Draftsman, California Showcase Furniture Company, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1930; Proprietor/Contractor. fixture shop, Oakland, CA, c. 1940; Principal, James P. LaBarber, Architect, Oakland, CA, c. 1960- ; LaBarber joined the AIA in 1960.

Born in NY State, LaBarber worked as a draftsman for the Showcase Furniture Company in Los Angeles, CA, in 1930, and resided at 712 West 74th Street in Los Angeles. Located in a working class neighborhood, he and his wife, Florence, paid $25 per month in rent. The US Census of 1940 reported that LaBarber and his family lived in a rental house at 2471 Renwick Street in Oakland, CA; the rent had escalated $10 since 1930 to $35 per month. The 1940 Census also indicated that the LaBarbers lived in Los Angeles County, CA, on 04/01/1935. The architect provided the American Institute of Archtiects (AIA) an address of 2856 Fruitvale Avenue, Apartment #43, Oakland, CA, in 1962. He died in Alhambra, CA, at the age of 74.

His parents were Sicilian, and may have had the surname named "LaBarbera" originally.

He married Florence Blanche Neff LaBarber (born 09/05/1904 in Salt Lake City, UT,-died 04/02/2001 in Bend, OR,) on 09/21/1922. Her parents were John Dilworth Neff and Lillian Smith Evans.

He and Florence had two children, James P. LaBarber, Jr., (b. 09/13/1923 in CA- d. Boulder City, NV, 09/30/2000), and Beverly J. LaBarber Schwager (born c. 08/1926 in CA, she lived in Bend, OR, in 2000).

SSN: 565-07-2453. The Social Security Death Index recorded a death date of 10/08/1902 for LaBarber, while the California Death Index stated it to have been on 09/15/1902.