Chronology

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1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

2. fall 1907
   Chapel Hill James Finch Royster joins the university's English department

   James Finch Royster came to the university's English department in the fall of 1907 and taught there for seven years.

3. 1914
   Chapel Hill James Finch Royster leaves the university for the University of Texas

   Royster, who had been teaching the journalism course Edward Kidder Graham created, left Chapel Hill for the University of Texas, one of the faculty Graham could not keep during his year as acting president.

4. 1921
   Chapel Hill James Finch Royster returns as Kenan Professor of English Philology

   After seven years in Texas, Royster accepted the Kenan Professorship of English Philology, which he held until his death. Covington says President Chase recruited him back from Austin.

5. 1922
   Construction or physical change · 619 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Graduate dean James Finch Royster builds a house on East Franklin Street

   James Finch Royster, dean of the UNC graduate school in the later 1920s, built the two-story house at 619 East Franklin Street in 1922.

6. 1922
   Chapel Hill James Finch Royster becomes dean of the College of Liberal Arts

   Royster became dean of the College of Liberal Arts in 1922 and introduced the major-minor system, sectioning of students by ability, and an advisory system that later grew into the General College.

7. Spring 1925
   Law, policy or court · UNC, Chapel Hill Dean James F. Royster refuses Shaw University debaters seats in the gallery

   When the debate team of Shaw University, a Black college in Raleigh, asked only to sit in the gallery and watch Carolina's debaters meet Washington and Lee, Royster, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said no, fearing it would reflect poorly on the university.

8. June 1925
   Appointment, election or service · Graduate School, UNC, Chapel Hill Edwin Greenlaw leaves the Graduate School deanship for Johns Hopkins

   Greenlaw left after five years as dean, during which graduate enrollment had tripled to 346 students in eighteen departments. The Alumni Review said he was being driven from the state by tight budgets. James F. Royster followed him as dean.

9. May 1927
   Publication, speech or performance · University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill Press governors object to Paul Green's introduction to Congaree Sketches

   Called before Chase and the press's board, assistant editor William T. Couch heard Royster and the others condemn Green's introduction, which said neither race could leave the ditch until whites gave Blacks a hand. Couch pointed out that some 150 advance copies were already out, and the book went out as printed. Six months later, at Chase's order, unsold copies went to a commercial publisher, which reprinted it without Green's introduction.

10. 1933
    Property or economic transaction · 619 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill State senator John Umstead buys the Royster house on East Franklin Street

    In 1933 state senator John Umstead bought the house at 619 East Franklin Street, and it has carried his name since.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 2, 2026.