The collection contains various programs and publications, certificates, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and some correspondence relating to the James, Phillips, and Perkins families; to Ivan and Juanita James’ involvement in local civic and religious organizations; records of Ivan James’ service on various boards and committees and to his interest in African American history; and includes files that belonged to James’ friend, Irving Williamson. The collection spans from 1892 to 2017 and is divided into four series: Family, Subject Files, Irving Williamson, and Desegregation Monitoring and Advisory Committee. The Family series is further divided into four sections: Ivan C. James and Juanita James (arranged alphabetically), the James Family (arranged by generation), the Perkins Family (arranged by generation), and the Phillips Family (arranged by generation). The Subject Files and Irving Williamson series are arranged alphabetically by topic. The Desegregation Monitoring and Advisory Committee series is also arranged alphabetically by topic/type of document. The Family series relates to the Ivan C. James, Jr. family; to James’ ancestors; and to the family of his wife Juanita Perkins James. The series dates from 1916 to 2017; it contains original documents and photocopies. Most of the items relate to Ivan and Juanita, particularly to activities undertaken during Ivan’s adult life such as his post-secondary education, his professional licenses, correspondence (original letters and photocopies), and James’ memorial service program which provides a detailed biography. There are several awards, certificates, and proclamations presented to Ivan and Juanita for their community volunteerism and for Ivan’s 25 years of employment with the St. Louis Housing Authority. James created a scrapbook entitled “Afro-American Annals” that contains newspaper clippings from 1939 to 1963 arranged by topics listed in its table of contents, e.g. history, education, and business. There is a Papal blessing parchment signed for Ivan and Juanita upon their 30th wedding anniversary in 1970 (B2/f.6). Juanita Perkins James kept a memory book filled with notes and autographs from classmates and teachers during her final year at Sumner High School in 1938/39 (B1/f.13). Additional materials relating to Juanita include a copy of a letter and greeting cards presumably sent between Juanita and Ivan, a Victorian Club passport (handmade), a resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives on her 90th birthday (B1/f.5), letters of permission from the St. Louis Archdiocese to teach in parish schools, and two types of war rations books that belonged to the Perkins family during WWII. Both James’ daughters contracted polio during childhood and were part of the local awareness campaign to fight the disease. The James family files contain newspaper clippings and funeral notices on Ivan C. James’ father, paternal grandparents, and two sisters (B2/f.7-12). Notable items include a photocopy of an interview conducted with Nellie James, Ivan’s grandmother, about slavery in Arkansas. Nellie had not been born into slavery, but her husband, Delaware, a prominent educator in Russellville, Arkansas, was born before the Civil War. Another notable item is a student memory book that Ivan gave to his sister, Nellie James, in which she kept notes, autographs, and photographs of classmates. Nellie graduated from Sumner High School in 1937 and attended Stowe Teachers College. The Perkins Family files contain group family sheets, death and marriage certificates, and obituaries for the family of Juanita Perkins James (B2/f.13-16). The materials refer to Juanita’s parents, siblings, and both maternal and paternal grandparents. There are also copies of slave narratives taken from The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography (vol.8, 10): Fanny Smith Hodges (Miss.), Cella Perkins (Ark.), and Marguerite Perkins (Ark.). The Phillips family files include various documents, newspaper clippings, writings, and obituaries relating to Ivan C. James, Jr.’s mother, Carlotta “Lottie” Phillips James and maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (B2/f.17-22). There are original letters written by both Bishop C. H. Phillips and Dr. Jasper T. Phillips to family members. The Subject Files series is arranged alphabetically and dates from 1892 to 2009. It primarily includes ephemeral items such as journal articles, newspaper clippings, fliers, and programs relating to the James’ professional and community service, and to his many interests in St. Louis and African American history. There are also records of James’ service on various boards of directors, copies of academic papers, conference materials, and volunteer resources from organizations with which James worked, such as the Friends of the Vaughn Cultural Center. Several cards and participation certificates document activities by both James and his father, Ivan C. James, Sr. with the Boy Scouts. In 1970, the organization presented James with the Silver Beaver Award (B3/f.12). Many subject files relate to African American Catholics in St. Louis. Some materials are sources used by James in presentations he gave about the history of black Catholics and in his booklet. However, many of the files relate to various parishes, many of which have been closed, and to James’ service to the Church such as the book committee for St. Ann’s centennial celebration and the St. Louis Archdiocese Stewardship Advisory Board. Other items relate to race relations within the Church such as the Bishop’s Letter written by the African American bishops in 1985. There are several newspaper articles and fliers relating to racism and desegregation (e.g. B3/f.16, B4/f.3). James collected biographical information on numerous people including friends, local African Americans, and prominent Catholics. Items include mostly newspaper clippings, articles, event fliers, and funeral programs. Julia Davis comprises the largest part of the people files, with items from her teaching days, various programs from the Julia Davis library branch dedications, her numerous birthday celebrations, and many speeches. There are also files on James Hurt, Bishop J. Terry Steib, and Sister Flora Sapart, among others. James also collected comic strips and cartoons which either commented upon timely race relations or had African American characters. Several political cartoons from the Nixon era, circa 1972, concern school integration. All the cartoons and comics have been photocopied for preservation. In 1990, the St. Louis Public Library presented an exhibition entitled, “Ethnic Images in the Comics and Advertising” (B10/f.6). Files on the St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) date from the time of James’ employment, 1950s to the early 1980s, and include memos, some reports, building fact sheets and heating plans, and documents relating to tenants and repairs. Most notably, the files on St. Louis public housing contain some fliers and meetings minutes/notices related to the various tenant organizations from the SLHA housing complexes including, but not limited to, Darst, Pruitt-Igoe, Clinton, and one youth newsletter from Webbe. James served on the board of directors for the Visitation Community Credit Union; meeting minutes and reports date from 1982 to 1988. He also volunteered at the St. Charles Lwanga Center, which honored him in 1987. James became a docent with the Friends of the Vaughn Center and its Tour and Taste of Black Saint Louis bus tours. He gave bus tours to school children in 1990; thank you notes and snapshots with students are included along with the docent files (B11/f.11-14). Ivan C. James sat on the board of the Ville Historic Corporation (VHPC) from the time it was incorporated as a 501(c3) on 18 August 1982 until approximately 1987. The VHPC had two project advisors: Rosemary Covington of the East-West Gateway Council and Jack Saunders of the local Department of Housing and Urban Development office. The VHPC had three objectives: to stabilize the Ville with increased employment opportunities, home improvement incentives, and community participation; to rehabilitate existing structures including lighting, sidewalks, and streets; to revitalize with new housing and attract new businesses and investors. The records include James’ copies of correspondence and documents relating to the board of directors meetings, planning, and donors. Many of the documents originated from Project Advisor Jack Saunders. The Irving Williamson series is comprised of subject files that belonged to Ivan James’ friend, journalist and photographer Irving Williamson. The files date from 1935 to 1980 and contain newspaper clippings, news releases, advertisements, brochures and programs, and some correspondence. Williamson was a member of the Frontiers of America, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and the Mound City Press Club. He also did business with two St. Louis African American financial institutions: the Employee Loan Company and the New Age Federal Savings and Loan Association.

The Desegregation Monitoring and Advisory Committee series includes court reports, topical files, and working files from James’ service on the committee. The series is arranged alphabetically by topic/type of document and dates from 1980 to 1989. Court reports and orders from the court appear first (B14-B16/f.4). These documents bear unique court document numbers, submittal dates, and are arranged chronologically. The Desegregation Monitoring and Advisory Committee (DMAC) submitted most of these documents, however, others originated with the Board of Education or other desegregation oversight committees. There are also a few orders from the U.S. District Court which follow a different numbering system. The remainder of the DMAC files comprise the largest portion of the series and are arranged alphabetically by topic (begin B16/f.5). These files include information about various St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) departments/programs; reports from other oversight committees and boards; reports commissioned from entities outside the local oversight system; and the committee’s working files which are arranged chronologically and include meeting agenda and minutes, memos, monitoring assignments and documents, and internal reports.