James Ward Byrkit

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Northern Arizona University

James Byrkit Obituary

BYRKIT, James Ward, Arizona native and prominent Southwest historian James Ward Byrkit passed away at his Flagstaff home on Sunday, September 25, 2011. He was 80 years old. Born in Jerome, Arizona on June 17, 1931, Jim was raised in Clarkdale and graduated from Clarkdale High School. He joined the US Army in 1949 and served during the Korean War. He earned his Ph.D. in American Economic and Social History from Claremont Graduate University. A Professor Emeritus of Interdisciplinary Studies at Northern Arizona University, he taught from 1973 to 1996. Jim researched and wrote extensively about Southwest topics including ancient trails, Spanish and early pioneer explorers, Native American studies, environmental issues in the Verde Valley and Arizona mining and labor history. He wrote the widely respected "Forging the Copper Collar" in 1982, a comprehensive account of the Bisbee Deportation, and edited "Letters from the Southwest" by Charles Lummis. He collected historical maps and contributed original cartography to a number of published research works. Jim was an expert on Arizona history and authored the entry for "Arizona" in the 1990 and 2000 editions of Encyclopedia Britannica. After retiring from NAU he continued to give over 300 original media and oral presentations on subjects ranging from the Palatkwapi Trail, to the Lost Apache Gold Mine, to birds in Arizona's Oak Creek-Sedona area. He was active in the Verde River Citizen's Alliance, working to teach the importance of the Verde River in all aspects of life in the Verde Valley. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Anne; daughter, Rebecca of Bisbee; daughter, Ramona of Hanoi, Viet Nam; son, James Ward (Alethea) of Los Angeles; daughter, Alyssa of San Jose and four grandchildren, Jedidiah, Ezekiel, Gibson and Andie. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. outdoors at the Riordan Mansion, 409 West Riordan Ranch Road, Flagstaff. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Riordan Action Network. Arrangements by NORVEL OWENS MORTUARY.

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Published by Arizona Daily Star on Sep. 29, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for James Byrkit

4 Entries

Joseph Wilder

October 1, 2011

To the family of Jim Byrkit -- I could not join you today to honor my friend and colleague, Jim, whose memory is haunting me all this week and whom I shall never forget. Jim's "The Southwest Defined" was one of the most powerful, wonderful, and important essays/monographs I have published (in Journal of the Southwest) in 25 years. I have had nothing but the greatest respect for Jim and his brainy, wonderful work -- and I have deep affection for his humble and modest and disarming way in the world. Jim remains for me a model for how to be in the world; I hold his example before me.

Always, after talking about analytic and pre-analytic definitions of the Southwest -- one of his favorite topics! -- we would end up talking about family, often our children. I was just starting out and Jim still had Becky the poet in college at the UA (and boy was he proud of you) -- and Jim was so solicitous and humane and loving in talking about my little family and so lovingly warm and proud of his own -- clearly Jim was man of enormous good heart and cheer and character -- and little sentimentality. I remember that once, it must have been 1997, Jim met my wife, pregnant with our son, late at night in the train station in Flagstaff, just returning to Arizona from Chicago, and saw her to the hotel -- a really nice favor and imposition I prevailed upon him and which we both remember with gratitude and fondness.

Jim was a great and important scholar whose work is now foundational and canonic in Southwest studies. But from what I know, he was an even greater husband and father and friend, and nothing more wonderful can be said of a man.

Peggy joins me sending our deepest condolences to you at this sad and hard time. Your own goodness is a testament to Jim and his vocation in the world. You are in our thoughts and prayers. -- Joe Wilder

Davis Kruize

October 1, 2011

My dearest Byrkit Family,

We are holding Mr. Byrkit "please call me Jim" in the light and send you all our deepest empathies and love. We are walking with you today, from afar...Amy, Eric and Muriel

Amy Davis

October 1, 2011

My dearest Byrkit Family--We are holding Mr. Byrkit (please call me "Jim") in the light and are sending our deepest empathies from a far. We are walking with you today, from 10,000 miles away...Love, Amy, Eric and Muriel

Debra Gregerman

September 30, 2011

Dear Anne, Becky, Ward, Alyssa, Ramona and family,
My deepest condolences; I wish I could join you to honor your beloved husband, father, grandfather with you; I hold you in my heart, thoughts, and prayers. May you be comforted in sadness by many near and far.
with sympathy and love,
Deb

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