James G. Leyburn

James G. Leyburn
James G. Leyburn
Born	January 17, 1902; Hedgesville, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	April 28, 1993; Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S.
Education	Duke University,; Princeton University,; Yale University
Occupation(s)	Sociologist, researcher, professor, academic administrator, author
Known for	Sociology, ethnography

James Graham Leyburn (January 17, 1902 – April 28, 1993), was an American sociologist, professor, academic administrator, and author. He was a George Washington Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he worked from 1947 until 1972.^[1] Leyburn wrote ethnographic books, most notably about Haitian history and culture.^[2]

Early life and education

James Graham Leyburn was born in Hedgesville, West Virginia.^[3]^[4] His father was a minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina.^[5] He was a graduate of Trinity College (now Trinity College of Arts and Sciences) at Duke University, Princeton University, and Yale University.^[5]

Career

In his early career, Leyburn held teaching positions at Hollins College (now Hollins University), Princeton University, and Yale University.^[3]^[2] He was a professor of sociology from 1947 to 1972 at University at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia; where he also served as dean from 1947 to 1956.^[3] Leyburn had also chaired the sociology and anthropology department from 1947 until 1967 at Washington and Lee University.^[1]

Leyburn wrote about the Haitians and the Scotch-Irish. He published several books, including a memoir titled The Way We Lived: Durham, 1900–1920 (1989).^[5] He received an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1942 for his book on the Haitian people.^[6]

Death and legacy

He died at the age of 91 of pneumonia in April 1993 in a hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland.^[1]

The main library at Washington and Lee University is named for him, and a 2004 portrait hangs in its lobby, by artist Steven Polson.^[5] Washington and Lee University has a collection of his papers.^[3]

Publications

Leyburn, James Graham (1931). Handbook of Ethnography. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-598-93220-4.^[7]
Leyburn, James Graham (1935). Frontier Folkways. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-598-61100-0.^[2]^[8]
Leyburn, James Graham (1941). The Haitian People. Yale University Press.^[9]^[10]
Leyburn, James Graham (1944). Pierson College, the First Decade, 1933-1943. Overbrook Press.
Leyburn, James Graham (1947). World Minority Problems. Public Affairs Committee.
Leyburn, James G. (1962). The Scotch-Irish: A Social History. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-4259-1. JSTOR 10.5149/9780807888919_leyburn.^[11]^[12]
Leyburn, James G. (1989). The Way We Lived: Durham, 1900–1920. Elliston, VA: Northcross House.^[13]