James Walker

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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''.

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. (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. (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

References

• Walker, James H. (2001) "Things... Remembered!... Stories About Western Jefferson County, Alabama (Forward by Mike Oakley)

External links

• Find A Grave website

[[Category:Artists}