James Phinney Baxter III
Encyclopedia
James Phinney Baxter III (February 15, 1893 – June 17, 1975) was an American historian
, educator and academic. He won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize
for history, for his book Scientists Against Time. He was also the author of The Introduction of the Ironclad Warship, which he wrote in 1933.
Baxter was initially educated at Portland High School and Phillips Academy
in Andover, Massachusetts
. He then attended Williams College
where he was graduated as valedictorian
with Phi Beta Kappa honors and was a member of The Kappa Alpha Society
. He obtained M.A. degrees from both Williams and Harvard University
and his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1926.
Baxter taught at Colorado College
and then at Harvard, progressing from Instructor to full Professor in 10 years. He served as Master of Adams House. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1928. In 1937, he became president of Williams College.
In 1943 he was the part-time official historian of the Office of Scientific Research and Development
, while serving as president of Williams College
from 1937-1961. He was a member of the board of trustees of the World Peace Foundation.
He was the grandson of historian and mayor of Portland, Maine, James Phinney Baxter
.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, educator and academic. He won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for history, for his book Scientists Against Time. He was also the author of The Introduction of the Ironclad Warship, which he wrote in 1933.
Baxter was initially educated at Portland High School and Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
. He then attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
where he was graduated as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
with Phi Beta Kappa honors and was a member of The Kappa Alpha Society
Kappa Alpha Society
The Kappa Alpha Society , founded in 1825, was the progenitor of the modern fraternity system in North America. It was the first of the fraternities which would eventually become known as the Union Triad...
. He obtained M.A. degrees from both Williams and Harvard University
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...
and his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1926.
Baxter taught at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
and then at Harvard, progressing from Instructor to full Professor in 10 years. He served as Master of Adams House. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1928. In 1937, he became president of Williams College.
In 1943 he was the part-time official historian of the Office of Scientific Research and Development
Office of Scientific Research and Development
The Office of Scientific Research and Development was an agency of the United States federal government created to coordinate scientific research for military purposes during World War II. Arrangements were made for its creation during May 1941, and it was created formally by on June 28, 1941...
, while serving as president of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
from 1937-1961. He was a member of the board of trustees of the World Peace Foundation.
He was the grandson of historian and mayor of Portland, Maine, James Phinney Baxter
James Phinney Baxter
James Phinney Baxter was an American businessman, historian, civic leader, and benefactor of Portland, Maine.His personal library, containing over 100 leather-bound books of maps, portraits, engravings and personal letters, is available for reference at the Portland Public Library.- Biography...
.