Date: 1/24/26 11:26 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: James Society for Arkansas Birds
A snowy, bitterly cold day in Northwest Arkansas City has given me some time to think about the proposal to rebrand ARKANSAS AUDUBON SOCIETY (AAS).
I think it’s OK to fix the confusion in over-use of the name Audubon. It’s probably long past time we recognize that our great artist was also a slave holder, who bought and sold enslaved people.
But how do we do make name changes and “keep the faith” with our history and membership?
The key figure in AAS from beginning was Dr Douglas A. James. He was a founder. He was the one whose love and scientific interest in birds steered the society for his entire professional life.
I know he would never agree to this while he was still among us. But maybe the time has come. Why not honor him?
We could become Douglas Arthur James Society for Arkansas Birds. Doug’s name is not all over the place, so that change would end confusion. He was an ornithologist with a distinguished professional career. Leader in every important conservation effort in Arkansas that benefitted birds.
James Society for short.
