James L. Barker

James Louis Barker (27 July 1880 – 29 May 1958) was an American historian and a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Early life Barker's mother, the former Margaret Stalle, was a native of Italy, who was a Waldensian before she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Barker received his early education in the Weber County (Utah) School District and the University of Utah (B.A., 1901). Barker then served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Swiss–Austrian Mission of the LDS Church.

Career In 1906, Barker married Kate Montgomery. After his return to the United States, he was hired as Principal of Weber Academy (now Weber State University) and later as Chair of Brigham Young University's fledgling language department. In 1919, he was appointed head of the University of Utah's Modern Language Department, a position he held for almost three decades. He continued to serve as president of the Argentine mission until 1944. After this David O. McKay gave Barker the assignment to work to reestablish the LDS Church in Italy. This effort was delayed by the death of Barker in a car accident in 1958.

In September 1947, Barker and his wife accompanied Archibald F. Bennett and James M. Black on their three-week trip to the Piedmont Region of northern Italy in which they microfilmed records for the Genealogical Society of Utah.