James Albert Woodburn was born on November 30, 1856 in a two-story brick house on North College Street in Bloomington, Indiana, to James W. Woodburn and Martha Jane Hemphill Woodburn. At the time of James' birth, his father, James W. Woodburn, was serving as principal of the Preparatory department at Indiana University.

James A. Woodburn was educated in the Bloomington Public school system before entering Indiana University in 1872. He earned his A.B. degree in 1876 and soon after began teaching at a public school in Richland Township, Rush County, Indiana, before moving on to become an assistant principal in the Grayville, Illinois, public schools. In 1879 he returned to Bloomington where he began teaching Latin and advanced Mathematics at the Indiana University Preparatory school. While employed as an instructor at the Preparatory school, Woodburn worked towards an A.M. degree in History that he completed in 1885. Starting in 1886, Woodburn secured consecutive leaves of absence from his teaching responsibilities at I.U. to enroll at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland in pursuit of a Ph.D. degree in History. While working toward his Ph.D. degree he taught Rhetoric and Composition at John Hopkins University and, during his absence, was also named Associate Professor of American History at I.U. in 1888.

After graduation, in 1890, he returned to Bloomington and joined the faculty at Indiana University as a professor of American History and Politics. While giving lectures at the University Extension division in Indianapolis he met Caroline Louise Gelston who had been teaching in Miss Sewall's Classical school. The two were married in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on November 20, 1893 and the couple soon afterward moved to Bloomington. A little over a year later, on November 30, 1894 James and Caroline's first son, James Gelston, was born followed by the couple's only daughter, Janet McMillan, who was born in 1900. The couple also had another son, Edward Albert, who was born on July 26, 1903. He died in infancy at the age of ten weeks.

Woodburn's responsibilities at I.U. changed in 1914 when the department of History was split from the department of Political Science to form two separate, autonomous departments with Woodburn serving as the first chair of the new department. This appointment was a landmark achievement for Woodburn being that he was one of the first men in America to hold such a prestigious chair. Woodburn remained an instructor at I.U. until the 1920-21 academic year when he gave up teaching to become a research professor. He retired from the university in 1924. After his retirement he was named professor emeritus. As an acknowledgement of his contributions to the Indiana University community, was awarded an honorary L.L.D. degree in 1926.

While teaching at I.U. Woodburn received some noteworthy accolades for his academic endeavors such as being awarded the John Marshall Prize from John Hopkins University for best volume in political science in 1903 and later, in 1909, being awarded an honorary L.L.D. degree from Colgate University. Woodburn is also credited with being a charter member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at I.U. which is a highly prestigious undergraduate honors organization.

One of his most memorable contributions Woodburn made to Indiana University was the publication of his "History of Indiana University" in 1940. Prompted by then President William Lowe Bryan, Woodburn spent years researching the history of the university. The publication of the history was of such great monumental importance to the academic community in Bloomington that an elaborate testimonial banquet was held on November 30, 1940 to honor Woodburn. This event was also planned to coincide with Woodburn's 84th birthday. During the celebration Woodburn formally presented a copy of the "History of Indiana University" to then president, Herman B Wells, who accepted it on behalf of the University.

Aside from his duties at Indiana University Woodburn served in the position of visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin, University of Chicago, Leland Stanford University, University of Michigan, Cornell University, and Washington State College. His many scholarly memberships included the American Historical Association, American Political Science Association, Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis Literary Club, Kiwanis Club, National Arts Club, as well as many others.

On December 12, 1943, James A. Woodburn died of pneumonia in Madison, Wisconsin and was buried at the Rose Hill cemetery in Bloomington.