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'''James H. Walker''' (born on [[February 21]], [[1931]] in Birmingham, Alabama; died [[March 13]], [[2007]] in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama) was a historian, writer, artist, and educator.
'''James Harmon Walker Jr''' (born on [[February 21]], [[1931]] in [[Birmingham]]; died [[March 13]], [[2007]] in [[Tuscaloosa County]]) was a historian, writer, artist and educator.


James Walker served in the United States Army during the Korean War, touring Korea and other countries in Southeast Asia as a member of the army orchestra and chorus.
Walker studied art at the [[University of Alabama]], but left before graduation to enlist in the U.S. Army during the [[Korean War]]. He was sent to the Army School of Music and assigned to the army orchestra and chorus. He toured Korea and other countries in Southeast Asia to entertain troops and was given a Meritorious Service Award. After leaving the army, Walker returned to Alabama to complete a degree in historic house restoration. He also worked in stage and television production.


After leaving the army, Walker worked in stage and television production.
In [[1948]], he was a founding member of the [[Bessemer Civic Chorale and Ensemble]] (presently known as the [[Alabama Civic Chorale]].) He also found work as a technical and aeronautical artist. He was employed for a time at [[Southern Research Institute]], where he worked as a research artist.


In [[1948]], he was a founding member of the [[Bessemer Civic Chorale and Ensemble]] (presently known as the [[Alabama Civic Chorale]].)
In [[1980]], Walker founded [[Art Studios]], a private art school, in Birmingham, and there he taught oil painting, water colors, drawing and sculpting. After the school closed he continued teaching at the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]. He was awarded the Sargent Medal from the American Society of Portrait Artists.


He was employed for a time at [[Southern Research Institute]], where he worked as a research artist.
Walker was a founding member of the [[West Jefferson County Historical Society]] and the [[Bessemer Hall of History]], served as chair of the [[Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission]], and was a member of [[Jefferson County Historical Commission]]. While on the commission, he helped design and implement an official county emblem for historic buildings and landmarks. He was an adviser to the [[Alabama Historical Commission]] and named director of the [[Tuscaloosa Preservation Society]]. He participated in efforts to preserve and interpret the [[Tannehill Ironworks]] and [[Sloss Furnaces]] as historic sites.


In [[1980]], Walker founded [[Art Studios]], a private art school, in Birmingham, and there he taught oil painting, water colors, drawing, and sculpting.
In [[2000]], Walker was awarded the [[Thomas Jefferson Award]] by the Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission in recognition of his contributions to historic preservation.  


Walker was a founding member of [[The West Jefferson Historical Society]] and the [[Bessemer Hall of History]], served as chairman of the [[Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission]], and was a member of Jefferson County Historical Commission. While a member of the [[Jefferson County Historical Commission]], he helped design and implement an official county emblem for historic buildings and landmarks. He was an advisor to the Alabama Historical Commission and named Director of the Tuscaloosa Preservation Society.
Walker authored numerous books, many that focused on the history of western Jefferson County. During 2000 and 2001, Walker was a columnist for ''[[The Western Star]]''. One hundred of those columns were published in book form as ''[[Things Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama]]''.
 
In [[2000]], Walker was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award. in recognition of his contributions to historic preservation.
 
Walker authored numerous books, many that focused on the history of western Jefferson County. During 2001 and 2001, Walker was a columnist for [[The Western Star]]. One hundred of those columns was published in book form as [[''Things Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama'']].


Walker was an active member of [[Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church]] and the [[Sons of Confederate Veterans]]. He died in [[2007]] and is buried at [[Big Sandy Cemetery]] in [[Hull]], [[Tuscaloosa County]].


==Publications==
==Publications==
* Walker, James H. and Curren, Robert (1997) ''[[Those Gallant Men of the Twenty-Eighth Alabama Confederate Infantry Regiment]].'' Heritage Books. ISBN 0788407406
* Walker, James H. and Robert Curren (1997) ''[[Those Gallant Men of the Twenty-Eighth Alabama Confederate Infantry Regiment]]'' Heritage Books ISBN 0788407406
* Walker, James H. (2001) ''[[Things... Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama]].'' Instant Heirloom Books. ISBN 0963319760
* Walker, James H. (2001) ''[[Things... Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama]]'' Instant Heirloom Books ISBN 0963319760
* Walker, James H. (1992) ''[[Roupes Valley]].'' Instant Heirloom Books. ASIN 096331971X
* Walker, James H. (1992) ''[[Roupes Valley (book)|Roupes Valley]]'' Instant Heirloom Books ASIN 096331971X
* Walker, James H. (1984) ''[[Tombstones Along the Old Huntsville Road]].'' Instant Heirloom Books. ASIN B0006EH9FY
* Walker, James H. (1984) ''[[Tombstones Along the Old Huntsville Road]]'' Instant Heirloom Books ASIN B0006EH9FY
* Walker, James H. (1993) ''[[The Struggle and the Joy: An American Coal Town, Piper, Alabama]].'' Birmingham Public Library Press. ISBN 0963319728
* Walker, James H. (1993) ''[[The Struggle and the Joy: An American Coal Town, Piper, Alabama]]'' Birmingham Public Library Press ISBN 0963319728
 
 


==References==
==References==
* Walker, James H. (2001) "Things... Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama (Forward by Mike Oakley)
* Oakley, Mike (2001) "Forward" to James H. Walker. ''Things... Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama.'' Instant Heirloom Books ISBN 0963319760


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=139037560&ref=acomflickr.com/photos/8581581@N07/ Find A Grave] website
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=139037560&ref=acomflickr.com/photos/8581581@N07/ James H. Walker] at Findagrave.com


{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, James H.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, James H.}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Artists}
[[Category:US Army personnel]]
[[Category:Korean War veterans]]
[[Category:Alabama alumni]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Columnists]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Playwrights]]
[[Category:Historians]]
[[Category:Historians]]
 
[[Category:Big Sandy Cemetery burials]]
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artist, Educator, Historian. A stint at the University of Alabama gave him a basic foundation in theatrical productions and art. Before he could graduate, he entered the U.S. Army during the Korean War; there he attended the Army School of Music before touring the Far East with his orchestra and chorus. He received a Military Commendation for Meritorious Service Award.
 
When he finally returned to the University of Alabama, it was to get his degree in Historic House Restoration. As a civilian he could not set aside his musical experiences; he studied with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, and took part in stage and television productions. He was a founding member of the Bessemer Civic Chorale and Ensemble (today known as the Alabama Civic Chorale). Neither could he forget his basic art training. He became a technical and aeronautical illustrator, then a research artist for Southern Research Institute. He worked in and taught oils, water colors and sculpting. He founded Art Studios in Birmingham in 1980 as a private art school, a place where he regularly taught. He continued educating others at the Birmingham Museum of Art, teaching painting, drawing and sculpting there. He was awarded the Sargent Medal from the American Society of Portrait Artists.
The writing art did not elude him; he authored books (Those Gallant Men, Things Remembered, and others), plays ("A Seed in the Summer Soil" and "Tales from Times Past"), and a newspaper column in The Western Star. Despite all those accomplishments, some of which seem to build upon others, his greatest achievements may have been in local history. He was a founder of The West Jefferson County Historical Society, and the Bessemer Hall of History. He was active in creating Tannehill State Park, and the Sloss Furnace. He was chosen Chairman of the Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission. He was an active member of the Jefferson County Historical Commission, heping design and implement usage of an official county emblem for historic buildings and places. He was selected as advisor to the Alabama Hitorical Commission. He was named Director of the Tuscaloosa Preservation Society, placing him in the midst of preservation efforts of private and public structures. He received the Thomas Jefferson Award in 2000, recognizing his achievements in historic preservation. His childhood days included membership in the Boy Scouts of America at age 11; his adult life saw him serving the Boy Scouts in multiple ways. He was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and several genealogical groups. He was also a member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church.

Latest revision as of 09:47, 24 May 2017

James Harmon Walker Jr (born on February 21, 1931 in Birmingham; died March 13, 2007 in Tuscaloosa County) was a historian, writer, artist and educator.

Walker studied art at the University of Alabama, but left before graduation to enlist in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was sent to the Army School of Music and assigned to the army orchestra and chorus. He toured Korea and other countries in Southeast Asia to entertain troops and was given a Meritorious Service Award. After leaving the army, Walker returned to Alabama to complete a degree in historic house restoration. He also worked in stage and television production.

In 1948, he was a founding member of the Bessemer Civic Chorale and Ensemble (presently known as the Alabama Civic Chorale.) He also found work as a technical and aeronautical artist. He was employed for a time at Southern Research Institute, where he worked as a research artist.

In 1980, Walker founded Art Studios, a private art school, in Birmingham, and there he taught oil painting, water colors, drawing and sculpting. After the school closed he continued teaching at the Birmingham Museum of Art. He was awarded the Sargent Medal from the American Society of Portrait Artists.

Walker was a founding member of the West Jefferson County Historical Society and the Bessemer Hall of History, served as chair of the Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission, and was a member of Jefferson County Historical Commission. While on the commission, he helped design and implement an official county emblem for historic buildings and landmarks. He was an adviser to the Alabama Historical Commission and named director of the Tuscaloosa Preservation Society. He participated in efforts to preserve and interpret the Tannehill Ironworks and Sloss Furnaces as historic sites.

In 2000, Walker was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award by the Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission in recognition of his contributions to historic preservation.

Walker authored numerous books, many that focused on the history of western Jefferson County. During 2000 and 2001, Walker was a columnist for The Western Star. One hundred of those columns were published in book form as Things Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama.

Walker was an active member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He died in 2007 and is buried at Big Sandy Cemetery in Hull, Tuscaloosa County.

Publications

References

  • Oakley, Mike (2001) "Forward" to James H. Walker. Things... Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama. Instant Heirloom Books ISBN 0963319760

External links

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