He has written multiple works on the subject, as well as appearing on C-Span for a special presentation about the writings of Lewis and Clark, which aired in 2001.
[3] Ronda's largest contribution to his field of study was his inclusion of the Native American perspective in the Lewis and Clark expeditions.
In 1980, he said, "I think I knew from the time I was quite young that I wanted to teach history at the university level, and my parents gave me a great deal of support for that choice."
Following his time at Youngstown, Ronda took a position as professor of Western American history, eventually serving as the H. G. Barnard Chair, at the University of Tulsa.
While reading Allen's book, he committed himself to engaging in a study on Lewis and Clark's interactions and relations with the Native American populations they encountered.
James Ronda's legacy will be tied to the attention he brought to the Native American perspective on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along with the expanded information his multiple books have added to the subject.