James Hampton Kirkland

James Hampton Kirkland (September 9, 1859 – August 5, 1939) was an American Latinist and university administrator. He served as the second chancellor of Vanderbilt University from 1893 to 1937.

Early life James Hampton Kirkland was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina. His father, William Clark, was a Methodist pastor. It was an attempt to ascertain whether Cynewulf was the author of a poem entitled The Harrowing of Hell. He was only thirty-three years old.

In 1895, Kirkland was a co-founder of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He served as its Secretary and Treasurer until 1908.

Meanwhile, as the Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, Kirkland upheld the morale on campus when Old Main, a historic building on campus, caught fire. By June 1937, the budget had improved and he suggested raising the salaries back to their original levels.

Death and legacy

Kirkland died on August 5, 1939, in Ontario, Canada, where he was vacationing. Old Main, Vanderbilt's administration building, was renamed Kirkland Hall in his honor. Kirkland's papers are kept at Vanderbilt University Archives and Special Collections.