author
(James Duncan) J. Duncan Campbell
1916–2007
Best known for writing about American military insignia and material culture, this Pennsylvania-born historian combined careful research with a collector’s eye for detail. His books helped preserve the look and history of U.S. military dress, badges, and belt plates for later readers and researchers.
1 Audiobook
American Military Insignia, 1800-1851
by (James Duncan) J. Duncan Campbell
About the author
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 17, 1916, J. Duncan Campbell was an American writer and military historian whose work focused on uniforms, insignia, and related artifacts. He graduated from Gettysburg College in 1937, later served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and died in Harrisburg on November 8, 2007.
Campbell is remembered for books such as American Military Insignia, 1800-1851 (with Edgar M. Howell), The Centennial History of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, 1852-1952, and later studies including works on belt plates and aviation badges. His writing shows a strong interest in the physical details of history—objects that might seem small at first glance, but reveal a great deal about military life and identity.
He was also part of the early circle that helped found the Company of Military Historians, reflecting his long-standing place in the field. Although not a household name, Campbell’s books remain useful to readers interested in American military history, collecting, and the close study of historical artifacts.