The James H. Lincoln Papers document his role in public service and his active history in local, military and family history. The papers have been organized into four series: Biographical/Personal; Detroit Politics and City Council Activities; Probate Court, Juvenile Court Judge; Genealogy/Historical Research.
James H. Lincoln was born on August 26, 1916. He was raised on the Lincoln family farm, in Sand Beach Township, south of Harbor Beach, Michigan. James Lincoln began his career in public service in 1938 following his graduation from the University of Michigan working for Frank Murphy. In 1939 he moved to Washington DC to continue working for Murphy who had then been appointed Attorney General of the United States. While living in Washington, Lincoln attended law school classes at Georgetown and also met his future wife, Mary Kimmerling. When Frank Murphy was named justice of the US Supreme Court, Lincoln returned to Michigan and continuing his law school studies. He served for nearly two years in the military during World War II, then following his discharge, he returned to school and received his law degree.
James H. Lincoln opened up his own law office for a time, and became a law partner of future Governor Williams in 1948. In 1951, he worked as executive aide to Senator Blair Moody and headed Moody's Detroit Office. In 1953, Lincoln ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Albert Cobo in the mayoral race for Detroit. In 1954, Lincoln was elected to a vacated seat on Detroit's Common Council. Lincoln was re-elected in 1957 and in 1959. During this time he served both as a councilman and as a member of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors and worked for over five years as the chairman of the Capital Improvement Committee. He played a significant role in the construction of several public buildings as well as the construction of a countywide water system.
During his tenure as city councilman, Lincoln ran for Circuit Court in the spring elections of 1957 and 1959, but was defeated by incumbents in both elections. In May 1960, Governor Williams appointed him probate judge, whereupon he left his position in the City Council. He was later assigned to be a juvenile court judge and served in this position for the rest of his career. When he retired from the bench in 1977, he had served as Wayne County's sole juvenile judge for fifteen years. During his juvenile law career he served on many committees relating to juveniles, including presidency of the National Council of Juvenile Court Justices.
The Lincoln Family has a long history of public service and political association. James Lincoln's grandfather, Lansing Edgar Lincoln, was in the Michigan Legislature. James Lincoln's father, Burr Lincoln, was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Michigan. James Lincoln's brother, Lawrence J. Lincoln was a Lieutenant General in the US Army and had a distinguished military career. Another brother, George A. Lincoln, was a decorated West Point graduate, also serving as Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness during the Nixon Administration. James Lincoln's mother, Esther Lincoln, worked for many years at the Harbor Beach High School and taught all of her children, as well as Frank Murphy and his siblings. James Lincoln took a great interest in the histories of family members and there lives are documented in his collection as well. His interest in local history continued on in his later life, and he wrote a book about the fires that engulfed the Thumb Region of Michigan in 1881 titled Fiery Trial. He also served as the President of the Frank Murphy Memorial Museum Foundation.
