Phil James is a native of
western Albemarle County,VA.
His award-winning column,
SECRETS of the BLUE RIDGE,
has appeared regularly
Across four decades, Phil has researched and gathered the stories of the people and communities of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
Blending the oral histories he has collected along with photos copied from the family albums of his hosts, he presents the region's
history within the context of the people who have lived it.
In addition to sharing his passion for local history with school and civic groups, Phil has taught university-level short courses
through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Virginia.