Phi Psi Celebrates the Life of J. Duncan Campbell, Gettysburg '34
Phi Psi's from around the country join together to celebrate the life and legacy of one of its supporters. After serving his Fraternity tirelessly throughout his 91 years, J. Duncan Campbell, Gettysburg '34, passed away November 8, 2007 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Duncan was born May 17, 1916, in Harrisburg and was the son of Dr. J. Moore Campbell and Rose White Campbell. He was also the widower of Margaret H. Campbell, to whom he was married for sixty-three years. Duncan graduated from John Harris High School and Gettysburg College and shortly thereafter was commissioned as an Army Second Lieutenant, and subsequently earned his wings as an Army Aviator.
Following active duty during World War II, Duncan was on the faculty of the Harrisburg Academy for many years, and subsequently served as the National Secretary of the Fraternity. Later, he became the first Director of the William Penn Museum, where he worked until his retirement. He was also retired from the U.S. Army Reserve, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He held a life long interest in U.S. military history, insignia and uniforms. He was a highly skilled archeologist and served as a consultant to the Smithsonian Institution and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Among the sites he was retained to excavate and study were the Revolutionary War Encampments at Valley Forge and Morristown, N.J., as well as Fort Ticonderoga and Sackets Harbor, N.Y.; Fort Atkinson, Neb.; and Fort Adams, Miss. He was also a Founding Director of the Company of Military Historians.
An accomplished author, he published, among other books, a standard reference work on American Military Insignia 1800-1851 (Smithsonian Publications, 1951) and another on Aviation Badges of the United States Army, 1913-1946. He also wrote the Centennial History of Phi Kappa Psi, published in 1952. His final book, covering American Military Headgear Insignia, was published in 2004, when he was 88 years of age.
Duncan's affiliation with Phi Psi is continued through his surviving relatives including his two sons, James D. Campbell, Cornell '59, of Camp Hill and John W. Campbell of High Point, N.C., five grandchildren (one being James Duncan Campbell III, Cornell '90) and two great-grandsons. Also surviving is a sister, Virginia R. Campbell, of Trinity, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Dr. J. Moore Campbell, III, of Oklahoma City.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation, 5395 Emerson Way, Indianapolis, IN 46226-1415; or the Doriane Heather Campbell Fund, Eastern North Carolina Chapter, 3101 Industrial Drive, Suite 210, Raleigh, NC 27609; or the Vista School, 1249 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033.
J. Duncan Campbell was a great brother, Order of the SC member and a true historian of Phi Kappa Psi. He will be sorely missed as he enters Chapter Eternal.
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