The Graham M. James Jr. Slide Collection, 1951-1963

Access and use

Location of collection:
Fairfax County Public Library
Fairfax County Public Library
City of Fairfax Regional Library
Virginia Room
10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030-2514
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Chris Barbuschak
Phone: (703) 293-2142
Phone: (703) 293-6227 ext. 6 (Virginia Room)
Fax: (703) 293-2155

Summary

Extent:
0.5 linear feet
Creator:
Graham M. James Jr. (1914-1978)
Abstract:
The Graham James Jr. Slide Collection consists of 124 photographic color slides spanning the years 1951-1963. The bulk of the collection documents the Herndon High School Homecoming Parades in downtown Herndon, but images of fires and fire fighting equipment are also included.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Graham James Jr. Slide Collection consists of 124 photographic color slides spanning the years 1951-1963. The bulk of the collection documents the Herndon High School Homecoming Parades in downtown Herndon, but images of fires and fire fighting equipment are also included. The general subjects of each group of slides were previously identified by James’ family, however some of the identifications and dates might be inaccurate.

Biographical / historical:

Graham McKee James Jr. was born on January 3, 1914, to Graham McKee James Sr. (1891-1978) and Eliza Leona James (1889-1964). He attended Herndon High School in his youth and served on the boards of the Herndon Baptist Church and Herndon Lions Club for many years. James was Mayor of Herndon from 1957-1961 and later headed the town’s Maintenance Department. In his professional life, James was in the contracting, real estate and insurance business. He was the general contractor for the Herndon Medical Center which was completed in 1959.

Herndon High School held its first Homecoming Day and parade on November 11, 1947. It has been held in late October and early November ever since. During its earlier years, the parade typically began at 1:00 p.m., ran for about an hour, was followed by a football game, and the day finished with a dance held in the Herndon High School gymnasium. The parade route wound through residential and business streets beginning at Park and Van Buren, curved around Station Street, and emptied onto Elden Street before disbanding on Sterling Road.

A police escort would start the parade followed by decorated floats of the various high school clubs and elementary schools of the area. Brownies, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, service clubs, civic organizations, and individual commercial firms came next. An army of fire vehicles and apparatuses from several local volunteer fire departments would conclude the parade.

James was there to photograph the parades before and after his time as mayor and even marched in it himself. He died of lymphoma at age 64 at Fairfax Hospital on December 18, 1978.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Elliot H. Rubino, June 2025.