The collection consists of a handwritten copy of Jame's valedictory address (last speech before the Eumenean Society as president) and the response given by R.H. Johnston, James' diary kept from 5 April 1847 to 18 December 1847, with an addition 18 March 1848 and another update written in 1852, a photocopy and typescript of a speech delivered before the Eumenean Society at Davidson College in 1875 and a typescript of his 50th anniversary sermon given in July 1901. The diary was written during the second session of his junior year in college and the first session of his senior year. The one page addition on 18 March 1848 summarizes the last semester and the 1852 addition gives some additional biography along with lists of churches where he preached and the text for that day. A copy of the Order of exercises for the Wednesday Preceding Commencement Day, 1854 is housed with the Commencement files. James returned that commencement to give an address to the Eumenean Society.