Thibodeaux, James C.

James C. Thibodeaux was born July 1911 in the parish of St. Martinville, Louisiana.

He moved with his family to Dallas, Texas after his mother died. Thibodeaux graduated from the Sisters' Institute (later known as St. Peter's Academy) in 1928. During high school, Thibodeaux was encouraged by his art teacher, Sister Michael, to develop his artistic talent. Because of racial discrimination, no schools in the Dallas area would accept him so his father contacted schools in New York City. In 1929 Thibodeaux's father sent him to New York City to study at Cooper Union, which had offered him a scholarship. Also in 1929, Thibodeaux began work with WOR radio as a studio page; he retired in 1977 as television operations supervisor. During his career at WOR, he continued to pursue his artistic endeavors in art, photography, history, and acting. Thibodeaux's work has been shown at the Countee Cullen Library, Eva Jessye's studio, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.