James Reaves was born in Baltimore and attended public schools, where his favorite subject was history. Presently, James is manager of track maintenance for Baltimore’s Metro Subway and has worked as an archivist and museum curator. He's been a volunteer at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the Wilmington & Western Railroad, the Baltimore Streetcar Museum and has been a volunteer and part-time staff at the B&O Railroad Museum. He holds a BA in American history from the University of Baltimore and a MA in Public History from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. James is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church.