James Alexander Robertson
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Robertson (August 19, 1873 – March 20, 1939) was an American academic historian
, archivist
, translator and bibliographer
. He is most noted for his contributions to the history and historiography
of the Philippines
and other former territorial possessions of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
. He was the sixth of eight children born to Canadian parents, who became naturalized U.S. citizens after relocating to Corry in 1866. His father, John McGregor Robertson was a building contractor originally from Verulam, Ontario near Peterborough
. His mother Elizabeth Borrowman Robertson had emigrated to Canada from her native Scotland as a child.
Robertson's mother died when he was seven. Three years later he and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio
where James completed his secondary education.
In 1892 he enrolled for graduate studies at Western Reserve University's
Adelbert College. He majored in the study of Romance languages
, specializing in Old French
, and was awarded his Bachelor of Philosophy
degree from Western Reserve in 1896.
In 1902 Robertson became involved in the compilation of a massive multivolume work on the history of the Philippines
, initially called The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803.
On the completion of the Philippine Islands project Robertson went to the Carnegie Institution of Washington to work in its historical research department (1909–10). In 1910 he moved to Manila
and became bibliographer and librarian at the National Library of the Philippines
for the next six years. During his time in the Philippines Robertson was instrumental in establishing library science
as a discipline for instruction at the University of the Philippines
.
Robertson returned to the U.S. and Washington in 1917, taking up a position with the federal Department of Commerce. In 1918 Robertson was the founding editor of the Hispanic American Historical Review, an academic journal
devoted to Latin American and Hispanic history. He remained the journal's editor-in-chief until his death.
In 1923 he gained a position as professor at Stetson University
in DeLand, Florida
, and lectured there for the next ten years. In 1935 he moved to Annapolis, Maryland
as the archivist for the Maryland State Archives' Hall of Records.
Robertson died three years later on March 20, 1939 in Annapolis.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
, translator and bibliographer
Bibliographer
"A bibliographer is a person who describes and lists books and other publications, with particular attention to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, edition, typography, etc. The result of this endeavor is a bibliography...
. He is most noted for his contributions to the history and historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and other former territorial possessions of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Life
James Alexander Robertson was born 1873 in Corry, PennsylvaniaCorry, Pennsylvania
Corry is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. With a population of 6,834 at the 2000 United States Census, it is the second largest city in Erie County. Corry is a part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He was the sixth of eight children born to Canadian parents, who became naturalized U.S. citizens after relocating to Corry in 1866. His father, John McGregor Robertson was a building contractor originally from Verulam, Ontario near Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
. His mother Elizabeth Borrowman Robertson had emigrated to Canada from her native Scotland as a child.
Robertson's mother died when he was seven. Three years later he and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
where James completed his secondary education.
In 1892 he enrolled for graduate studies at Western Reserve University's
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
Adelbert College. He majored in the study of Romance languages
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
, specializing in Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
, and was awarded his Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
degree from Western Reserve in 1896.
In 1902 Robertson became involved in the compilation of a massive multivolume work on the history of the Philippines
History of the Philippines
The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted Samar on March 16, 1521 and landed on Homonhon Island southeast of Samar...
, initially called The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803.
On the completion of the Philippine Islands project Robertson went to the Carnegie Institution of Washington to work in its historical research department (1909–10). In 1910 he moved to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and became bibliographer and librarian at the National Library of the Philippines
National Library of the Philippines
The National Library of the Philippines is the official national library of the Philippines. The complex is located in Ermita on a portion of Rizal Park facing T.M. Kalaw Avenue, neighboring culturally significant buildings such as the Museum of Philippine Political History and the National...
for the next six years. During his time in the Philippines Robertson was instrumental in establishing library science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
as a discipline for instruction at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
.
Robertson returned to the U.S. and Washington in 1917, taking up a position with the federal Department of Commerce. In 1918 Robertson was the founding editor of the Hispanic American Historical Review, an academic journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
devoted to Latin American and Hispanic history. He remained the journal's editor-in-chief until his death.
In 1923 he gained a position as professor at Stetson University
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S...
in DeLand, Florida
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 24,375. It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 436,575 in 2006...
, and lectured there for the next ten years. In 1935 he moved to Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
as the archivist for the Maryland State Archives' Hall of Records.
Robertson died three years later on March 20, 1939 in Annapolis.