Non-fiction:
* The Negro in the American Revolution (1961) - A study of African Americans' roles in the American Revolutionary War.
* The Negro in the Civil War (1964) - Explores the involvement of African Americans in the American Civil War.
* The Negro in the Making of America (1969) - A comprehensive overview of the history of African Americans in the United States.
* The Negro in the American Revolution: A Study of the War's Effect on the Lives of Black Americans (1989) - An expanded edition of his first book.
* Black Mosaic: A History of African Americans in the United States (1991) - A co-authored work with Kenneth Stampp.
Fiction:
* The Sons of Darkness (1969) - A historical novel set in the American South during the early 19th century.
* The Black Cloud (1971) - Another historical novel set in the American South, focusing on the Reconstruction era.
* The Ballad of Sam McGee (1974) - A novel about a young black man's journey to find his identity.
* The Light of Day (1978) - A historical novel set in the American Civil War.
* The Promise of Freedom (1982) - A historical novel set in the Reconstruction era.
* The Blood of Strangers (1985) - A historical novel set in the American South during the late 19th century.
Other:
* The Negro in the American Revolution: A Study of the War's Effect on the Lives of Black Americans (1989) - An expanded edition of his first book.
* Black Mosaic: A History of African Americans in the United States (1991) - A co-authored work with Kenneth Stampp.
* The American Revolution: A History in Documents (1993) - A collection of primary source documents about the American Revolution.
* The American Civil War: A History in Documents (1994) - A collection of primary source documents about the American Civil War.
This is not an exhaustive list, but it represents the major works of James M. Quarles. He has also published several articles and essays on African American history.