James, Arthur G., 1912-2001

Early Life Arthur G. James was born Arthur David Giangiacomo on March 14, 1912 in Rhodesdale, Ohio, a small mining town that no longer exists in Belmont County. James was the third of eight children of Italian immigrants. His father was a coal miner who later owned a grocery store.

James's education began in a one-room mining town school. When he was in third grade, James and his family moved to nearby Uniontown. As a boy, James worked in the family store, learning all phases of the business and helping to deliver groceries - first in a horse-drawn cart and later in a pickup truck.

Education In 1930, he graduated from St. Clairsville High School as co-valedictorian. He attended The Ohio State University (OSU), eventually earning three degrees: a bachelor's in 1934, a master's in surgery and a medical degree, both in 1937. Giangiacomo literally means son of James; and, it was at some point between his bachelor's and masters' degrees (according to the name on these certificates) that James started going by the name Arthur G. James.

James did his medical internship at the University of Chicago and spent his second year as a surgical intern at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He then returned to OSU hospitals and completed his three year residency in general surgery. At OSU, he served as chief resident from 1941-42.

On February 29, 1940, James married Mildred "Millie" Cameron. They later have two sons, David and Cameron.

After completing his surgical residency, James wishing to continue training in the field of cancer, applied for and was accepted as a Fellow at Memorial Hospital - now known as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - in New York City. His fellowship began July 1, 1942 but six weeks later he was called into service for World War II with the 65th General Hospital, which he had joined while at Duke University. James served forty-three months in the Army Medical Corps as a major, twenty-two of which were in the European Theatre at the Duke University Army General Hospital. After the war he retuned to Memorial Hospital and completed his fellowship.

James came back to The Ohio State University in 1947 as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery. He remained at OSU for the rest of his career, working his way up to full professor and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology. James was also the first to hold the Lucius A. Wing Chair of Cancer Research and Therapy.

Dream of a Cancer Hospital James once said, "All cancer will eventually be wiped out; there's no doubt about that, I don't know how long it will take, but... I'm sure that day is coming." That belief coupled with his dedication to the idea that cancer patients need separate, specialized care, led James to lobby, campaign, and fundraise for thirty-five years to build a cancer hospital in Ohio.

Finally, on July 10, 1984, the groundbreaking was held to build what became the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, commonly known as The James. At the time, there was no similar institute between the states of Texas and New York.

During his life, James served on the board of directors for the Columbus Cancer Clinic from 1951-1989 and also served as their medical director from 1954-1989. From 1957 to 1960, Dr. James served as president of the Ohio Division of the American Cancer Society, president of the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons (1967-68), and as president of the Society of Surgical Oncology (1970-71). Then from 1972 to 1973, he served as the national president of the American Cancer Society. Additionally, in 1987 James was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.

In 1989, at the age of 77, James stopped his medical practice when his Alzheimer's disease progressed, but he remained an integral part of the cancer hospital by attending meetings, consulting, and writing letters.

Then on October 22, 2001 at the age of 89, James died of Parkinson's disease. Even after his death though, he has and will continue to have an impact in the community through the cancer hospital he spent his career building, which is so fittingly named in his honor.

From the guide to the Arthur G. James, MD Collection, 1923-2002, (Medical Heritage Center)