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JAMES SHANNON BUCHANAN
Vol. 3, p. 957
Book has photo

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of
Oklahoma, James S. Buchanan has held the chair of history in that
institution for twenty years, and in point of service is now next to
the oldest member of the university faculty. Education has been his
life work, and in the course of his long service at Norman he has
exercised a stimulating influence on thousands of young men and women
preparing for the serious responsibilities of life, and has also come
into contact with the life of the State in other ways than through
his position as a professor.

James Shannon Buchanan was born at Franklin, Tennessee, October 14,
1864, and comes of a distinguished family of that State. His parents
were Thomas and Jane (SHANNON) Buchanan. His father was born in
Tennessee and was a grandson of Major John Buchanan, who was one of
the earliest settlers of the Tennessee country, having come at the
same time with James ROBERTSON, the founder of the City of Nashville.
This emigration occurred before the American Revolution. Major
Buchanan took up land ten miles from Nashville, and that property was
developed by several successive generations of the family and
remained in their ownership until quite recent years, Thomas Buchanan
died at Norman, Oklahoma, in 1907. His wife passed away in 1880.
Professor Buchanan had three sisters, all now deceased, and a
brother, John P. Buchanan, who was governor of Tennessee from 1891 to
1893.

James Buchanan was graduated Bachelor of Science from Cumberland
University at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1885, and almost immediately
began the work which has chiefly distinguished his career. From 1886
to 1891 he was principal of the Connersville Academy at Connersville,
Tennessee, and from 1891 to 1893 was assistant state superintendent
of schools in Tennessee. In 1893-4 he held a scholarship in
Vanderbilt University, where he did his graduate work. He was one of
the early educators in Western Oklahoma, and during 1894-5 was
professor of history at the State Normal School in Edmond. In the
fall of 1895 he accepted the call to the chair of history at the
University of Oklahoma, and has ever since been at the head of the
history department. In 1908 he was given additional responsibilities
and duties as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the
university.

Professor Buchanan had an important share in formulating the first
constitution of Oklahoma. He was elected a delegate in 1906 from
District No. 34, and was a hard working member throughout the session
and served on the following committees: Committee on Preamble and
Bill of Rights; Municipal Corporations, being chairman of the sub-
committee which prepared the plan for municipal corporations which
was afterwards adopted; Geological Survey; State Militia;
Immigration; Privileges and Elections; Compilations, Revision, Style
and Arrangement.

In 1896 Professor Buchanan married Miss Vinnie GALBRAITH, daughter
of J. W. Galbraith of Terrell, Texas, and a sister of Judge C. A.
Galbraith of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. They have three living
children: Frances, James and William.

Professor Buchanan is a past member of Norman Lodge of the Masons
and is past high priest of Lyons Chapter, R. A. M., at Norman. He is
a member of the Beta Theta Pi and is one of the two Buchanans listed
among the " distinguished Beta Theta Pi in America." His church is
the Presbyterian and he is president of the board of trustees of that
church in Norman.

Typed for OKGenWeb by: Vickie Neill Taylor, January 6, 1999.