James Wormley Jones

Jones, James Wormley (born September 22, 1884 in Fort Monroe, Virginia, United States - died December 11, 1958) was an African-American policeman, World War I veteran, and FBI agent. Jones is most widely known for being the first African-American FBI special agent.

Early life

Jones was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia. At a young age he moved with his family to Cambridge, Massachusetts where he completed his early education. He would return to Virginia where he took up studies at Norfolk Mission College and a year later went to complete his education at Virginia Union University.

Police career

Jones began service with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department in January 1905. He rose from being a footman to a horseman then a motorcycle policeman. His work resulted in being promoted to detective. During this time he and his wife Ethel T. Jones became the parents of two children. Their son John B. Jones was born in 1910. Their daughter Mildred was born in 1915.

Military Exploits

In 1917 Jones joined the United States Army. He was trained as an officer at the Officer's Training School in Des Moines, Iowa. Once his training was complete he was given a commission as a captain. He was assigned to the 368th Infantry in command of company F.

After his company was sent to France in 1918, he saw action in the Vosges Mountains, Argonne Sector, and the Metz front. During that time he became an instructor with the 92nd Division School of Specialists. His work there resulted in his being promoted to senior instructor. With the war's end in 1918 he resigned his post and resumed his work at the Metropolitan Police.

FBI and Marcus Garvey

Jones was appointed as the first African-American special agent on November 19, 1919 by Bureau of Investigation director A. Bruce Bielaski. Jones was assigned to a new section of the Justice Department created to track the activities of groups perceived as subversive. His work there was under the direct supervision of J. Edgar Hoover.

During his time in the BI Jones served in New York and Pittsburgh. In New York he was assigned to infiltrate the Universal Negro Improvement Association under the leadership of Marcus Garvey. Although he was seeking evidence of subversive activities during the "Red Scare" of 1919, Jones' work led to the arrest and trial of Garvey on mail fraud charges.

While conducting his surveillance, Jones adopted the code number 800 for his reports. He apparently knew that his clandestine role was not well concealed. During a March 1920 speech at the UNIA Liberty Hall he took special pains to point out to the audience that he was indeed of African ancestry, although he had the appearance of a person of Caucasian or European ancestry. Nevertheless, he engendered the trust of the UNIA leadership to such an extent that he was able to gain responsibility for registering all incoming correspondence. His access to UNIA correspondence along with his position as Adjutant General in the African Legion where essential in enabling his information gathering activities.

In August 1921 Jones began conducting similar surveillance on the African Blood Brotherhood. Eventually being recognized as a former DC police officer, Jones was no longer an asset as a clandestine agent and he resigned from the Bureau on April 14, 1923.

Jones died December 11, 1958 in Dormont, Pennsylvania.

References

*The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide - Page 335 by Athan G. Theoharis - 1998 - 409 pages.
*The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers: 1826-August 1919 By Robert A. Hill, Marcus Garvey, Universal Negro Improvement Association.
*Historical Dictionary of Law Enforcement Mitchel P. Roth.

External links

* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/garvey/peopleevents/p_hoover.html People and Events - J. Edgar Hoover]
* [http://net.lib.byu.edu/~rdh7/wwi/comment/Scott/SCh18.htm Negro Heroes of the War, Chapter XVIII: Captain Jones and His Gallant Fighters]
* [http://www.lexisnexis.com/documents/academic/upa_cis/1359_FedSurveillAfroAms.pdf Federal Surveillance of African-Americans (1917-1925): The First World War, the Red Scare, and the Garvey Movement]