The James B. Edmonson collection contains material relating to the career and personal interests of this educator. The collection is organized in five series: Biographical/Personal containing biographical sketches, bibliographies, photographs, and files relating to his involvement with the University of Michigan Presbyterian Corporation; Topical files consisting mainly of writings by Edmonson, correspondence, reports, essays, and other materials on education related subjects, including intercollegiate athletics, the Canada-United States Committee on Education, so-called "diploma mills", and issues affecting secondary school education; selection of term reports from classes taught by Edmonson; textbooks and other publications of Edmonson; and files, 1942-1945, relating to his work with the University War Board
James B. Edmonson was born in Parkersburg, Iowa, on December 28, 1882, the son of James Bartlett and Nancy Jane Edmonson. He was married to Bess Chase on August 26, 1914, and had two children, Jane and Donald.
Edmonson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1906 and his Master's degree in history in 1910. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1925 in education and history.
He was a teacher in the high school at Ionia, Michigan, and moved from there to the principalship of the high school at Hillsdale. In successive assignments he was principal at Benton Harbor and at Jackson, Michigan. In 1914 he returned to the University of Michigan as Inspector of High Schools and professor of Secondary Education, and he subsequently became the director of the Division of University Inspection of High Schools. In 1929 he became dean of the School of Education and served in that role until his retirement in February 1952. At the conclusion of his retirement furlough in February 1953, he was given the title of Dean Emeritus.
Edmonson wrote numerous articles about educational issues, and was author and co-author of several textbooks on educational administration and high school civics.
He served as secretary (1921-31) and president (1931-32) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. After his retirement, he continued to serve as chairman of the Committee on Athletics of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, of the Committee on Fraudulent Schools and Colleges of the National Education Association, and as co-chairman of the Canada-United States Committee on Education.
Edmonson had a great interest in railroads and railroading and enjoyed travel. Also, throughout his life he was interested in church affairs and church-related problems of education, building, and finance. He was considered a strong defender of the ethical and spiritual significance of the work done in schools.
James B. Edmonson died in his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June 4, 1954.
