James H. Humphrey was a professor of physical education and a leader in the field of child learning through movement.

Humphrey received his bachelor's degree from Denison University, his master's degree from Case-Western Reserve University and his doctoral degree from Boston University. From 1937 to 1949 he served as Director of Health and Physical Education for the Bedford, Ohio City Schools, with a leave of absence from 1943 to 1945 to serve as a physical training officer in the US Naval Reserve. From 1951 to 1953 he was Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education at Michigan State University. He joined the faculty at the University of Maryland in 1953 as an Associate Professor and became a full Professor in 1956.

Widely known for his contributions to the professional literature, Professor Humphrey wrote textbooks, children's books, and numerous articles and research reports. He also served as Research Editor of the Journal of School Health and Director of the Institute on Research Design and Techniques in School and College Health Education.

The major focus of Professor Humphrey's research was in the area of child learning through motor activity, hypothesizing that children tend to learn more readily when learning is associated with meaningful physical activity. He developed the AMAV Technique, a procedure for teaching reading through movement, which is widely used to assist children who have reading problems. He was also responsible for the development of a program concerned with the integration of motor experiences with reading in the development of mathematics concepts for children.