James Payson Dixon

Background

James Payson Dixon was born on March 15, 1917, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Mary Russell and James P. Dixon. He was raised in a family that valued education, public service, and intellectual inquiry. A lifelong pacifist, he registered as a conscientious objector during the Second World War and completed alternative service with the National Institutes of Health. Dixon married Edla “Eddie” Denton Mills on August 30, 1941; their partnership lasted until her death in 1995.

Education

Dixon attended Antioch College from 1934 to 1939 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1943 and earned a Master of Science in public health administration from Columbia University in 1947. His professional preparation was further broadened by fellowships from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in public health and preventive medicine and from the Rockefeller Foundation in community medicine.

Career

Dixon began his professional career in hospital medicine and public health during the 1940s, including an internship at Boston City Hospital, fellowships with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, and medical-director service at Denver General Hospital. He subsequently held an associate professorship in preventive medicine and public health at the University of Colorado and managed Denver’s health and hospital services from 1948 to 1952. In 1952 he became health commissioner for the City and County of Philadelphia while also serving as a professor of public health and preventive medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His public-health work included participation in national policy discussions and service as acting assistant director of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1959 Dixon became the fifteenth president of Antioch College, leading the institution until 1975. His presidency included the expansion of Antioch into a diverse, national, multi-campus institution that became Antioch University in 1978. After leaving Antioch, he taught health administration and public health, including service at the University of North Carolina, visiting and clinical professorships in public health, and an interim presidency at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He was also associated with Walden University and remained active in public discussions of health policy, civil rights, drug policy, social security, and health education.

Achievements

• As president of Antioch College from 1959 to 1975, Dixon led the institution through major expansion and transformation into a diverse, national, multi-campus educational system that became Antioch University in 1978.

• He brought civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. to Antioch College as the commencement speaker in 1965.

• He contributed to national and international discussions of public-health policy, including issues involving drug abuse, social security, health education, and community medical care.

Works

• journal article

  • Integration of Public Health and Hospital Services in Denver

    (Article by James P. Dixon concerning the integration of p...)

    1950
  • The Community Responsibility for Medical Care

    (Article by James P. Dixon published in the American Journ...)

    1959

Views

Dixon was a lifelong pacifist and supported civil-liberties causes. His public positions reflected a commitment to civil rights, tolerance, and the examination of public-health policy through evidence and individual responsibility.

Membership

Dixon was active in local American Civil Liberties Union work after his Antioch presidency. His professional career also involved sustained participation in national and international public-health policy discussions.

• Active in local ACLU activities after his Antioch presidency.

  American Civil Liberties Union , United States

Personality

Dixon was described by family members and associates as compassionate, tolerant, patient, optimistic, intellectually gifted, peaceful, and gentle. He was also remembered for his kindness, readiness to help others reflect on difficult questions, and willingness to approach public issues with independence and moral seriousness.

Quotes from others about the person

• Family descriptions remembered Dixon as a compassionate, tolerant, patient, and optimistic man whose intellect was matched by a gentle and generous nature.

Interests

• He enjoyed travel, gardening, woodworking, winemaking, and repairing clocks and vintage automobiles.

Connections

Dixon was married to Edla “Eddie” Denton Mills from 1941 until her death in 1995. They had six children. Dixon was the father of James Payson Dixon, who later became president of Antioch College, and maintained close family connections throughout his life.

Father:

James

Mother:

Mary

Wife:

Edla Denton Mills

Dixon’s wife from 1941 until her death in 1995.

Daughter:

Linn Dixon Noble

Son:

Russell Mills Dixon

Daughter:

Pamela Dixon

Daughter:

Deborah Dixon Nelson

Daughter:

Donna Dixon McKlindon

Son:

Peter Carvill Dixon

References

• Dr. James Payson Dixon III Obituary and family biography documenting Dixon’s birth, education, public-health career, Antioch presidency, family, interests, civil-rights commitments, and death.
  2016
• Antioch College Presidents Institutional biography documenting Dixon’s education, public-health career, presidency of Antioch College, and role in the institution’s transformation.