Thomas James

Thomas James
Thomas James, portrait attributed to Gilbert Jackson.
Born	c. 1573 Newport, Isle of Wight
Died	August 1629 (aged 55–56) Oxford, England
Academic background
Alma mater	New College, Oxford
Academic work
Main interests	first librarian of the Bodleian Library
Notable ideas	library catalogue

Thomas James (c. 1573 – August 1629) was an English librarian, first librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

He was born about 1573 at Newport, Isle of Wight. In 1586 he was admitted a scholar of Winchester College, matriculated at New College, Oxford on 28 January 1592, and was fellow of his college from 1593 to 1602. He graduated B.A. on 3 May 1595, M.A. on 5 February 1599, B.D. and D.D. on 16 May 1614.

James became a fellow of New College, Oxford in 1593. In 1602, his wide knowledge of books, together with his skill in deciphering manuscripts and detecting literary forgeries, secured him the post of librarian to the library newly founded by Sir Thomas Bodley at Oxford.

At the same time, he was made rector of St Aldate's Church, Oxford. In 1605, he compiled a classified catalogue of the books in the Bodleian Library, but in 1620 substituted for it an alphabetical catalogue. The arrangement in 1610, whereby the Stationers' Company undertook to supply the Bodleian with every book published, was James's suggestion.

He assisted in framing a complete body of the ancient statutes and customs of the university. He was also skilled in deciphering manuscripts and in detecting forged readings. He obtained leave to examine the manuscripts in the college libraries at Oxford, and was allowed by easy-going heads of houses (particularly those of Balliol and Merton) to take away several, chiefly patristic, which he gave in 1601 to the Bodleian Library, together with sixty printed volumes.

Bodley had fixed upon James as his library keeper, and the appointment was confirmed by the university in 1602. On 14 September of that year he also became rector of St. Aldate, Oxford. His salary as librarian was initially £5 13s. 4d. quarterly, but he threatened forthwith to resign unless it was raised to £30 or £40 a year. At the same time he demanded permission to marry. Bodley, who had made celibacy a condition in his statutes, expostulated with James, but eventually allowed him to take a wife.