James, Frederic, 1915-1985

Edward Frederic James was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 28, 1915. After graduating from high school in 1932 he attended the Kansas City Junior College and Kansas City Art Institute for several years before transferring to the University of Michigan in 1935. James graduated from this institution in 1939 with a bachelor's degree in design. Following this, he attended one year of graduate school at the Cranbrook Academy. James was drafted into the Army in March 1941. He primarily worked as a draftsman for the Army Corps of Engineers. After he was transferred to Brazil in 1943 he took on other duties. Here James instructed the Brazilian Army in camouflage and cover techniques and served as an artist for the South Atlantic War Art Project, which documented World War II through the painting of scenes and events of historical importance. In 1945 James was discharged from the Army having attained the rank of Master Sergeant. For the next four years he taught painting, watercolor, and design at the Kansas City Art Institute. He married Diana Hearne during this time period. By the 1950s, James was pursuing his art career full-time. He had many one-man shows across the country, but especially in the Midwest. His works were also included in many exhibits nationwide and his paintings are in many private, corporate, and museum collections. In addition to this, he also designed the sets for several Kansas City theater and opera productions. Frederic James died in October 1985 at the age of seventy.