DACS

harrissrobert Inventory of the Robert Preston Harriss Papers, 1913-1989 Processed by: Rubenstein Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Ted Holt, Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Rebecca Evans, and Michael Shumate David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 002526136

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: Nov. 2009Processed by Rubenstein Library staff; oversize material processed by Rebecca Evans, June 2012; finding aid encoded by Ted Holt, Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Rebecca Evans, and Michael Shumate, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Nov. 2009 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the Robert Preston Harriss Papers, 1913-1989 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Harriss, Robert Preston. Robert Preston Harriss Papers, 1913-1989 Material in English 10.4 Linear Feet Approximately 7800 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Journalist, arts critic and author of Baltimore, Maryland. Collection spans the years 1913-1989 and includes correspondence; autobiographical information on Harriss; clippings (including Harriss' writings); printed material (menus, programs, press releases, travel brochures, itineraries, and maps); biographical sketches of associates and artists; photographs and slides; ledgers containing articles and reviews on music, ballet, opera and the stage; tear sheets; and audiovisual material. Individuals sending letters or referred to in the materials include Gerald W. Johnson, Sara Mayfield, Lizette Woods Reese, August Mencken, H. L. Mencken, Robert Minford, Eugene Ormandy, Art Buchwald, and Harriss's sister, Ruth Tyson, among others. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research with the exception of a manuscript in Box 44, which is closed to use.

Collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Use copies must be made before contents can be accessed.

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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robert Preston Harriss Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The Robert Preston Harriss Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift from 1973 to 1990.

Processing Information

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff; oversize material processed by Rebecca Evans, June 2012

Encoded by Ted Holt and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Nov. 2009; Rebecca Evans and Michael Shumate, June 2012

Accessions from 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, and accessions 89-087 and 90-042 are described in this finding aid.

Parts of this collection are minimally processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Collection Overview

The Robert Preston Harriss Papers span the years 1913-1989 and consist of the following materials: professional and personal correspondence; an autobiography of Robert ("Robin") Preston Harriss and a description of his early life in Fayetteville and the Cape Fear Valley, N.C.; clippings (including his articles for the Baltimore Magazine and the Baltimore Sun); printed material (menus, programs, press releases, travel brochures, itineraries, and maps); biographical sketches of associates and artists; photographs and slides; ledgers containing articles and reviews on music, ballet, opera and the stage; tear sheets; audiovisual material, chiefly interviews of Harriss; and transcriptions of an interview of Harriss by Lawrence Angle. Includes material relating to Harriss' career as editor of the periodical Gardens, Houses, and People (1947-1957). A run of issues of Gardens, Houses, and People from the same years was transferred to Perkins Library's Periodicals Department at processing. Writings in the collection by Harriss also come from the Baltimore American, the Frederick News-Post, and the Baltimore News-American. Individuals with significant letters, significant amounts of correspondence, or referred to in other materials include Gerald W. Johnson, Sara Mayfield, August Mencken, H. L. Mencken (two boxes of material), Robert Minford, Eugene Ormandy, Lizette Woodworth Reese, and Harriss' sister, Ruth Tyson. Correspondence from his sister gives details on life in Fayetteville, N.C., including a description of the time period during World War I and the effects of the Spanish influenza epidemic. There are lesser amounts of materials on other individuals as well in the author subject files. One of Harriss' manuscript drafts is currently closed to access. Original recordings are closed to use; viewing or listening copies must be made before contents can be accessed.

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.

Art critics--Maryland. Baltimore (Md.)--Intellectual life. Cape Fear River Valley (N.C.)--Social life and customs. Fayetteville (N.C.)--History. Harriss, Robert Preston. Johnson, Gerald W. (Gerald White), 1890-1980. Journalists--Correspondence. Journalists--Maryland--Baltimore. Maryland--Newspapers. Mayfield, Sara, 1905- Mencken, August, 1889-1967. Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956. Minford, Robert. Ormandy, Eugene, 1899-1985. Performing arts--United States--Reviews. Reese, Lizette Woodworth, 1856-1935. Tyson, Ruth. Related Material Oral History Collection: OH.8221 ROBERT PRESTON ("ROBIN")HARRISS (fl.1926-78) Baltimore Symphony Series, 1977. Interviewer: Alfred Kohnsky 1977; 1 p. 50 minutes. Maryland Historical Society. Contents of Collection Correspondence Series, 1925-1982 (11 boxes) 1Correspondence, 1925-1959 2Correspondence, 1960-1969 3Correspondence, 1970-1973 4Correspondence, 1974 5Correspondence, 1975 6Correspondence, 1976 7Correspondence, 1977-1978 8Correspondence, 1979-1980 9Correspondence, 1981-1982 10Family correspondence, 1925-1981 11Ruth Harriss Tyson correspondence, 1941-1981 Artwork Series (1 box) 12Drawings Editorial art Clippings Series, 1935-1980s and undated (2 boxes) 13A-O 14Miscellaneous, 1935-1980s Notebook of clippings, 1987-1988

[Processing Note; interfiled from Accession 9-15-89.]

Memorabilia Series (1 box) 15Memorabilia files Miscellany Series (10 boxes)

Subject files on individuals contain mixed material, including correspondence.

15Brazil 16Brochures and leaflets Christmas cards Invitations 17Meet the Authors, mottoes, posters 18Leonard Bahr Leon Bonvin Brian Fried Grace Hartigan Winni Hender Gerald W. Johnson 19A. and T. Klots Raymond Lark Jacques Maroger Sara Mayfield Eugene Ormandy Ezra Pound Curt Richter Paul Robeson Joseph St. Lawrence 20Joseph Sheppard(2 folders) Aaron Sopher Betty Wells R. A. Yeardley 22Memorabilia 37-38Mencken, Henry Louis 38Mencken, August 39Reese, Lizette Woodworth Photographs Series (1 box) 21Includes slides and photographs relating to Harriss' professional life and contacts. Writings Series (6 boxes) 23Writings 24Writings, manuscripts, Not All Magnolia: A Tarheel Boyhood 25Writings, manuscripts, Out of This Clay 26Writings, various authors, Exiles from Paradise 12Biography 44Two Harriss handwritten manuscripts: The Strange Case of Donald Watts, a short character sketch (restriction lifted in 1991); and another character sketch (closed to use) Printed Material Series (8 boxes) 27Miscellany Baltimore Museum of Art 28Art Walters Art Gallery 29-30Dance 31Drama 32Miscellaneous 33Music 34Volumes Volumes Series, 1959-1974 (2 boxes) 35Clippings related to music (including ballet and opera) and drama, 1959-1967 36Clippings related to music (including ballet and opera) and drama, 1968-1974 Audiovisual Material Series (4 boxes)

[Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Listening or viewing copies must be made before contents can be accessed for research.]

40Recordings (audio reels) 41-43Other audiovisual material Oversize Material, 1939-1985 (12 boxes)

Consists mainly of tearsheets of Preston Harriss arts columns from various newspapers, chiefly the Baltimore News American and the Frederick News-Post.

[Processing Note: Oversize Box 6 is housed separately from the main body of Harriss oversize materials described in Boxes 45-56.]

45Various newspapers, 1939-1956 (3 folders) Baltimore News American, 1948-1959 (2 folders) Frederick News-Post, 1957-1963(5 folders) 46Various newspapers, 1961-1964 (6 folders) Baltimore News American, 1963-1967 (3 folders) Various newspapers, 1964-1976(1 folder) 47Baltimore News American, 1965-1989(6 folders) 48Baltimore News American, 1967-1970(11 folders) 49Baltimore News American, 1969-1971(12 folders) 50Baltimore News American, 1971-1973(13 folders) 51Baltimore News American, 1974-1975(13 folders) 52Baltimore News American, 1974-1976(9 folders) 53Baltimore News American, 1976-1978(11 folders) 54Baltimore News American, 1977-1979(4 folders) Various newspapers, 1978-1979(7 folders) 55Baltimore News American, 1979-1981(6 folders) Various newspapers, 1981-1982(4 folders) 56Baltimore News American, 1982-1985(4 folders) Various newspapers, 1986-1988(2 folders)

[Processing Note; interfiled from Accession 9-15-89.]

6Miscellaneous art and invitations Musical scores Accession (90-042) (1 box) 1Video interview of Harriss and transcript