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By Cara Bertram
Collection Overview
Title: Eldon Ray James Oral History, September 2023
ID: 97/1/87
Primary Creator: James, Eldon Ray
Extent: 500.0 megabytes
Arrangement: By recording date
Date Acquired: 09/12/2023. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, Freedom to Read Foundation, Incarceration, Intellectual Freedom, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), Librarians, Library Bill of Rights, Library services to prisons, Neal, James G., Prison Libraries, Roy, Loriene
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Oral History of Eldon Ray James (September 2023), retired librarian, ALA member, and formerly incarcerated person, recorded on September 12, 19, and 26, 2023, containing video and audio recordings, and transcripts. Recordings include information on James' childhood, military service, universities attended, employment, work in radio and journalism, running for political office in Colorado, incarceration, becoming a librarian, work with Dr. Loriene Roy and ALA, the Prisoners Forum, the Prisoners Right to Read and work on international standards with IFLA, interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Foundation Honor Roll, reflections on his life, the library profession, and library services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people.
Interview conducted by Deb Sica, Alameda County Library, questions developed by Deb Sica and Erin Berman, Alameda County Library.
Biographical Note
Eldon Ray James was born and raised in Texas and is a retired librarian and researcher, ALA member, and formerly incarerated person. He previously attended college, served in the US military, worked in radio and journalism, and ran for political office in Colorado. In 1996, James was arrested and then sentenced to 70 months in a minimum security Federal correctional camp. While incarcerated, James started taking classes and decided to become a librarian. After his release, James earned his BA in English (2005) and MSIS (2007) at the University of Texas at Austin. He attended his first ALA conference at the urging of his professor, Dr. Loriene Roy, then the ALA President. Since then, James has been highly involved in advocacy for library services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, working on the Prisoners' Right to Read and international standards in IFLA. In 2022, he received the Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor award. His professional service includes, but not limited to, membership and work with the Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Freedom to Read Foundation, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Association of Specialized Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies, and Library Services to the Justice Involved.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The American Library Association Archives
Accruals:
9/19/2023; 9/26/2023
Acquisition Source:
Eldon Ray James
PDF Box/Folder List
URL:
https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/alasfa/9701087a.pdf
PDF finding aid
for Eldon Ray James Oral History (97/1/87)
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Digital Content],
[
All]
- Series 1: Digital Content
- Folder 1: Agreements
- Folder 2: Background Documents
- Folder 3: Interview - Part 1, September 12, 2023
- Includes audio and video recordings, and transcription. Part 1 covers James’ childhood and family, exposure to libraries, education, military service and overseas service in Germany, career in radio and journalism, running for political office in Colorado, and attendance at the Ilse of Wight Music Festival in 1970.
- Folder 4: Interview - Part 2, September 19, 2023
- Includes audio and video recordings, and transcription. Part 2 covers James’ arrest and incarceration, coursework while incarcerated, becoming a librarian, work with Dr. Loriene Roy, first time at an ALA conference, work with the Prisoners Forum (ASCLA), working on the Prisoners’ Right to Read, Intellectual Freedom Committee and Intellectual Freedom Round Table, work with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) on prison library standards, and models for prison libraries and services.
- Folder 5: Interview - Part 3, September 26, 2023
- Includes audio and video recordings, and transcription. Part 3 covers influences and mentors in James’ life and librarianship, changes in librarianship, standards for prison libraries, Freedom to Read Foundation Honor Roll, intellectual freedom and book bans, social justice, children and youth library services, reflections on James’ life, services for formerly incarcerated people, and empathy in librarianship.
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