James Levi Barton (1855–1936) was an American Protestant missionary and educator who devoted his life to establishing and administering schools and colleges in the Near East, and overseeing Near East relief efforts before and after World War I. He rose to prominence in the United States and internationally when he was named Chairman of the American Committee for Relief in the Near East, and subsequently the follow-on organization, Near East Relief.[1] He was fluent in Armenian,[2] a prolific writer with numerous books to his name, and the recipient of multiple honorary degrees.
James Levi Barton en route to the Near East in 1919
He graduated from Middlebury College in 1881, and from Hartford Theological Seminary in 1885.[4][5] With conviction that foreign missions could bring great good to peoples abroad, he applied to serve overseas and sailed to the Near East with his bride. He was head of a large school system in Turkey for seven years before becoming president of Euphrates College, Harpoot, Turkey in 1892.
The couple returned to the United States when his wife's health began to fail. He found a position as foreign secretary of the ABCFM, the American Board of Foreign Missions.
In 1915 Barton found himself at the helm of the executive committee of very rich important Americans concerned about the Armenians and Syrians, The American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief (ACASR). What started as a modest but impactful fund-raising effort, evolved, into the largest most successful nationwide fund-raising campaign at that time,[6] complete with powerful posters.[7] By 1922 over $60 million had been distributed.[8] And before Near East Relief's Congressional Charter ended in 1930, over $116 million had been raised and distributed.
As chairman of the American Committee for Relief in the Near East (ACRNE), Barton guided relief for the Near East after World War I. He would be asked to represent the Foreign Missions Conference of North America at the London Conference in 1921, and attended the Lausanne Conference (1922-1923), where an American treaty to end the war with Turkey was framed.
Before he retired in 1927, he left as part of his legacy the acquisition of permanent funds for the support of 21 international, interdenominational institutions of higher learning, including two medical schools.
Family & Deathedit
Barton married Flora Holmes (1859-1945). Together they raised a son, Howard, and a daughter, Maude.
Barton passed away nine years before his wife-- he died at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, July 21, 1936. [4] Barton was buried at Newton Cemetery in Newton, Massachusetts. His tombstone shows the names of his wife and two offspring.
Missionary Tombstones in the Newton Cemetery
Honorary doctoratesedit
Barton was honored with five honorary doctorates from four universities:[3]
"The Crisis in Armenia". The New Armenia. XI (12) (published December 1919): 178–179. November 1919.
Additional readingedit
Online Books of James Levi Barton, The University of Pennsylvania
Referencesedit
^ abReport to Congress for 1924. New York: Near East Relief. 1925. p. 2. Retrieved March 17, 2023 – via Google Books.
^District Court of the United States for the District of Oregon, deposition qualifying Barton as an Armenian expert, especially p. 89,
^ ab"Memorial records for James L. Barton". American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
^ abc"Dr. J. L. Barton Dead, Churchman was 81". The Boston Globe. July 22, 1936. pp. 1, 17. Retrieved March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Anderson, Gerald H., ed. (1998). "Barton, James Levi (1855–1936)". Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions. New York: Macmillan Reference. p. 46. Retrieved March 17, 2023 – via Boston University School of Theology.
^Bengston, Carl J., ed. (1919). "The Sailing of the Armenian and Syrian Relief Expedition". The Lutheran Companion. Vol. 27. Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America. p. 127. Retrieved March 17, 2023 – via Google Books.
January 01, 1970
james, barton, james, levi, barton, 1855, 1936, american, protestant, missionary, educator, devoted, life, establishing, administering, schools, colleges, near, east, overseeing, near, east, relief, efforts, before, after, world, rose, prominence, united, stat. James Levi Barton 1855 1936 was an American Protestant missionary and educator who devoted his life to establishing and administering schools and colleges in the Near East and overseeing Near East relief efforts before and after World War I He rose to prominence in the United States and internationally when he was named Chairman of the American Committee for Relief in the Near East and subsequently the follow on organization Near East Relief 1 He was fluent in Armenian 2 a prolific writer with numerous books to his name and the recipient of multiple honorary degrees James Levi Barton en route to the Near East in 1919 Contents 1 Biography 2 Family amp Death 3 Honorary doctorates 4 Associated organizations 5 Books 6 Articles and journals 7 Additional reading 8 ReferencesBiography editJames L Barton was born to a Quaker family in Charlotte Vermont on September 23 1855 3 4 He graduated from Middlebury College in 1881 and from Hartford Theological Seminary in 1885 4 5 With conviction that foreign missions could bring great good to peoples abroad he applied to serve overseas and sailed to the Near East with his bride He was head of a large school system in Turkey for seven years before becoming president of Euphrates College Harpoot Turkey in 1892 The couple returned to the United States when his wife s health began to fail He found a position as foreign secretary of the ABCFM the American Board of Foreign Missions In 1915 Barton found himself at the helm of the executive committee of very rich important Americans concerned about the Armenians and Syrians The American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief ACASR What started as a modest but impactful fund raising effort evolved into the largest most successful nationwide fund raising campaign at that time 6 complete with powerful posters 7 By 1922 over 60 million had been distributed 8 And before Near East Relief s Congressional Charter ended in 1930 over 116 million had been raised and distributed As chairman of the American Committee for Relief in the Near East ACRNE Barton guided relief for the Near East after World War I He would be asked to represent the Foreign Missions Conference of North America at the London Conference in 1921 and attended the Lausanne Conference 1922 1923 where an American treaty to end the war with Turkey was framed Before he retired in 1927 he left as part of his legacy the acquisition of permanent funds for the support of 21 international interdenominational institutions of higher learning including two medical schools Family amp Death editBarton married Flora Holmes 1859 1945 Together they raised a son Howard and a daughter Maude Barton passed away nine years before his wife he died at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston July 21 1936 4 Barton was buried at Newton Cemetery in Newton Massachusetts His tombstone shows the names of his wife and two offspring nbsp Missionary Tombstones in the Newton CemeteryHonorary doctorates editBarton was honored with five honorary doctorates from four universities 3 Middlebury College Oberlin College Dartmouth College Grinnell CollegeAssociated organizations editForeign Secretary of American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions 9 Chairperson American Committee for Relief in the Near East 10 Chairperson Near East Relief 1 Books editThe Missionary and His Critics 1906 Daybreak in Turkey 1908 The Unfinished Task of the Christian Church Introductory Studies in the Problem of the World s Evangelization 1908 Human Progress through Missions 1912 Educational Missions 1913 The Christian Approach to Islam 1918 The Story of Near East Relief 1915 1930 1930Articles and journals edit The Effect of the War on Protestant Missions Harvard Theological Review XII 1 January 1919 The Crisis in Armenia The New Armenia XI 12 published December 1919 178 179 November 1919 Additional reading editOnline Books of James Levi Barton The University of PennsylvaniaReferences edit a b Report to Congress for 1924 New York Near East Relief 1925 p 2 Retrieved March 17 2023 via Google Books District Court of the United States for the District of Oregon deposition qualifying Barton as an Armenian expert especially p 89 a b Memorial records for James L Barton American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Retrieved March 17 2023 a b c Dr J L Barton Dead Churchman was 81 The Boston Globe July 22 1936 pp 1 17 Retrieved March 17 2023 via Newspapers com Anderson Gerald H ed 1998 Barton James Levi 1855 1936 Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions New York Macmillan Reference p 46 Retrieved March 17 2023 via Boston University School of Theology Connecticut Digital Newspaper Project American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief in World War I Era Connecticut published MAY 27 2016 https ctdigitalnewspaperproject org 2016 05 american committee for armenian and syrian relief in world war i era connecticut accessed August 23 2023 Citizen Philanthropy The Near East Museum https neareastmuseum com chapters citizen philanthropy accessed August 23 2023 The International Encyclopedia of the First World War https encyclopedia 1914 1918 online net article near east relief accessed August 23 2023 A Quiet Leader James L Barton Near East Foundation Retrieved March 17 2023 Bengston Carl J ed 1919 The Sailing of the Armenian and Syrian Relief Expedition The Lutheran Companion Vol 27 Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America p 127 Retrieved March 17 2023 via Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James L Barton amp oldid 1219302558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
