Jim (James Fenton) Birchfield (1908-1997) was born in Marion, Virginia and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1929. In 1935, Birchfield began his career in journalism as editor of (Virginia) , a newly established weekly in Abingdon. He joined the editorial staff in 1939, where he remained until 1942. At this juncture, he obtained a position in Washington, D.C. on the editorial staff of the . There he worked on the picture desk and in other editorial roles including serving as state, farm and real estate editor. As editor for the , he wrote a column entitled "Life in the Country" focusing on the struggles and rewards of rural living. During this time, he resided on his family farm, "Forty Acres," near Leesburg. In 1974, he retired from the . Birchfield then served briefly as an editor for , an environmental weekly based in The Plains, before accepting a position with the , where he worked from July 1975 until July 1978.

Throughout his career, Birchfield cultivated his photographic interests. In 1965, he became a founding member of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society whose aim was to serve as a camera club for the area. His photographic images of Loudoun County were used during several calendar years (1974, 1981) for the Peoples National Bank of Leesburg, Virginia. Photographs of Washington County, Virginia taken by Birchfield were also used for a monograph entitled (Volume 1.)

In 1983 after selling "Forty Acres," he and his wife moved back to Abingdon. He died at the age of 89 following complications from a stroke. He is best remembered for his editorial talent, polished writing abilities, and compelling photographic work.