James J. Metcalfe

During the 1940s, Metcalfe returned to a favorite childhood pastime: writing poetry. Metcalfe wrote hundreds of short poems about the human condition that appealed to people across a vast spectrum of careers and backgrounds. His first book of poetry, entitled “Portraits”, contained 750 poems; he later published at least sixteen other titles. Metcalfe mused about love, friendship, life, religion, time, old age, youth, candy, vacations, holidays, envy and numerous other subjects. His poetry also appeared in Hallmark greeting cards.

After leaving the FBI, Metcalfe joined the staff of the Chicago Daily Times as a reporter. He was assigned to infiltrate the German American Bund, with a view to exposing its activities to the public. His stories on the Bund helped to lead to the formation of a Congressional committee to investigate Nazi activity in America, and later won him and two other reporters, one being his brother, John C. Metcalfe, and the other, William Mueller, the National Headliners Club’s Medal of Honor for the Best Story of 1937.

James J. Metcalfe (September 16, 1906 – March 1960) was an American poet whose “Daily Poem Portraits” were published in more than 100 United States newspapers during the 1940s and 1950s. Prior to his literary career, he served as a Special Agent for the FBI, where he aided in the ambush of gangster John Dillinger, and also as a reporter for the Chicago Daily Times newspaper.