Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: R.F. James
Lee Roy Fitzgibbon James was born in Missouri on September 6, 1878, according to the 1880 U.S. Federal Census and his World War I draft card. In the census he was the only child of Thomas, an artist, and C.L. They lived in Carlyle, Illinois. He has not been found in the 1900 census. Information regarding his art training is not known at this time.
In 1910 he lived with his wife, Maytie, and son, Wendell, in Chicago, Illinois at 1358 64th Street. The couple had been married five years. He was a newspaper artist.
On September 12, 1918, he signed his World War I draft cards. His address was 1415 Estes Avenue in Chicago, and occupation was illustrator for the Daily News. He was described as tall, medium build with brown eyes and gray hair.
The 1920 census recorded the same address on his draft card. He was the father of a son and two daughters, and an illustrator. The date of his move to New York is not known.
He lived in Mount Vernon, New York at 3 Devonia Avenue, according to the 1930 census. He continued work as a magazine illustrator. He produced Let’s Run Away, which began on October 4, 1931.
In 1910 he lived with his wife, Maytie, and son, Wendell, in Chicago, Illinois at 1358 64th Street. The couple had been married five years. He was a newspaper artist.
On September 12, 1918, he signed his World War I draft cards. His address was 1415 Estes Avenue in Chicago, and occupation was illustrator for the Daily News. He was described as tall, medium build with brown eyes and gray hair.
The 1920 census recorded the same address on his draft card. He was the father of a son and two daughters, and an illustrator. The date of his move to New York is not known.
He lived in Mount Vernon, New York at 3 Devonia Avenue, according to the 1930 census. He continued work as a magazine illustrator. He produced Let’s Run Away, which began on October 4, 1931.
In 1910 he lived with his wife, Maytie, and son, Wendell, in Chicago, Illinois at 1358 64th Street. The couple had been married five years. He was a newspaper artist.
On September 12, 1918, he signed his World War I draft cards. His address was 1415 Estes Avenue in Chicago, and occupation was illustrator for the Daily News. He was described as tall, medium build with brown eyes and gray hair.
The 1920 census recorded the same address on his draft card. He was the father of a son and two daughters, and an illustrator. The date of his move to New York is not known.
He lived in Mount Vernon, New York at 3 Devonia Avenue, according to the 1930 census. He continued work as a magazine illustrator. He produced Let’s Run Away, which began on October 4, 1931.
James passed away March 15, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, according to the California Death Index, 1940-1997 at Ancestry.com. The Indiana Evening Gazette, March 16, 1959, published the Associated Press news item.
Magazine, Film Artist Dies At 80
Santa Monica, Calif. (AP)—Lee Roy F. James, magazine and motion picture artist, is dead at 80.
James, who died Sunday at a rest home, was an illustrator for Colliers, Red Book, Ladies Home Journal and other magazines. He was a member of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture studio from 1935 until he retired in 1947.
—Alex Jay
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
