Russell Parsons Jameson was born on January 5, 1878 in Mansfield, Ohio to Charles and Sarah Jameson. Jameson had four siblings including two brothers, Walter and George, and two sisters, Sarah and Nell. He received two degrees from Oberlin College (A.B. 1900, M.A. 1906). Jameson also received a doctorate degree from the University of Paris in 1911.

During his undergraduate days at Oberlin College, he played both baseball and football. At Oberlin he met Florence Heath (’00), and they were married in February 1901. They had one daughter, Marjorie Nardella (OC 1937), born in 1904.

Russell Jameson started his career at Oberlin College in 1904 as a Tutor in Declamation and Athletic Director. He served as an instructor of French and Physical Education from 1905 to 1910. Jameson advanced to associate professor in Romance languages in 1910, and was appointed a full professor in 1920. During his tenure at Oberlin College, he was active in the Modern Language Association; both attending conferences, and writing for their publication.

Professor Jameson helped establish the French House at Oberlin College in 1924. In 1934, Russell Jameson was awarded the Cross of a Chevalier dans l’Ordre de la Legion d’Honneur of France, for his contributions to French culture through his teaching and writing. A main interest of Professor Jameson included fencing, which he taught and coached. He was the coach of the intramural fencing team for several years at Oberlin College. Other interests of Professor Jameson included playing in the Conservatory Orchestra, and singing in the choir at First Church in Oberlin.

He published several times, and his writings included Le Cercle Français (1920), Chants De France (1922), The Modern Language Club (1929), Montesquieu Et L’esclavage (1911), and Rire Et Sourire (1926). The Oberlin College Library holds these titles, and a copy of his Masters Thesis entitled The Theory of Play and Games (1906).

Professor Jameson was also a faculty advisor in the French Club. He retired from teaching at Oberlin College in August of 1944. He continued to travel, and regularly spent summers in Ontario, Canada. Russell and Florence Jameson owned property in Florida, where they wintered regularly after his retirement. He died on June 2,1954 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Oberlin. Florence Jameson died in 1964.

Cowdery, Kirke Lionel. (1925). “Russell P. Jameson, ‘00” Oberlin Alumni Magazine, 21(7): 17-18.

------. (1954). Memorial Minute, adopted by General Faculty, Sept. 28, 1954. Oberlin Alumni Magazine, 51(1): 12.

------. (1934). Dr. Jameson Wins Cross. Oberlin Alumni Magazine, 30(9): 272, 273.

Faculty File and Student File of Russell P. Jameson, (Alumni &Development Records, RG 28). For book titles, see Oberlin College online catalog, OBIS.