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James Graham Leyburn

ジェームズ・グラハム・レイバーン

James Graham Leyburn

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1902-01-17 （Hedgesville, West Virginia, U.S.）
Died
1993-04-28 （Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S.） age 91
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Protestant (Presbyterian)
Residence History
Durham, North Carolina → Lexington, Virginia → Hagerstown, Maryland

Career

Occupations
Sociologist, Researcher, Professor, Academic administrator (Dean), Author
Active Years
1927-1972
Affiliations
Washington and Lee University, Hollins College (now Hollins University), Princeton University (teaching position), Yale University (teaching position)

Education

Duke University (Trinity College)
Country: United States
Graduate of Trinity College (now Trinity College of Arts and Sciences) at Duke University
Princeton University
Country: United States
Yale University
Country: United States
Affiliated with Yale University; served in teaching positions

Awards

Anisfield-Wolf Book Award
1942
Work: The Haitian People
Organization: Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Handbook of Ethnography

1931 Ethnography / Academic

A scholarly overview of ethnographic methods and theory, covering fieldwork and descriptive techniques.

ethnographymethodology

Frontier Folkways

1935 Sociology / Cultural history 291 pages

Analyzes the customs and cultural practices of frontier societies, relating local customs to social structures.

regional studiesfolkwayssocial structure

The Haitian People

1941 Ethnography / History 342 pages

A major ethnographic study of Haiti covering its history, culture, social structure, origins, customs, and political background.

Haitian cultureethnographyrace and society

Pierson College, the First Decade, 1933-1943

1944 History / Educational history

Chronicles the first decade of Pierson College at Yale, a historical account of its early years.

educational historycollege history

World Minority Problems

1947 Social issues / Political sociology

Discusses problems faced by minorities worldwide, examining interethnic relations and policy responses.

minoritiesethnic relationspublic policy

The Scotch-Irish: A Social History

1962 Social history / Immigration history

A long-term study of the social history of the Scotch-Irish in America.

immigration historyethnic identityAmerican history

The Way We Lived: Durham, 1900–1920

1989 Memoir / Local history

A personal memoir recalling his youth and life in Durham in the early 20th century.

memoircommunityearly 20th century

Bibliography

  • Handbook of Ethnography (1931)
  • Frontier Folkways (1935)
  • The Haitian People (1941)
  • Pierson College, the First Decade, 1933-1943 (1944)
  • World Minority Problems (1947)
  • The Scotch-Irish: A Social History (1962)
  • The Way We Lived: Durham, 1900–1920 (1989)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
empirical, observation-based academic prosedetailed ethnographic descriptionhistorical-sociological analysis
Recurring Motifs
ethnicity and culturemigration and settlementcommunity customs

Health

  • Pneumonia
    1993
    Hospitalized with pneumonia in 1993; cause of death.

Legacy

Longtime professor at Washington and Lee University, noted for ethnographic studies of Haiti. The university's main library bears his name and his papers are held in its archives.

Museums

  • James G. Leyburn Library (named) Lexington, Virginia, U.S. (Washington and Lee University)

Archives

  • Washington and Lee University: James G. Leyburn Papers (collection)

Trivia

  • Won the 1942 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for 'The Haitian People'.
  • The main library at Washington and Lee University is named for him.
  • Published a memoir 'The Way We Lived: Durham, 1900–1920' in 1989.