Harlean James

Harlean James (1877–1969) was the executive secretary of the American Planning and Civic Association, executive secretary of the National Conference on State Parks. She advocated for the expansion of parks in the United States and was awarded the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Bronze Medal Award in 1942, followed by the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Gold Medal Award in 1952 for her "years of devoted service in the interest of America's parks."

Life and career James was born in Mattoon, Illinois in 1877. She received her B.A. degree in history from Stanford University in 1898. After undertaking graduate studies at the University of Chicago and Columbia University, James worked as a court reporter and private secretary for the collector of customs in Honolulu (1903–1904). She then became the general manager of the California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Co. in San Francisco (1905–1906), before serving as the corporate secretary of the J.B. Castle companies in Honolulu from 1906 to 1908.

She received the outstanding service award from the American Society of Planning Officials in 1954. James was also appointed an honorary vice president of the American Foresting Association. Furthermore, she was inducted into several groups including the American Institute of Planners, American Society of Landscape Architects, and the American Institute of Architects.

In 1990, Harlean James was designated a National Planning Pioneer by the American Planning Association.

Works James wrote extensively on cities, parks, and planning. Her Romance of the National Parks (1939) is credited, along with planning conferences of which she was part, with spurring the expansion of the national park system.

James's notable works include: As author The Building of Cities (1916) Land Planning in the U.S. for the City, State and Nation (1926) Romance of the National Parks (1939)

As editor What About the Year 2000? (1929) The American Planning and Civic Association's Annuals (1927–57) 25th Anniversary Yearbook on Park and Recreation Progress (1942) James also was associate editor of Federal Affairs in National Municipal Review and the New Washington and Civic Art section of the American Magazine of Art; and contributed a number of entries to the Encyclopædia Britannica.