Douglas Arthur James was born on July 25, 1925, to Arthur Collins James and Sigrid Elizabeth Hovey in Detroit, Michigan. He had an interest in ornithology from childhood which he continued to develop throughout his lifetime, obtaining a BS and an MS from the University of Michigan in 1946 and 1947 respectively. James then completed his doctoral degree in 1957 at the University of Illinois where he focused on the ecology of roosting blackbirds. At this time, he was a member of the University of Arkansas faculty, having been offered a position as the first ornithologist at the university by Samuel Dellinger, then head of the Department of Zoology. James would marry twice, first to Dr. Frances Rowe Crews, with whom he had three daughters, and then to Elizabeth Mary Adam.

Douglas Arthur James was an advocate and conservationist in the state of Arkansas and was an authority on the birds of the state. He led the formation of the Arkansas Audubon Society in 1955. James would also participate in numerous state, regional, and national organizations dedicated to conservation of birds and conservation more generally. He consulted with other groups such as the Ozark Society and the US Atomic Energy Commission’s Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research.

James had a lengthy career at the University of Arkansas. Beginning as an instructor in Zoology in 1953, he rose through the professorial ranks during his career which spanned over sixty years. At time of writing, James was the longest serving faculty member in the history of the University of Arkansas. He authored or co-authored over one hundred scientific publications and mentored over eighty graduate students. He retired from teaching in 2016 having attained the rank of University Professor. James passed away on December 17, 2018, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.