Frances L. (Haynes) James was born in East Livermore, Maine on June 25, 1853. In the late 1850s she moved to St. Paul where her mother, Harriet, had taken a job after the death of Frances' father, Francis Greenleaf Haynes. She worked as an artist in the St. Paul area, painting miniatures. She compiled and edited the correspondence found in the volumes included in this collection. In 1874 she married Henry Clay James and they had seven children: Margaret, Cornelia, Helen, Ethel, Henry Jr., Frances, and Linda. Her date of death is not known.
Francis Greenleaf Haynes was born in New England on July 29, 1823. In September 1852 he married Harriet Wing Williams and together they had three children: Frances, Helen, and Francis, Jr. who died at age one. Haynes worked as an artist, painting portraits. He worked in Augusta and East Livermore, Maine, as well as Manchester, New Hampshire. He died October 3, 1858 at age 35. Harriet moved to St. Paul, where she worked in the school district for 25 years, as teacher and assistant principal, until 1885. She died in 1899 at the age of 71.
From the guide to the Frances L. James and family papers., 1849-1984 (bulk 1849-1924)., (Minnesota Historical Society)
