Background
Wells, James M. was born on November 4, 1917 in Charleston, West Virginia, United States.
Wells, James M. was born on November 4, 1917 in Charleston, West Virginia, United States.
Bachelor of Science, Northwestern University, 1938. Master of Arts, Columbia University, 1939.
Instructor English West Virginia University, Morgantown, 1939-1940, Columbia University, New York City, 1946-1949. Custodian John M. Wing Foundation, Newberry Library, Chicago, 1951-1984, custodian emeritus, since 1984, associate director library, 1965-1975, vice president, 1975-1984. George Amos Poole III curator rare books and manuscripts Newberry Library, 1981-1984.
Sandars reader in bibliography University Cambridge (England), 1977. Laureate American Printing History Association, 1986.
Served to lieutenant United States Naval Reserve, 1942-1946. Fellow Society Typographical Arts (president 1953-1954). Member Renaissance English Text Society, Société Typographique de France, Bibliographical Society of America (secretary 1980-1983), American Antiquarian Society (James Russell Wiggins lecturer 1984), Bibliographical Society, Modern Language Association, Newberry Library Associates, Illinois Center for the Book.
(board directors). Clubs: Caxton (president 1968-1969), Arts (board directors) (Chicago). Rounce and Coffin (honorary) (Los Angeles). Grolier (New York City).
Pittsburgh Bibliophiles. Double Crown (honorary).