Biographical Note: James M. Barrett was born on July 4, 1920 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He graduated from Marquette High School in 1938. He attended Marquette University and earned a B.S. in 1947 and an M.S. in 1949. Barrett joined Marquette University's Department of Biology in 1951, completing a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Illinois in 1953. At Marquette, Barrett served with a number of committees and organizations. He was chair of the Committee on Faculty and president of the Faculty Association for Interracial Justice, Pere Marquette Political Association, and the Marquette chapter of Sigma Xi. In 1986, he received the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence and became a professor emeritus of Biology. Barrett was a well-known peace activist and tireless supporter of human rights causes. From marching with James Groppi and the NAACP Youth Council for fair housing in the 1960s, to serving on the board of the Milwaukee Area Chapter of the ACLU in the 1990s, Barrett spent much of his adult life championing causes of peace and social justice. In 1973, he was one of three recipients of the B'nai B'rith Human Rights Award for his commitment to principles of equal opportunity and better understanding between racial and ethnic groups. Barrett died in October 2000.

Restrictions: Access to these records is unrestricted. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of these records. Consult an archivist for further information.

Scope and Content: The collection documents Barrett's service activities both within and outside Marquette University. Examples of the former include Barrett's work with Marquette's Equal Opportunity Advisory Council, the Faculty Association for Interracial Justice, and the Pere Marquette Political Association. Examples of the latter include Barrett's involvement with the Governor's Commission on Human Rights and Milwaukee Citizens for Equal Opportunity. The collection also contains subject files on various campus controversies and organizations, and civil rights and peace movements.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into two series. Series 1 documents Barrett's service on committees and ad hoc groups related to Marquette University. Series 2 documents Barrett's service activities outside the university and includes files on various civil rights and peace movements.

Series 1	Marquette University-Related Papers, 1950-1986
Series 2	Non-Marquette University-Related Papers, 1962-1976