Inventory of the Rencher Nicholas Harris Papers, 1851-1980 and undated, bulk 1926-1965

Contains newspapers, newsletter clippings, some oversize, pertaining to activities of and topics of concern for Rencher Nicholas Harris and his wife, Plassie Williams Harris, and associated items such as correspondence and election materials, particularly referring to voting as related to race.

Comprised of letters, telegrams, and other types of correspondence, in the form of personal exchanges between Harris and his wife and family; letters dealing with his campaign and election to the Durham city Council in 1953; and correspondence touching on his business activities. Of particular note are letters written to Harris from Carla Myerson (later Eugster) during her stay in England in 1951, which are filled with observations and impressions about England and its contrasts to America, especially on race relations. Starting in the mid-1950s, letters Harris received from Durham citizens give evidence of the effects of the Brown decision; some letters, for example, call his attention to segregation in airports and ballparks. The issue of public school desegregation comes to the fore beginning about 1959. Dispersed among the correspondence are clippings, financial or business documents, photographs, and publications, often attached to the correspondence with which they are associated. The series is arranged in chronological order.

Comprised of materials concerning Harris' term on the Durham City Council and his service on various committees. The material takes the form of clippings, correspondence, personal notes, and committee documents, including financial papers, maps, meeting agendas and minutes, newsletters and pamphlets, policy statements, proposals, and reports. Materials in three boxes concern Harris' service on the Durham Board of Education, ranging from audit reports of cafeteria systems and book funds to denials to requests for school integration. In addition, there are several subseries that touch on the activities of the Committee on Human Relations, Lincoln Hospital, and the Durham NAACP (for which Harris served as president). The NAACP subseries include an undated "Manual for Workers in NAACP Membership Campaigns," and correspondence and clippings pertaining to the NAACP and its projects. The subseries are arranged in alphabetical order. Unless otherwise noted, each heading represents one folder of material. Some material has been removed to an oversize folder.

Includes a chronology for the life of Plassie Williams Harris, wife of Rencher Nicholas Harris, written in her own hand, and various lists of names and addresses kept by the Harrises.

Comprised of materials pertaining to insurance or banking institutions with which Harris dealt. Materials from Durham's North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company occupy one folder and include correspondence, financial statements, and informational and advertising materials. The folder on "Assorted Companies" contains similar materials for a number of banking and insurance institutions, including American Equitable Assurance, Bankers' Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Loyal Automobile Insurance Company, Mutual Savings and Loan Association, Southeastern Fidelity Fire Insurance Company, and Southern Fidelity Mutual Insurance Company. There are also ledgers, correspondence, financial documents, and reports pertaining to the Mechanics and Farmers Bank.

Includes documents related to the financial and legal matters between Harris, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Thomas A. Allen, as well as deeds and contracts, and some documents regarding school controversies.

Comprised of a single folder containing a variety of materials including a list of names and addresses of Durham clergy, a 1952-1953 membership card for the General Alumni Association of Virginia Union University, a medal presented "by the citizens of Portsmouth, Va. for loyal service in the World War," and assorted other memorabilia and ephemera belonging to Harris.

Comprised of materials documenting Harris' affiliations and service with the North Carolina College of Durham (later North Carolina Central University). The majority of these materials consists of correspondence and reports pertaining to college properties and properties adjacent to the college under review for acquisition by the college; included among these materials are associated maps and property and architectural photographs. Also included are materials pertaining to the 1955 Real Estate and Builders Conference that was held at and partially sponsored by the North Carolina College Commerce Department and at which Harris gave the key address.

Contains 14 photographs of Harris and/or his family or business associates. Most of the individuals in the photographs are identified, but few have dates associated with them. Plassie Williams Harris and J. S. Stewart are present in a number of the photographs.

Comprised of advertising and informational media, manuals, newsletters, pamphlets, postcards, programs, and other printed materials on a variety of topics. One folder contains approximately 30 publications mostly relating to race relations and school desegregation.

Contains clippings of source material, event programs, written notes, and scripts or note cards of speeches given by Harris. Also included are typescripts for two 1963 speeches given by the Dean of Duke Chapel James T. Cleland.

Comprised of bound volumes of personal and business documents relating to Harris. The series is divided into three subseries arranged alphabetically: Appraisals, Memoranda Books, and Scrapbooks and Volumes. The Appraisals group contains bound groupings of real estate appraisals done by Harris mainly in the Durham area from 1939 to 1964. The appraisal reports include many photographs of commercial and residential properties. The Memoranda subseries includes small volumes from 1945-1963, most of which contain little information. The 1955 volume, however, contains the text of several of Harris' speeches and a few newspaper clippings concerning his views on desegregation. The Scrapbooks and Albums subseries consists of a letterbook covering the years 1957-1962, dealing mainly with a testimonial dinner for Harris in 1957 and with his resignation from the School Board in 1962; a scrapbook containing clippings about Durham civic leaders and some snapshots from 1958; a folder of letters and expressions of sympathy to Mrs. Harris on the occasion of Harris' death in 1965; and the Harris family album that has in it family letters and documents as far back as 1851, quantities of clippings pertaining to Harris' political career, and many photographs.

Chiefly large maps of Durham city and county, used for municipal planning purposes, but also includes some clippings.