Raised in New York City, Canfield attended Williams College and read law in Jackson, Michigan, before briefly practicing in St. Joseph, Michigan.

He resigned the position in 1899 and became chief librarian at Columbia University, where remained until his death.

from the University of Oxford in October 1902, in connection with the tercentenary of the Bodleian Library.

[2] He married Flavia Camp on June 24, 1873;[3] their children included Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

[4] James Hulme Canfield died at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City on March 29, 1909.