James Franklin Lane (1874–1944) was an American educator and college president. For 37 years, he served as the third president of

Lane College Lane College is a private historically black college associated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and located in Jackson, Tennessee. It offers associate and baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences. History Lane College ...

, a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

historically black college Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of serving African Americans. Most are in the Southern U ...

located in

Jackson, Tennessee Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Tennessee, United States. Located east of Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis and 130 Miles Southwest of Nashville, it is a regional center of trade for West Tennessee. Its total population wa ...

. He was the son of bishop Isaac Lane, the namesake of Lane College.

Early life and education

James Franklin Lane was born February 18, 1874, in Jackson, Tennessee, to parents Francis (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Boyce) and Isaac Lane. His father was the fifth bishop of the

Colored Methodist Episcopal Church The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.C.) is a Methodist denomination that is based in the United States. It adheres to Wesleyan-Arminian theology. Though historically a part of the black church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal church ...

in America (later known as the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church). He had 10 siblings, his sister

Jennie Lane Jennie may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Jennie'' (film), a 1940 American drama film * ''Jennie'' (musical), a 1963 Broadway production * ''Jennie'' (novel), a 1994 science fiction thriller by Douglas Preston * '' Jennie: Lady Randolph C ...

became the first teacher and principal of Lane College. He attended high school and the normal school coursework at Lane College. Lane continued his studies at Central Tennessee College (later known as Walden University) in Nashville (B.A. degree 1891). Lane did academic work at

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...

in 1897. He received a M.A. degree from Central Tennessee College in 1903.

Career

In 1896, Lane was the principal at Panola High School in

Sardis, Mississippi Sardis is a town in Panola County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 1,748. Sardis is one of two county seats for Panola County; the other is Batesville, on the south side of the Tallahatchie River. Ge ...

. He went on to teach mathematics at Lane College, shortly followed by a promotion to department head teacher. Lane was elected president of Lane College in 1907, succeeding James Albert Bray who had left to serve as president of

Miles College Miles College is a private historically black college in Fairfield, Alabama. Founded in 1898, it is associated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME Church) and a member of the United Negro College Fund. History Miles College b ...

in Fairfield, Alabama. He remained as president for 37 years. During his administration, the college improved its educational facilities and became one of the few Black schools to be accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. As of 2022, the organization oversees ap ...

(SACS). Lane died at the age of 70 on December 11, 1944, in Jackson, Tennessee.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, James Franklin 1874 births 1944 deaths African-American academic administrators Presidents of Lane College People of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church People from Jackson, Tennessee Walden University (Tennessee) alumni