James F. Barker

James Francis Barker (1871 – 10 Dec 1950) was the second president of the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute, succeeding Carleton B. Gibson, from 1916 – 1919.Citation
last = Saffran
first = Michael
publication-date = March 2007
title = RIT's presidential history
periodical = RIT news & events
publication-place = Henrietta, NY
publisher = Rochester Institute of Technology
volume = 39
issue = 11
url = http://www.rit.edu/~930www/NewsEvents/2007/Mar02/t6.html
accessdate = 2008-01-18

He was born in 1871 in Keokuk, IowaCitation
title=Death of James Barker, of The Eagle's Wing Studio
newspaper=The Inquirer and Mirror
publication-place=Nantucket, Massachusetts
date=23 Dec 1950
year=1950
month=December
page=9 . He graduated from Cornell University in 1893 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent another year studying Architecture at the graduate level. He briefly worked at D. H. Burnham & Company and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. before switching to education, becoming Superintendent of the Manual Training Department at East Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1897. He left in 1904 to pursue similar positions at Grand Rapids High School and the Hackley School in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1906, he participated in the formation of East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio and served as its first Principal.

He married the former Kate Spooner in 1897 and raised one daughter.

He came to the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute after his predecessor resigned to continue his work in the war relief effort. He oversaw the Institute during World War I, but subsequently left to become Superintendent of Junior and Technical Education in the Rochester City School System. He also served as general supervisor of evening, summer, and continuation programs for the Rochester School District.

After he retired, he operated a photographic studio called "The Eagle's Wing" on Nantucket Island during the Summer months. He named the studio after an island steamboat his grandfather had captained on the Great Lakes. He also pursued paintingcite web
title = The Nantucket Art Colony, 1920-45
publisher = [http://www.nha.org Nantucket Historical Association]
date = May 26, 2007
url = http://www.nha.org/digitalexhibits/artistcolony/jamesbarker.htm
accessdate = 2008-02-02 , pottery, metal working, and cabinet making.

He died in his Rochester home at the age of 78 and is interred on Nantucket.Citation
title=James Barker, 78, Veteran Educator, Ex-RIT Head, Dies
newspaper=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
publication-place=Rochester, New York
date=11 Dec 1950
year=1950
month=December
page=18

References