negotiations with the University of Illinois where he became president in 1904.
In 1919, James fell ill and took a leave of absence from the university. In 1920 he permanently retired.