Joseph Stephen James

Who was Joseph Stephen James?

Joseph Stephen James, of Douglasville, Georgia, was a lawyer, shape note singer, composer, and a reviser of the tunebook known as The Sacred Harp.

J. S. James works include A Brief History of the Sacred Harp and Its Author, B. F. White, Sr., and Contributors, Union Harp and History of Songs, Sacred Tunes and Hymns, Explanation of the Sacred Harp and the Original Sacred Harp. The Original Sacred Harp was released in 1911. It added alto parts to most of the songs and restored several songs that had been deleted in the 1869-70 revision of The Sacred Harp by B. F. White and the Southern Musical Convention. James supervised the revision and was head over a revision committee appointed by the United Sacred Harp Musical Association.

James' book quickly embroiled him in two controversies. He was sued by W. M. Cooper for plagiarism of the alto parts as written by Cooper. James brought a suit against J. L. White for White's revision of The Sacred Harp, claiming infringement of copyright and seeking $3000 in damages.

Joe S. James was born March 20, 1849, in Campbell County, the son of Stephen and Martha James. He was an attorney and was active in local civic and political life. He was the first mayor of Douglasville, was instrumental in the establishment of Douglasville College, in obtaining the city's first water and phone systems, and in bringing several industries to the city. James held membership in the Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge. He was owner and editor of The New South, newspaper of the city of Douglasville. He led in organizing the United Sacred Harp Musical Association in 1904, which he hoped would function as a sort of "National Association" of Sacred Harp singings and conventions.