Guide to the Alfred P. James Papers, 1946-1956 DAR.1956.01

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Alfred P. James Papers
Creator
James, Alfred Procter
Collection Number
DAR.1956.01
Extent
2.92 Linear Feet (7 boxes)
Date
1946-1956
Abstract
Dr. Alfred P. James was a history professor at the University of Pittsburgh between 1918 and 1956, researching eighteenth and nineteenth century Virginia and Pennsylvania. This collection contains correspondence and research notes created by James for his book, The Ohio Company: its Inner History, published in 1959.
Language
English .
Author
Matt Gorzalski and Kate Colligan.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Dr. Alfred P. James was a history professor at the University of Pittsburgh between 1918 and 1956. He taught briefly at the University of Arkansas and Ohio Wesleyan University previous to his appointment in Pittsburgh. James, a Rhodes Scholar, earned bachelor's degrees from Randolph-Macon College and Oxford University; master's degrees from Oxford and the University of Chicago; and a Ph. D. from the University of Chicago. His primary interest was eighteenth and nineteenth century Virginia and Pennsylvania. James published over thirty articles and was the author of The Writings of General Johns Forbes, The Ohio Company: its Inner History, George Mercer of the Ohio Company: a study in frustration, The Renaissance: an Outline, and co-authored Drums in the Forest, a history of early Pittsburgh.

After retiring from the university, James served as a trustee of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. There he indexed the Society's journal, The Western Pennsylvanian Historical Magazine, which he had edited from 1922 to 1927. James was a member of the American Historical Association, Phi Alpha Theta, and was a charter member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at the University of Pittsburgh. James died on November 17, 1971.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection is comprised of the research notes and correspondence of Alfred P. James relating to his book Ohio Company, its Inner History. The correspondence series documents James' communication with archivists and manuscript curators from institutions in the United States while in search of Ohio Company records. The transcriptions and research notes are typed copies of Ohio Company records dating between 1741 and 1823. These transcriptions have annotations and other notes created by James for his research.

Arrangement

  • Series I: Correspondence, 1946-1956
  • Series II: Transcriptions and Research Notes, 1946-1949

Acquisition Information

Gift to the Darlington Memorial Library from Alfred P. James in January 1957.

Custodial History

These papers were created and owned by Alfred P. James during the mid twentieth century until he gifted them to the Darlington Memorial Library on January 17, 1956.

This collection was located in the Darlington Memorial Library in the University's Cathedral of Learning until 2007 when it was moved to the ULS Archives Service Center for processing, storage, preservation and service. However, it remains in the custodianship of the ULS Special Collections Department.

Preferred Citation

Alfred P. James Papers, 1946-1956, DAR.1956.01, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Alfred P. James Papers, 1946-1956, DAR.1956.01, Darlington Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Matt Gorzalski in August 2008.

Copyright

No copyright restrictions.

Related Material

Ohio Company Papers, 1736-1813, DAR.1925.02, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Pittsburgh Waste Book and Fort Pitt Trading Post Papers, 1757-1765, DAR.1925.03, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Bibliography

  • "James, Alfred Proctor," Personal File, University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Ohio Company (1747-1779)
    • University of Pittsburgh -- Faculty

    Personal Names

    • James, Alfred Procter

    Geographic Names

    • United States -- History -- 18th century
    • Pennsylvania, Western
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
    • Maryland, Western
    • Loggstown (Pa.) -- History
    • Ohio River Valley -- History -- Sources

    Occupations

    • Archivists

    Genres

    • Transcripts
    • Copybooks
    • Correspondence

    Other Subjects

    • Land grants -- Ohio
    • Public lands -- Ohio
    • Librarians

Container List