A Guide to the Alfred Proctor James Papers, 1898-1982
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 39414
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
© 2002 By the Library of Virginia.
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Trenton Hizer
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Alfred Proctor James Papers, 1898-1982. Accession 39414, Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Lent for microfilming by the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library, Lancaster, Virginia, 5 March 2002.
Biographical/Historical Information
Alfred Procter James was born 7 February 1886 in Fox Hill, Virginia, to Cyrus Rosser James and Annie Elwood Shields James. He graduated from Chesapeake Academy in 1903, and received an AB from Randolph-Macon College in 1906. A Rhodes Scholar from 1907 to 1910, James received a BA and an MA from Oxford University in England in 1910 and 1915 respectively. He received an AM from the University of Chicago in 1912 and a PhD from that university in 1924. James taught Latin at Randolph-Macon in 1905-1906, and taught Latin, Greek, and history at Castle Heights School in Lebanon, Tennessee from 1906 to 1907. James was a fellow in history at the University of Chicago from 1910 to 1911. He worked as a salesman for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1911 to 1912 and as an agent for Ginn and Company from 1912 to 1916. James taught as a history instructor at Ohio Wesleyan in 1916-1917, and as an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas from 1917 to 1918. Moving to the University of Pittsburgh in 1918, he was an assistant professor there until 1924, when he was appointed a full professor. James remained at the University of Pittsburgh until he retired. James wrote books on the Ohio Company and on the Civil War in Mississippi Valley. He also edited the works of General John Forbes (1707-1759). James married Mabel Elizabeth Williams (1896-1979) 22 June 1916 and they had one son. James died in Delaware, Pennsylvania, in November 1971.
Scope and Content Information
Papers, 1898-1982 (bulk 1938-1956), of Alfred Procter James (1886-1971) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, concerning the Chesapeake Academy which operated in Lancaster County, Virginia, from 1889 to 1906 and consisting of: Correspondence, Subject Files, Manuscript Draft, and Card files. Correspondence consists of letters, 1930-1956, regarding research on the Chesapeake Academy and containing correspondence from former students and faculty. Subject Files contain biographies of some students and teachers of the Academy; catalogs, 1898-1904, of the Chesapeake Academy; a circular, 1906, for the Academy; commencement programs, 1892, 1897-1898, and 1900-1901; bibliography of Alfred James' publications; lists of faculty and students at the Chesapeake Academy; miscellaneous items; newspaper abstracts on the Chesapeake Academy; photograph, ca. 1892, of the student body; questionnaires filled out by former students of the Chesapeake Academy; stock certificate for the Chesapeake Academy issued 3 July 1905; and a letter, 6 December 1941, from Wendell Willkie (1892- 1944) to James. Manuscript Draft consists of several drafts of James' proposed book on the Chesapeake Academy. Card Files consist of cards containing: information on the students of the Chesapeake Academy; the Academy's faculty; James' research for his book on the Ohio Land Company; miscellaneous items; newspaper extracts on the Chesapeake Academy; Academy catalogues; and directors of the Chesapeake Academy.
Organization
Organized into four series: I. Correspondence, 1930-1956. II. Subject Files. III. Manuscript Draft. IV. Card Files.
Note
Microfilm targets give dates as 1898-1956, bulk 1938-1956.
Contents List
Correspondence consists of letters, 1930-1956, regarding research on the Chesapeake Academy and containing correspondence from former students and faculty.
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 1
1930
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 2
1938 (January-March)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 3
1938 (April)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 4
1938 (May-September)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 5
1939
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 6
1940
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 7
1941 (April-July)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 8
1941 (August)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder 9
1941 (September 1-15)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder
10
1941 (September 16-30)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder
11
1941 (October 1-10)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder
12
1941 (October 11-20)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 1 Folder
13
1941 (October 21-31)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 1
1941 (November 1-15)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 2
1941 (November 16-30)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 3
1941 (December)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 4
1942 (January-May)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 5
1942 (October-November)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 6
1942 (December)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 7
1943 (January)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 8
1943 (February)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder 9
1943 (March-May)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
10
1943 (October-December)
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
11
1946
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
12
1951
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
13
1952
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
14
1953
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
15
1954
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
16
1956
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 2 Folder
17
n.d.
Subject Files contain biographies of some students and teachers of the Academy; catalogues, 1898-1904, of the Chesapeake Academy; a circular, 1906, for the Academy; commencement programs, 1892, 1897-1898, and 1900-1901; bibliography of Alfred James' publications; lists of faculty and students at the Chesapeake Academy; miscellaneous items; newspaper abstracts on the Chesapeake Academy; photograph, ca. 1892, of the student body; questionnaires filled out by former students of the Chesapeake Academy; stock certificate for the Chesapeake Academy issued 3 July 1905; and a letter, 6 December 1941, from Wendell Willkie (1892- 1944) to James.
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 3 Folder 1
Biographies
- Misc. Reel
2660 Box 3 Folder 2
Catalog, 1898-1899
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 3
Catalog, 1899-1900
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 4
Catalog, 1900-1901
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 5
Catalog, 1901-1902
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 6
Catalog, 1902-1903
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 7
Catalog, 1903-1904
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 8
Circular, 1906
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder 9
Commencement Programs
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
10
Alfred P. James-Biographical Calendar of Publications
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
11
Lists of Faculty and Students
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
12-13
Miscellaneous
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
14
Newspaper Abstracts
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
15
Photograph
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
16
Questionnaires (A-B)
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
17
Questionnaires (C-D)
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
18
Questionnaires (E-H)
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 3 Folder
19
Questionnaires (I-K)
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 4 Folder 1
Questionnaires (L-M)
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 4 Folder 2
Questionnaires (N-R)
- Misc. Reel
2661 Box 4 Folder 3
Questionnaires (S)
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder 4
Questionnaires (T-Z)
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder 5
Stock Certificate
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder 6
Wendell Willkie, 6 December 1941
Manuscript Draft consists of several drafts of James' proposed book on the Chesapeake Academy.
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder 7
Preface
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder 8
Chapters I and II
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder 9
Chapter III
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
10
Chapter IV
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
11
Chapter V
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
12
Chapter VI
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
13
Chapter VII
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
14
Chapter VIII
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
15
Chapter IX
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
16
Chapter X
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 4 Folder
17
Conclusion
Card Files consist of cards containing: information on the students of the Chesapeake Academy; the Academy's faculty; James' research for his book on the Ohio Land Company; miscellaneous items; newspaper extracts on the Chesapeake Academy; Academy catalogues; and directors of the Chesapeake Academy.
- Misc. Reel
2662 Box 5
Students
- Misc. Reel
2663 Box 5
Faculty
- Misc. Reel
2663 Box 5
Ohio Land Company
- Misc. Reel
2663 Box 5
Miscellaneous
- Misc. Reel
2663 Box 5
Newspaper Abstracts
- Misc. Reel
2663 Box 5
Catalogs
- Misc. Reel
2663 Box 5
Directors