| Scope and content |
The majority of the collection consists of James' correspondence regarding his experiences in the U.S. Navy: social aspects of each country that he visited; his activities as American Naval Attache to Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon (1923-1926); pre-World War II naval tactics; the refitting of the U.S.S. PHILADELPHIA; his activities as assistant director of Naval Intelligence (1939-1941); his command of the U.S. Naval Operating Base at Bermuda (1941-1943) and the social and economic aspects of Bermudan life; anecdotes regarding his administration of the the Sixth Naval District (1944-1945) and the Mediterranean fleet (1945). Of historical importance is James' commentary on the attack at Pearl Harbor (which occurred October 21, 1940). A substantial portion of the collection is devoted to inventions, especially James' machine gun sight-director and his exploding mine. Correspondence (1939-1947, undated) contains James' application for patents, description of the sight-director, Department of the Navy responses, sketches and plans. Other materials include: correspondence, a logbook, James' typescript war diaries, schematic drawings of James' inventions, magazines, newspaper clippings, articles written by James, sheet music, and photographs. |
| Access restriction | No access restrictions. |
| Cite as |
Jules James Papers (#223), Special Collections Department, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. |
| Terms of use | Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law. |
| Acquisitions source |
Joyner- Gift of Mrs. Jules James. |
| Biographical note | Jules James (1885-1957) studied at Virginia Military Institute preparatory prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. James was commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1910. His naval career highlights include: being Assistant Naval Attache to the American embassies in France, Spain, and Portugal (1923-1926); serving as assistant director and acting director of the Office of Naval Intelligence; and commanding the Destroyer Division 6, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, the U.S.S. PHILADELPHIA, the U.S. Naval Operating Base on Bermuda, the Sixth Naval District, and the U.S. Naval Forces in Mediterranean waters. James retired from active duty in 1946, when he became a special representative in Europe for the National Lead Company. |
