He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated in 1882, although remained active in the affairs of the school.

He was the father-in-law of Frederic Lansing Day who married his daughter Katharine.

Munroe graduated with a degree in MIT's Course III, Mining Engineering.

James Phinney Munroe was born in Lexington, Massachusetts on June 3, 1862.

[8] J.P Munroe... was a Boston businessman, active in local affairs and in the life of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he had served as Secretary of the Faculty 1882-9 under Walker's presidency.