James William Sowell was born near Athens, Alabama, on October 27, 1874, and grew up in Alabama most of his life. He became Deaf at nine years old. James W. Sowell attended the Alabama School for the Deaf at Talladega. James W. Sowell went to Gallaudet College and graduated with the class of 1900. He married his college sweetheart, Maude Brizendine, in 1901. James W. Sowell began his teaching career at the Maryland School for the Colored Deaf for two years and continued his work in literature at John Hopkins University, where he completed his Master’s degree. James and his wife later moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where James taught at Nebraska School for the Deaf for 18 years. He taught his pupil English language and especially in literature. Later, he became the principal of the school. He also was the editor of the Nebraska Journal during the height of the controversy over educational methods, contributing to the support of the “combined system.” James W. Sowell went for his doctorate degree at the University of Nebraska, majoring in Old English literature, philosophy, and education, but he never completed the program. He did his research in the field of “Development of the Sensibility of the Deaf through Literature.” When the school changed to pure oralism, he had to leave his job. After leaving his job, he worked for the Gas department as an accounts clerk at the Metropolitan Utilities District until he retired in 1946.