In Memoriam: James S. Chase, Professor Emeritus of History

James S. Chase

The Department of History and the university community have lost a longtime member of the faculty. Emeritus professor James S. Chase passed away Monday, July 31, 2017 in Fayetteville. A native-born Virginian who never lost his accent, he was a member of the faculty at the University of Arkansas from 1968 until his retirement in 1999. He was a longtime member of the Faculty Senate and widely known across the campus for his commitment to faculty prerogatives. As David Gay puts it: “He left a legacy of changing campus life for the better.” A memorial service will be held in the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2017.

As department chair between 1970 and 1976, Chase oversaw the hiring of key faculty members such as Willard Gatewood, Randall Woods, Henry Tsai, William Tucker, and Nudie Williams, guaranteeing the viability of the department’s embryonic doctoral program. It has thrived in the decades since. Chase also brought the alpha chapter of the national history honors society, Alpha Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, back to life and served as faculty adviser, restoring it to a status befitting the founding chapter of the large and prestigious history honor society. He established the annual Phi Alpha Theta initiation and awards banquet. The 47th of these ceremonies was held last May. Chase also founded the Ozark Historical Review, now in its 46th year of publishing the best in undergraduate and graduate research and writing. And he edited History Newsletter for many years, keeping the department and its alumni in close contact.

Colleagues and students can attest to countless acts of understated thoughtfulness and graciousness on Jim’s part — inviting new faculty members over to his home for a well-appointed brunch; seeing that younger colleagues were introduced to peers outside the department; besieging a store until it had procured just the right spoon to complete a wedding present for two graduate students. Most of all, though, they recall his fierce devotion to students’ education and careers. Chase was honored in 1995 with Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Advisor Award, and the Associated Student Government named him “Teacher of the Year” in 1994.

A scholar of 19th century political history trained at William & Mary (B.A. 1953) and the University of Chicago (M.A. 1957, Ph.D. 1962), Chase was the author of the still standard Emergence of the Presidential Nominating Convention, 1789-1832 (University of Illinois Press, 1973). Before coming to the University of Arkansas, he served as assistant professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin from 1962 to 1968.

James S. Chase was an active member of the Democratic Party and attended its 1976 national convention as a delegate.

This story originally appeared in the University of Arkansas’ Newswire publication. Please visit news.uark.edu for more stories like this.