Department of History

Robert J. (Jeff) Jakeman has played a central role in the development of the History Department's Archival Studies Program, which prepares graduate students for careers as professional archivists. Prior to joining the Auburn faculty in 1992 he worked as a professional archivist at the Auburn University Archives, the Air Force Historical Research Agency, and the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

He has published articles on archival topics and is currently writing a biography of Thomas McAdory Owen, an archival pioneer and Alabama native who founded the nation's first state archives in 1901. His research interests also include military aviation, Alabama history, and southern history. His first book, The Divided Skies: Establishing Segregated Flight Training at Tuskegee, Alabama, 1934-1942 (University of Alabama Press, 1992) describes the origins and establishment of World War II flying training programs for the Tuskegee Airmen.

He served as editor of The Alabama Review, a quarterly journal of Alabama history published by the Alabama Historical Association, from 1996 to 2008. He also serves as editor of the Encyclopedia of Alabama, an on-line reference work sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation in cooperation with Auburn.

He received his BA from the University of South Florida, his MA from Valdosta State University, and his PhD from Auburn University.

• PhD, Auburn University
• MA, Valdosta State University
• BA, University of South Florida

Books

• The Divided Skies: Establishing Segregated Flight Training at Tuskegee, Alabama, 1934-1942 (University of Alabama Press, 1992)

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