He publishes articles for the Manitoba Historical Society on history of music, theatre and church organs in early Winnipeg and Manitoba. James B. Hartman has a Ph.D. in philosophy and teaches at the Continuing Education. He also writes articles for the Journal of the International Society for Organ History and Preservation. In 1997 the University of Manitoba Press published his book: "The organ in Manitoba : a history of the instruments, the builders and the players". He donated his photograph collection depicting various church organs in Manitoba Churches to the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections in 2008.