James Ronald Warren
Encyclopedia
James Ronald Warren is a Seattle historian
instrumental in rediscovering the source of the Seattle fire
of 1889. He also fought as a member of the 242nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division at the Battle of the Bulge
and was a German POW
.
He is an Emeritus Director of the Museum of History and Industry
in Seattle, Washington.
, on May 25, 1925 to Mr. Chappelle and Dorthy Hope Rodgers Chappelle. Mr. Chappelle died when James was a baby. His mother remarried Hubert Samuel Warren from whom he took his last name. James is the half brother of archeologist Claude Nelson Warren
.
He attended Goldendale Jr. High School in Goldendale, Washington
, and graduated from Wishram High School in Wishram, Washington
in 1943 and was drafted shortly thereafter.
and a Purple Heart
for his participation in the battle.
Following his liberation from a German POW camp he returned to the US to recuperate and was preparing to deploy into the Pacific Theatre when the war ended.
in 1946 where he earned his Bachelors degree in Public Speaking. Warren worked a year for a radio station in Bend, Oregon
where he met is wife Gwen. He began attending the University of Washington
where he earned a Masters in Communications. In 1963 Warren earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington
He was the president of Edmonds Junior College
from 1970 to 1980.
Warren became the director of the Museum of History and Industry
in 1980 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1987.
In 1983 Warren began writing a weekly history column for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
.
In his 1989 Monograph, The Day Seattle Burned, Warren correctly re-identified Victor Clairmont's cabinet shop as the source of the Seattle fire rather than the commonly attributed James McGough's paint shop on the floor above.
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...
instrumental in rediscovering the source of the Seattle fire
Great Seattle Fire
The Great Seattle Fire was a fire that destroyed the entire central business district of Seattle, Washington, USA, on June 6, 1889.-Early Seattle:In the fall of 1851, the Denny Party arrived at Alki Point in what is now the state of Washington...
of 1889. He also fought as a member of the 242nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division at the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
and was a German POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
He is an Emeritus Director of the Museum of History and Industry
Museum of History and Industry
The Museum of History and Industry is a museum located in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States.Accredited by the American Association of Museums, MOHAI is "dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound...
in Seattle, Washington.
Early life
Born in Goldendale, WashingtonGoldendale, Washington
Goldendale is a rural agricultural town in and the county seat of Klickitat County, Washington, United States, near the Columbia River Gorge. The population within city limits was 3,760 at the 2000 census and 3,407, a 9.4% decrease at the 2010 census. A nationally known point of interest is north...
, on May 25, 1925 to Mr. Chappelle and Dorthy Hope Rodgers Chappelle. Mr. Chappelle died when James was a baby. His mother remarried Hubert Samuel Warren from whom he took his last name. James is the half brother of archeologist Claude Nelson Warren
Claude Nelson Warren
Claude Nelson Warren is a California Desert anthropologist and specialist in early man in the Far West and has been instrumental in defining the San Dieguito and La Jolla cultural complexes...
.
He attended Goldendale Jr. High School in Goldendale, Washington
Goldendale, Washington
Goldendale is a rural agricultural town in and the county seat of Klickitat County, Washington, United States, near the Columbia River Gorge. The population within city limits was 3,760 at the 2000 census and 3,407, a 9.4% decrease at the 2010 census. A nationally known point of interest is north...
, and graduated from Wishram High School in Wishram, Washington
Wishram, Washington
Wishram is a census-designated place in Klickitat County, Washington, United States. The population was 213 at the 2000 census. The site of the historic Celilo Falls is nearby....
in 1943 and was drafted shortly thereafter.
War Years
Warren attended boot camp near 29 Palms, CA as well as Camp Gruber, OK. He was training for deployment in North Africa but was deployed to Northern France where his Division participated in the Battle of the Bulge where he was captured. His regiment was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Warren received a Bronze Star MedalBronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for his participation in the battle.
Following his liberation from a German POW camp he returned to the US to recuperate and was preparing to deploy into the Pacific Theatre when the war ended.
University Years
Warren returned home from World War II in 1945. He began attending Washington State UniversityWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in 1946 where he earned his Bachelors degree in Public Speaking. Warren worked a year for a radio station in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
where he met is wife Gwen. He began attending the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where he earned a Masters in Communications. In 1963 Warren earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington
Professional Life
Between 1963 and 1970 Warren worked as a classical music radio host in the Seattle area.He was the president of Edmonds Junior College
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
from 1970 to 1980.
Warren became the director of the Museum of History and Industry
Museum of History and Industry
The Museum of History and Industry is a museum located in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States.Accredited by the American Association of Museums, MOHAI is "dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound...
in 1980 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1987.
In 1983 Warren began writing a weekly history column for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
.
In his 1989 Monograph, The Day Seattle Burned, Warren correctly re-identified Victor Clairmont's cabinet shop as the source of the Seattle fire rather than the commonly attributed James McGough's paint shop on the floor above.