James Lewis grew up in Scarsdale, New York during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Despite coming from an affluent background, James early on recognized that he wanted to be a part of the Civil Rights movement. He recounts many instances where he was arrested during marches, and where he defended people who had been wrongly arrested during the voting rights demonstrations in Mississippi in the mid-1960s. He later became the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.
Interview Links
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life through September 1966
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
September 1966 through December 1973
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
January 1974 through December November 2008
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
December 2008 through May 2021
Photos
Caption:
Young James in 1948 in New Rochelle, New York.
Where:
New Rochelle, New York
When:
1948
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
James’ brother Steve, Father Stephen Lewis and James when James was a junior in Scarsdale, New York in 1956.
Where:
Scarsdale, New York
When:
1956
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
James Lewis and others arrested in Magnolia, Mississippi in February 1965 during a civil rights protest over voting. Jim is third from bottom on the right side.
Where:
Magnolia, Mississippi
When:
February 1965
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Eric Holder, James and Ardis Lewis, Washington DC, October 11, 2010
Where:
Washington DC
When:
October 11, 2010
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption:
Pat Fitzgerald, Eric Holder, Steve Wiggington and James Lewis were at a U.S. Attorneys Conference, in Washington, D.C. when this photo was taken in 2011. Jim later got it signed by Attorney General Holder.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
2011
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
James Lewis and civil rights icon John Lewis bonded while at an event at the University of Illinois-Springfield campus in 2015.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2015
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
James and Ardis Lewis at the African American Historical Museum, Springfield IL, June 5, 2021.
Where:
Springfield IL
When:
June 5, 2021
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo