Preliminary Inventory of the Harold Grier McCurdy Papers, 1918-1999
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleHarold Grier McCurdy Papers,
1918-1999
Creator
McCurdy, Harold Grier, 1909-
Extent
22.4 Linear Feet
9932 Items
Repository
9932 Items
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred
to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the
Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Harold Grier McCurdy Papers, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Harold Grier McCurdy Papers was received by the Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1989-2009.
Processing Information
Processed by Ruth E. Bryan, Ann Langford, and other RBMSCL staff
Completed 1989-October 31, 2000
Encoded by Ruth E. Bryan and Ming Guo
Updated by Meghan Lyon, February 2009
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
[top]
Biographical Note
Child psychologist and teacher, poet, professor at the University of North Carolina, and father of artist John Derrickson McCurdy.
[top]Collection Overview
Collection contains an unpublished manuscript of
A Photorealist in Quest of God by McCurdy. This work
traces the artistic development of his son, John. Among the correspondence are
letters between John and his parents, and diaries detailing the early lives of
both John and his sister, Ann. Also included is an exhibition catalog of John's
work (1977); an essay by John with publishers' responses; his doctoral
dissertation; reprints of articles John wrote; original art work; legal papers,
handwritten notes, printed material, yearbooks, course work, diplomas,
correspondence; and slides and photographs. Other works by Harold McCurdy
include
Barbara, The Unconscious Autobiography of a Child Genius
and
About Mary. Another group of materials include
correspondence, clippings, articles, and other items relating to Harold
McCurdy's writing, teaching, and publishing career.
The addition (2000-0424) (8216 items, dating from 1918-1999) provides a relatively
well-rounded and sometimes intimate look into McCurdy's personal and
professional life over the majority of his lifetime. Materials include
correspondence from and to McCurdy; writings on psychology, poetry, and drama;
diaries; subject files; cartoons; and 254 color slides of paintings and other
sketches and writings by McCurdy's son, John Derrickson McCurdy.
The addition (2009-0021) (6 items; 0.2 lin. ft.; 1964-1995) consists of 6 bound notebooks
and diaries kept by McCurdy. Some of the diaries appear to be sequential; other
notebooks include clippings and writings.
[top]
Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- McCurdy, Harold Grier, 1909-
- McCurdy, John Derrickson, 1940-1974.
- Parent and child.
- Artists--United States.
- Artists--United States--Correspondence.
- Color slides.
- Diaries.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Original Collection, 1940-1989 | ||||||
 | | Accession (2000-0424), 1918-1999 | ||||||
 | | Accession (2009-0021), 1964-1995 | ||||||
Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection
Original Collection, 1940-1989
(4 boxes)
Includes Accessions (1989-0089), (1990-0094), (1998-0237)
Collection contains an unpublished manuscript of
"A Photorealist in Quest of God"
by McCurdy. This work traces the artistic development of his son, John. Among the correspondence are letters between John and his parents, and diaries detailing the early lives of both John and his sister, Ann. Also included is an exhibition catalog of John's work (1977); an essay by John with publishers' responses; his doctoral dissertation; reprints of articles John wrote; original art work; legal papers, handwritten notes, printed material, yearbooks, course work, diplomas, correspondence; and slides and photographs. Other works by Harold McCurdy include Barbara, The Unconscious Autobiography of a Child Genius, and About Mary. Another group of materials include correspondence, clippings, articles, and other items relating to Harold McCurdy's writing, teaching, and publishing career.
Accession (2000-0424), 1918-1999
The addition (2000-0424) (8216 items, dating from 1918-1999) provides a relatively well-rounded and sometimes intimate look into McCurdy's personal and professional life over the majority of his lifetime. Materials include correspondence from and to McCurdy; writings on psychology, poetry, and drama; diaries; subject files; cartoons; and 254 color slides of paintings and other sketches and writings by McCurdy's son, John Derrickson McCurdy.
Some of the materials in this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use. Technical Services staff need to reformat newspaper clippings and other acidic paper; remove rusty fasteners; remove material from envelopes. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Box 6 contains sensitive material--student grades. Patrons must
sign a release form before use.
Box 1
Correspondence to and from McCurdy and subject files,
A-D,
1967-1999
Box 2
Correspondence to and from McCurdy and subject files, E-N,
1966-1999
Box 3
Correspondence to and from McCurdy and subject files, O-Z, 1941-1999
Poetry and professional writings in manuscript form,
1943-1997
(one binder and various printed
journals)
Box 4
Poetry and professional writings in manuscript form,
1943-1997
(15 folders)
Letters home,
1929-1932,
1964
(3 folders)
Letters to Frank,
1930-1934,
1987-1992
(four folders)
Drawings/cartoons,
1918-1926
(2 folders)
Box 5
Drawings/cartoons,
1918-1926
(2 folders)
Academic reprints and other writings, mainly poetry
and plays, including
Realizing Westward,1940s-1990s (some
material in deteriorating bound volumes)
Box 6
Biographical files and publications,
1942-1999
Includes student grades-patrons must sign a release form to
use.
Box 7
Poetry and professional writings in manuscript form,
1943-1997 (one printed
journal)
Elegy by W.S.(published book by other
author)
Bound volume of hand-copied verses by well-known
poets
Son John McCurdy's biographical material, academic
writings and course work, cartoons, sketches, drawings, and lists of paintings,
1940-1974
Includes a small amount of material relating to daughter Ann
McCurdy
Box 8
Papers,
1965-1970
Manuscript of
A Photorealist in Search of God
[Section Two Illustrations moved to OS box 133]
Data books on subjects' dream contents,
1968 and undated
(three volumes)
Personal and professional writings, including rough
drafts of poems,
1942-1999
Box 9
Personal and professional writings, including rough
drafts of poems,
1942-1999
Copies of poems from other writers
Diploma from Duke University, Ph.D.,
1938
Loose material from inside diploma, including two
sketches by McCurdy, ca.
1940 and undated
[Class notes]
Dream and daily diaries,
1941-1999
Box 10
Color slides of John McCurdy's
paintings, shows, and wedding,
1965-1987
Accession (2009-0021), 1964-1995
(1 box)
The addition (2009-0021) (6 items; 0.2 lin. ft.; 1964-1995) consists of 6 bound notebooks and diaries kept by McCurdy. Some of the diaries appear to be sequential; other notebooks include clippings and writings.
Box 1
Diary, 1977
"Before and After March 23, 1989,"
notebook of writings and poems
Red and black diary with clippings, 1964-1995
Composition book
"V,"
1990 (pages 376-474)
Composition book
"IX,"
1991-1992 (pages 810-869)
Composition book
"X,"
1992 (pages 870-929, 1145-1204)
