Timeline
| 1854 | October 22 - James Bland is born in Flushing, New York |
| 1860 | James' father is the first African American appointed as examiner in the US Patent Office. The Bland family relocates to Washington DC where the children attend Public School. |
| 1870 | As a teenager, Bland works as a page in the US House of Representatives. He often performs before members of the Manhattan Club and at homes of other Washington notables |
| 1872 | After graduating from high school, James and his father both enroll at Howard University. James studies Liberal Arts which his father studies Law. |
| 1873 | James graduates from Howard at the age of 19 with the ambition of becoming a stage performer. |
| 1874 | During a trip to Virginia, James is inspired by the land and the Potomac river and writes the lyrics to "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" |
| 1874 | October - James auditions for minstrel man George Primrose at the Ford Theatre in Washington. He performs his composition "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny." Four days later, the song is premiered in Baltimore Maryland. Its success was immediate. |
| 1875 | James gets his first job with Billy Kersands' all-negro minstrel group. |
| 1875 | 1875-1880 - James tours the country with Kersands' group and other companies including Callender's Original Georgia Minstrels (managed by the Frohman Bros.). |
| 1881 | Travels to England as a member of the Callender-Haverly Minstrels. The company became very popular and performed before Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. Bland would travel extensively throughout Europe during the next ten years. |
| 1890 | Prolific songwriting period of high demand for Bland produces hundreds of songs including "Oh Dem Golden Slippers!" |
| 1896 | Bland returns to Europe where he continues producing successful tunes including "The Farmer's Daughter", "The Old Homestean," "Father's Growing Old", and "Christmas Dinner." |
| 1902 | Bland returns to Washington from Europe, penniless |
| 1904 | Bland composes the musical production "The Sporting Girl" |
| 1906 | Bland relocates to Philadelphia to join city minstrel groups. |
| 1911 | May 5 - James Bland dies in Philadelphia, PA from tuberculosis |