James Theodore Richmond
Encyclopedia
James Theodore Richmond also known as "Twilight Ted". (26 May 1890 – 3 December 1975) was a U.S. writer
, conservationist
, non-denominational preacher
, and noted librarian
.
. In 1894 after years of drought, the family moved to Fort Madison, Iowa
. In Iowa Richmond became fascinated with outdoor life and would often travel around with migrant workers listening to their stories and preaching the gospel
. Ted was active in the Boy Scouts of America
and started many Scout troops in his travels around the Midwest.
Seeking a greater education, Ted traveled to Chicago
and attended school at the University of Chicago
for a period of time.
and was stationed in France
during World War I
. After the war, he stayed in France and spent one year attending the University of Toulouse
. During that time period, he also helped establish one of the many libraries at the University.
, Ted worked as a newspaperman and wrote radio plays. After several years he grew disenchanted with the life of the big city and its focus on material possessions. Having spent much of his youth being involved with the Boy Scouts and his love of the outdoors, he read the story "The Shepherd of the Hills
" by Harold Bell Wright
and an article by Horace Kephart
about camping in the Ozarks. These books greatly influenced him and he decided to give up the big city life and find himself again in the hills of the Boston Mountains
in Arkansas
.
Ted migrated to Springfield, Missouri
, in the Missouri Ozarks. While in Springfield, he continued his education and attended what is now known as Missouri State University
.
Richmond immediately formed a kinship with the native Arkansasans. Ted was a worldly man in a land that saw very little of the outside world. He began several quests that were dear to his heart, doctoring and education. He began writing people describing his need for books and magazines that offered reading material of the hill folks.
Ted died in a nursing home in Texarkana, Texas
, at the age of 85. He is buried in a Texarkana, Texas cemetery.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
, non-denominational preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, and noted librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
.
Background
Richmond was born the second of five sons of a pioneer physician, Albert and Etta Richmond in Ogallala, NebraskaOgallala, Nebraska
Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County. In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad...
. In 1894 after years of drought, the family moved to Fort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a city in and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States. The other county seat is Keokuk. The population was 10,715 at the 2000 census...
. In Iowa Richmond became fascinated with outdoor life and would often travel around with migrant workers listening to their stories and preaching the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. Ted was active in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and started many Scout troops in his travels around the Midwest.
Seeking a greater education, Ted traveled to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and attended school 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...
for a period of time.
World War I
Ted Richmond joined the (AEF) American Expeditionary ForceAmerican Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
and was stationed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war, he stayed in France and spent one year attending the University of Toulouse
University of Toulouse
The Université de Toulouse is a consortium of French universities, grandes écoles and other institutions of higher education and research, named after one of the earliest universities established in Europe in 1229, and including the successor universities to that earlier university...
. During that time period, he also helped establish one of the many libraries at the University.
Chicago Newspaperman
After returning to the United States after World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Ted worked as a newspaperman and wrote radio plays. After several years he grew disenchanted with the life of the big city and its focus on material possessions. Having spent much of his youth being involved with the Boy Scouts and his love of the outdoors, he read the story "The Shepherd of the Hills
The Shepherd of the Hills
The Shepherd of the Hills is a book written in 1907 by author Harold Bell Wright. It depicts a mostly fictional story of mountain folklore and has been translated into seven languages since its release. It is also depicted in a popular outdoor play numerous times each week from May to October, in...
" by Harold Bell Wright
Harold Bell Wright
Harold Bell Wright was a best-selling American writer of fiction, essays, and non-fiction during the first half of the 20th century. Although mostly forgotten or ignored after the middle of the 20th century, he is said to have been the first American writer to sell a million copies of a novel and...
and an article by Horace Kephart
Horace Kephart
Horace Kephart was an American travel writer and librarian, best known as the author of Our Southern Highlanders, about his life in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina.-Biography:...
about camping in the Ozarks. These books greatly influenced him and he decided to give up the big city life and find himself again in the hills of the Boston Mountains
Boston Mountains
The Boston Mountains area is a high and deeply dissected plateau located in northern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The Oklahoma portion of the range is locally referred to as the Cookson Hills. The rocks of the region are essentially little disturbed, flat-lying sedimentary layers of the Paleozoic...
in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
.
Ted migrated to Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, in the Missouri Ozarks. While in Springfield, he continued his education and attended what is now known as Missouri State University
Missouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...
.
Ozark Life and the Boston Mountains
In 1931, Richmond relocated to Mount Sherman, Arkansas, and homesteaded 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) land located on the north slope, in what he called "the cove". He built a cabin which he lovingly called the "Wildcat Cabin" because of the bobcat that followed him on his journey to locate a suitable building site.Richmond immediately formed a kinship with the native Arkansasans. Ted was a worldly man in a land that saw very little of the outside world. He began several quests that were dear to his heart, doctoring and education. He began writing people describing his need for books and magazines that offered reading material of the hill folks.
Later years
Richmond married Edna Garner, Chief Deputy Clerk of the Courts of Civil Appeals of the 6th Supreme Judicial District Court of Texas at Texarkana, in 1953. They lived in Texarkana and Ted would spend summers on Mount Sherman in Arkansas tending to his beloved Wilderness Library.Ted died in a nursing home in Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
, at the age of 85. He is buried in a Texarkana, Texas cemetery.