Researching James Barnes

Early in 1914, Barnes conducted a photographic expedition across Africa from the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Congo River, under the auspices of the American Museum of Natural History. During World War I he did important war work as head of the Princeton Aviation School for several months, and major of the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps of the United States Reserve. He was head of the photographic division of the army and was sent to France, as commander of the United States School of Aërial Photography, to organize that work at the front.

From 1918 until his death, Barnes served as President of the Naval History Society, and on its Board of Managers.

He wrote:* Naval Actions of the War of 1812 (1896)* Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors (1898)* David G. Farragut (1899)* Drake and his Yeomen (1899)* The Great War Trek: With the British Army on the Veldt (1901)* The Giant of Three Wars (1903)*The Unpardonable War (1904)* The Blockaders (1905)* Outside the Law (1906)* The Clutch of Circumstance (1908)* Rifle and Caravan (1912)* From Then Till Now (1934)

He edited The Life of William Bainbridge, Esq. of the United States Navy, which was published in 1932 by Princeton University Press.

Barnes studied composition and music theory at the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Music in 1974, and Master of Music in 1975. He studied conducting privately with Zuohuang Chen. Since 1977 he has been a professor of theory and composition at the University of Kansas.

Barnes is also a tubist and has performed with numerous professional organizations in the United States.

His numerous compositions are frequently played in America, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Australia. The Japanese concert band Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra has produced 3 CDs to date with works of James Barnes.

He has twice received the American Bandmasters Association Ostwald Award for contemporary wind band music.