The fonds predominantly consists of of James' research notes, grant applications, interviews, correspondence, articles and drafts for his book and exhibition (at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre) on Albert Chesterfield: A Fur Trader's Photographs: A. A. Chesterfield in the District of Ungava, 1901-04 (1985). There is also a draft of his book Locations of the Sacred and material pertaining to Arthur Twomey's Needle to the North, which James edited for Oberon Press in 1982. Also includes James' research for the Religious Diversity Project, documenting religious organizations in Kingston, Ontario.