David Yancey Thomas, educator, author, and political activist, was born in Fulton County, Kentucky, in 1872. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory College in 1894. He then taught for two years in the public schools of Perote, Alabama, and Coleman, Georgia. Thomas was awarded a scholastic fellowship by Vanderbilt University and received his Master of Arts degree from that institution in 1898. He spent the next three years teaching Latin and Greek at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. In 1901, he was awarded a fellowship in history at Columbia University, and he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1903. He returned to Hendrix College in 1902 and taught history and political science there for three years. He taught at the University of Florida from 1905-1907. In 1908, he became professor of history and political science at the University of Arkansas, where he remained until 1941, except for intervals in 1924, 1930, 1940, and the fall of 1941, when he taught at the University of Texas. He was also on the summer faculty at Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee.

Thomas authored numerous articles, short works, and several books. Some of his books include: A History of Military Government in Newly Acquired Territory of the United States, New York (Columbia University Press, 1904); co-author with John H. Reynolds of History of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (University of Arkansas, 1910); One Hundred Years of the Monroe Doctrine, New York (Macmillan Co., 1923); Arkansas in War and Reconstruction, 1861-1874, Little Rock (Arkansas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1926); Arkansas and its People, a History, 1531-1930, New York (American Historical Society, 1930); co-author with Hazel Presson of The Story of Arkansas, Little Rock (Democrat Printing Co., 1942).

Thomas was a member of many professional organzations and societies, including: the American Historical Association, Mississippi Valley Historical Association, American Political Science Association, Southwest Political Science Association, University Commission on Race Relations, and Social Science Research Council. He also helped to revive the Arkansas Historical Association in 1941, and served as first editor of the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. He was active in the Democratic Party and the Methodist Church, as well.

David Yancey Thomas married Elizabeth Janney in 1905. They became parents of two children: Mary Elizabeth and Albert Janney.