James S. Buchanan | |
|---|---|
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| 4th President of the University of Oklahoma | |
| In office 1924–1925 | |
| Preceded by | Stratton D. Brooks |
| Succeeded by | William Bizzell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 14, 1864 Franklin, Tennessee |
| Died | March 20, 1930 (aged 65) Norman, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Cumberland University Vanderbilt University University of Chicago Kingfisher College LL.D |
| Profession | Historian, educator, university administrator |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
James Shannon Buchanan (October 14, 1864 – March 20, 1930), the fourth president of the University of Oklahoma, was born October 14, 1864, to Thomas and Rebecca Jane Shannon in Franklin, Tennessee. His grandfather, Major John Buchanan, was one of the founders of Nashville, Tennessee. His brother, John P. Buchanan was a governor of Tennessee.[1] He attended public school and the academy at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Then he attended and graduated from Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee in 1885 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He did graduate work at both Vanderbilt University in 1893-4 and the University of Chicago in 1896. He received his LL.D. from Kingfisher College, Kingfisher, Oklahoma in 1917.[1]
Buchanan was one of the earliest faculty members appointed to the newly created Oklahoma University by its first president, David Ross Boyd, and began advancing through the academic ranks. He became chairman of the History Department, then Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, where he served for 19 years. Described as extremely popular with both students and faculty, he proved to be a very effective administrator. He also survived political purges that swept away two presidents and several other highly rated faculty members during the early years of the University's existence. After serving nearly one year as acting president and one as full president, he returned to full-time teaching and serving as the school vice president until his death in March 1930.
- ^ a b "Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol 8, No 3, September, 1930". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on January 27, 2003. Retrieved July 3, 2006.