Collection on James Watt Raine

James Watt Raine (1869–1949) was born in England to Scottish parents. His family immigrated to the U.S. in 1880 or 1881, settling in West Virginia and Ohio. Raine graduated from Oberlin College, obtaining a master's degree in English. He also attended Union Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary, earning additional degrees. Raine became a U.S. citizen in 1898. He married Clara Martz in Ohio in 1899. The couple had six children.

J.W. Raine came to Berea College in 1906 as a professor of English, dramatics, and religion. He served as chair of the English Department from 1906 to 1939. During his tenure, Raine wrote and produced many plays. He also taught about world cultures and regions. In 1929, 1930, and 1935, he led groups of Bereans on tours of western Europe.

Raine was an ordained minister and was active in the YMCA movement. Prior to coming to Berea College, he served as the pastor of Congregational Churches in Cortland and Riverhead, New York. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army training chaplains.

During his last year of teaching, Raine served as the President of the Southern Association of Teachers of Speech. He retired from Berea College in 1939 and died in Berea in 1949.

Raine's published writings include Public Speaking for Normal and Academy Students (1915), God's In His Heaven (1916), Mountain Ballads for Social Songing (1923), The Land of Saddlebags: A Study of the Mountain People of Appalachia (1924), Bible Dramatics (1927), and Job, the Prince of Uz (1938).

Source: Based on the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center Digital Access entry https://ljacatc.berea.edu/pawtucket/index.php/Detail/entities/1869 (accessed 2025 September 25).