James Percy Wall was a native of Magnolia. He received his B.S. degree from Millsaps College and his medical degree from Columbia University Medical School. He then spent two years as an intern at Bellevue Hospital (New York) winning the place on competitive examinations and standing at the head of a class of 141. He passed the state board examination and obtained the medical license in New York. In 1909, he returned to Jackson, where he practiced until his death except during the time he was doing service in the world war from 1916 to 1919. He was overseas for twenty-two months and attained the rank of major in combat.

Wall was on the staff of the Mississippi Baptist Hospital in Jackson and served as secretary of the Board of Trustees. He was chairman of the Hinds County Division of Public Welfare Organizations and was an able speaker of the house of delegates of the Mississippi State Medical Association. He also served as president of the Jackson Kiwanis Club.

This collection contains:

• personal correspondence (July 3,1917–November 25, 1918)
• correspondence from the U.S. adjutant's office to Wall (July 18, 1917) and an appointment paper from the President to Wall (May 6, 1929)
• correspondence to Dr. Wall (March 13, 1934–February 4, 1950)
• his personal writings
• speeches given by Wall to various organizations (April 1910–December 14, 1948)
• medical acknowledgments
• material from the National and Mississippi Physicians Committees (1947 and 1948)
• material from the First Baptist Church including a resolution from the First Baptist Church to Wall (1918–1946)
• manual of ceremonies from the American Legion (1931)
• an official certificate of identification for Wall from the American Legion (1927)
• news clippings and photos
• Wall's army diary (March 24, 1917–September 8, 1918)