James J. Metcalfe
Encyclopedia
James J. Metcalfe 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 Sun Times newspaper.
, and obtained a law degree from Loyola University
. Soon after completing law school, Metcalfe joined the FBI's Chicago Bureau, where he participated in operations against several Midwestern gangster
s, including Ma Barker
, Pretty Boy Floyd
, and John Dillinger
. Metcalfe was among the agents who ambushed Dillinger outside the Biograph Theater
in Chicago, resulting in Dillinger's death.
In later years, after achieving fame as a nationally-syndicated poet, Metcalfe wrote a poem in tribute to those who served with him during the FBI's early years, entitled "We Were the G-Men:"
to investigate Nazi activity in America, and later won him and two other reporters the National Headliners Club's Medal of Honor for the Best Story of 1937.
greeting card
s.
Metcalfe indicated that he started writing poetry as a teenager, when he "used to fall in love with all the girls and write poems to them to win them over. It didn't always work, but it was worth trying." In later years, in the dedication of one of his books of poetry, he promised his readers that he "will not touch my pen, except it be in prayer to God, or praise of my fellowmen."
Metcalfe wrote and published at least seventeen books of poetry:
, Dallas, and California
. In his later years, Metcalfe delighted in retelling, not merely the poems for which he had become famous, but also stories of his FBI and reporter days, including his experiences with several notorious American mobsters. The Metcalfe's lived for several years in a modest ranch house in Dallas, which Metcalfe referred to as "the house that poems built."
Metcalfe died in March 1960, at the age of 53.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
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
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
for the FBI, where he aided in the ambush of gangster John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
, and also as a reporter for the Chicago Sun Times newspaper.
Early life and FBI Career
Metcalfe was born in Berlin, Germany and emigrated to the United States as a boy. His mother was a concert pianist, He was educated at Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and obtained a law degree from Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. Soon after completing law school, Metcalfe joined the FBI's Chicago Bureau, where he participated in operations against several Midwestern gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
s, including Ma Barker
Ma Barker
Kate "Ma" Barker was the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang from the "public enemy era", when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the U.S. Midwest gripped the American people and press...
, Pretty Boy Floyd
Pretty Boy Floyd
Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was an American bank robber. He operated in the West South Central States, and his criminal exploits gained heavy press coverage in the 1930s. Like most other prominent outlaws of that era, he was killed by law enforcement officers...
, and John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
. Metcalfe was among the agents who ambushed Dillinger outside the Biograph Theater
Biograph Theater
The Biograph Theater, at 2433 North Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois, was originally a movie theater but now presents live productions. It is notable as the location where bank robber John Dillinger was shot by FBI agents after watching a gangster movie on July 22, 1934...
in Chicago, resulting in Dillinger's death.
In later years, after achieving fame as a nationally-syndicated poet, Metcalfe wrote a poem in tribute to those who served with him during the FBI's early years, entitled "We Were the G-Men:"
- We were the vaunted G-men once...we did our little bit.
- Where now, we could not qualify...to be a part of it.
- ...
- For now the FBI is not the group it used to be...
- It is the model of success and of true efficiency.
- ...
- We had to learn the hard way then the things we did not know...
- And as we took our chances great, we helped the Bureau grow.
- ...
- We suffered heartaches and we lost the lives of several men,
- But surely every one of us would do that job again.
- ...
- Because today the FBI is worthy of its name...
- And we are proud and happy that we helped create its fame.
Newspaper reporter
After leaving the FBI, Metcalfe joined the staff of the Chicago Sun 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 committeeHouse Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
to investigate Nazi activity in America, and later won him and two other reporters the National Headliners Club's Medal of Honor for the Best Story of 1937.
Poet
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 HallmarkHallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
greeting card
Greeting card
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards,...
s.
Metcalfe indicated that he started writing poetry as a teenager, when he "used to fall in love with all the girls and write poems to them to win them over. It didn't always work, but it was worth trying." In later years, in the dedication of one of his books of poetry, he promised his readers that he "will not touch my pen, except it be in prayer to God, or praise of my fellowmen."
Metcalfe wrote and published at least seventeen books of poetry:
- Portraits (1947)
- Poem Portraits: A Collection of Verse (1948)
- Poem Portraits: 107 Selected Poems (1948)
- Garden in My Heart: Poem Flowers of Faith and Friendship (1949)
- Poems For Children (1950)
- James J. Metcalfe's Portraits: 100 Selected Poems (1950)
- More Poem Portraits: A Further Collection of Verse (1951)
- My Rosary of Rhymes: Poetic Beads of Faith and Friendship (1952)
- Love Portraits (1953)
- Love Portraits (1954)
- Portraits: 100 More Selected Poems (1954)
- Daily Poem Portraits (1954)
- Garden in My Heart (1955)
- Portraits: 100 Selected Poems (1956)
- Poem Portraits of the Saints (1956)
- Poem Portraits of Inspiration (1958)
- Poem Portraits for All Occasions (1961)
A representative Metcalfe poem
One of Metcalfe's poems is about "The Friends I Had":- I used to have some special friends
- I do not have today
- And many times I wonder why
- We had to drift away.
- ...
- I wrote them letters now and then
- And some of them replied,
- Yet gradually and casually
- The correspondence died.
- ...
- But every time I think of them
- And hold them in my heart,
- I wonder why they do not write
- And why we had to part.
Family and later life
Metcalfe and his wife Lillian Hammer Metcalfe had 3 children: Donald, James, and Kristina Marie. The Metcalfe family lived in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Dallas, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In his later years, Metcalfe delighted in retelling, not merely the poems for which he had become famous, but also stories of his FBI and reporter days, including his experiences with several notorious American mobsters. The Metcalfe's lived for several years in a modest ranch house in Dallas, which Metcalfe referred to as "the house that poems built."
Metcalfe died in March 1960, at the age of 53.