James Fulton Zimmerman
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James Fulton Zimmerman (September 11, 1887 – October 20, 1944) was an American historian and professor of political science. He was the seventh president of
University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; ) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, it is the state's second oldest university, a flagship university in th ...
and played a central role in its development and expansion. He is known in the academic historical world for his research into the subject of American seamen " impressed" into the Royal Navy by the British before and during the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
. He also played an important role in the founding of the New Mexico Coronado Cuarto Centennial Commission, of which he served as its first president.


Early life and education

Zimmerman was born in Glen Allen, Missouri, on September 11, 1887. University of New Mexico, Zimmerman biography, 2020 In 1913, he was awarded an M.A. degree. That year he also married Willa Adella Tucker, who went by her middle name Adella. Zimmerman received a bachelor's and a master's degree from
Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...
in Nashville, Tennessee. What appealed to Zimmerman the most was education at the university level. Zimmerman undertook his own studies to increase his chances of obtaining a faculty position. He enrolled in the doctoral program in history and political science at
Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
in 1919 and received his Ph.D. in 1925 with a dissertation titled "Impressment of American Seamen", which was published later that year by Columbia University Press. Davis, 2006, Biography, University of New Mexico Upon graduation Zimmerman was offered teaching positions from Ohio State University and the University of New Mexico. Zimmerman chose New Mexico and moved to Albuquerque with his wife, Adella, in 1925.


Career

Zimmerman was a professor of political science. Two years later he became the university's president on June 4, 1928, and held that position until 1944, when his executive assistant, Tom Popejoy, assumed that position. Flint & Flint New Mexico State Records and Archives The first postgraduate studies in the southwest were a direct result of his efforts to continue the direction and work of the university's former presidents while never losing focus on academics. Well known for his management style, Zimmerman's inauguration to the presidency was formally celebrated and was attended by New Mexico Governor Richard C. Dillon along with public school officials from across the state. Also in attendance was the president of
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
, Ray Lyman, who was the main guest speaker, who six months later became
Secretary of the Interior Secretary of the Interior may refer to: * Secretary of the Interior (Mexico) * Interior Secretary of Pakistan * Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (Philippines) * United States Secretary of the Interior See also

*Interior ministry ...
in the cabinet of President
Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and ...
. The first postgraduate studies in that geographical era were a direct result of his efforts to continue the direction and work of his predecessors, while never losing focus on academics. As a historian, Zimmerman researched British
impressment Impressment, colloquially "the press" or the "press gang", is a type of conscription of people into a military force, especially a naval force, via intimidation and physical coercion, conducted by an organized group (hence "gang"). European nav ...
of American seamen during the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
. His work covers three periods of failed diplomatic negotiation between the United States and Great Britain over the British assertion of the right to impress American seamen into the British Royal Navy, which is often referred to by historians in that area of study. Zimmerman explained the effect of the practice of massive and prolonged British impressment on Anglo-American relations during the administrations of Presidents
John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before Presidency of John Adams, his presidency, he was a leader of ...
and
Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (, 1743July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the United States Declaration of Indepe ...
. He was the first historian to study U.S. State Department records on impressment. His estimate of the numbers of Americans impressed is considered conservative, at 10,000. His work reviews the legal and diplomatic debates surrounding the Royal Navy's impressment of American citizens since the War of 1812. Wolf, 2015, p. 20 When the New Mexico Coronado Cuarto Centennial Commission was established in 1935, Zimmerman was elected its president. He joined Edgar Hewett, a longtime friend in a commemoration that lasted a year, which included the creation of Coronado State Monument at the ruins of
Kuaua Pueblo Coronado Historic Site is the Tiwa pueblo of Kuaua and a historic site that is part of the State-governed Museum of New Mexico system. It is located along U.S. Federal Route 550, 1 mile west of Bernalillo and 16 miles north of Albuquerque. His ...
, near Bernalillo. In 1940 Zimmerman published ''The Coronado Cuarto Centennial'', in ''
The Hispanic American Historical Review The ''Hispanic American Historical Review'' is a quarterly, peer-reviewed, scholarly journal of Latin American history, the official publication of the Conference on Latin American History, the professional organization of Latin American histori ...
''. Zimmernam, 1940, Journal, pp. 158–162 Zimmerman died October 20, 1944, at the age of 57 from a second heart attack after struggling with
coronary thrombosis Coronary thrombosis is defined as the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel of the heart. This blood clot may then restrict blood flow within the heart, leading to heart tissue damage, or a myocardial infarction, also known as a heart ...
.
Zimmerman Field Zimmerman Field was a stadium located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It opened in 1938 and hosted the University of New Mexico Lobos football team until they moved to University Stadium in 1960. The stadium continued in use for intramural sports u ...
and
Zimmerman Library Zimmerman Library is the historic main library of the University of New Mexico, located near the center of the university campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is one of the largest and most notable buildings designed by New Mexico architect Jo ...
at the University of New Mexico were named for him.


See also

*
Scholes Hall Scholes Hall is the historic administration building of the University of New Mexico, located on the main campus in Albuquerque. It was the first of many buildings designed for the university by Santa Fe architect John Gaw Meem, who helped to ce ...


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zimmerman, James Fulton American historians 1887 births 1944 deaths People from Bollinger County, Missouri Columbia University alumni Vanderbilt University alumni Presidents of the University of New Mexico Historians from Missouri Historians from New Mexico