mccurdyharold Preliminary Inventory of the Harold Grier McCurdy Papers, 1918-2006 Processed by: Ruth E. Bryan, Ann Langford, and other Rubenstein Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Ruth E. Bryan and Ming Guo

(C) 2001 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Aleph Number: 002226318

 Machine-readable finding aid derived from automated markup system. Date of source: 1989-October 31, 2000 Processed by Ruth E. Bryan, Ann Langford, and other Rubenstein Library staff 1989-October 31, 2000; Finding Aid encoded by Ruth E. Bryan and Ming Guo, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, June 14, 2001 Description is in English. 12-31-2005 PUBLIC "-//David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library//TEXT (US::NDD::::Harold Grier McCurdy Papers)//EN" "mccurdyharold.xml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Also, the top level of the finding aid (above the dsc) changed to conform to current Rubenstein Library and NC EAD standards as laid out in the Inventory Style Guide and in the NCEAD Best Practice Guidelines. Within the dsc, dates for series were normalized. These changes were made by Michelle Belden. Also, container TYPE and LABEL attribute values were standardized according to the Rubenstein Library EAD 2002 manual and the NCEAD eadlocal.ent by Ruth E. Bryan.The tag list inside index was changed to indexentry by Ruth E. Bryan. Preliminary Inventory of the Harold Grier McCurdy Papers, 1918-2006 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

(C) 2009 Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

 Descriptive Summary Harold Grier McCurdy Papers, 1918-2006 McCurdy, Harold Grier, 1909- 22.6 Linear Feet 9934 Items David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Harold Grier McCurdy Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University

 Provenance

The Harold Grier McCurdy Papers was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1989-2010.

 Processing Information

Processed by Ruth E. Bryan, Ann Langford, and other Rubenstein Library staff

Completed 1989-October 31, 2000

Encoded by Ruth E. Bryan and Ming Guo

Updated by Meghan Lyon, February 2009

Updated by Alice Poffinberger, August 2010

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

 Biographical Note

Child psychologist and teacher, poet, professor at the University of North Carolina, and father of artist John Derrickson McCurdy.

 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.

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.

Addition (2009-0021) (8 items; 0.2 lin. ft.; 1949-2006) consists of 6 bound notebooks and diaries kept by McCurdy. Some of the diaries appear to be sequential; other notebooks include clippings and writings. There is also an index of McCurdy's submissions (1949-1998), as well as a compilation of his poetry (2006).

 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. Contents of 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.

 Acc. 89/089: Box 1Accession 1989-0089 Acc. 90/094: Box 1Accession 1990-0094 Acc. 90/094: Box 2Accession 1990-0094 Acc. 98/237: Box 1Accession 1998-0237 Accession (2000-0424), 1918-1999

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

Box 6 contains sensitive material--student grades. Patrons must sign a release form before use.

 1 Correspondence to and from McCurdy and subject files, A-D, 1967-1999 2 Correspondence to and from McCurdy and subject files, E-N, 1966-1999 3 Correspondence to and from McCurdy and subject files, O-Z, 1941-1999 3 Poetry and professional writings in manuscript form, 1943-1997 (one binder and various printed journals) 4 Poetry and professional writings in manuscript form, 1943-1997 (15 folders) 4 Letters home, 1929-1932, 1964 (3 folders) 4 Letters to Frank, 1930-1934, 1987-1992 (four folders) 4 Drawings/cartoons, 1918-1926 (2 folders) 5 Drawings/cartoons, 1918-1926 (2 folders) 5 Academic reprints and other writings, mainly poetry and plays, including Realizing Westward,1940s-1990s (some material in deteriorating bound volumes) 6 Biographical files and publications, 1942-1999

Includes student grades-patrons must sign a release form to use.

 7 Poetry and professional writings in manuscript form, 1943-1997 (one printed journal) 7 Elegy by W.S.(published book by other author) 7 Bound volume of hand-copied verses by well-known poets 7 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

 8 Papers, 1965-1970 8 Manuscript of A Photorealist in Search of God

[Section Two Illustrations moved to OS box 133]

 8 Data books on subjects' dream contents, 1968 and undated (three volumes) 8 Personal and professional writings, including rough drafts of poems, 1942-1999 9 Personal and professional writings, including rough drafts of poems, 1942-1999 9 Copies of poems from other writers 9 Diploma from Duke University, Ph.D., 1938 9 Loose material from inside diploma, including two sketches by McCurdy, ca. 1940 and undated

[Class notes]

 9 Dream and daily diaries, 1941-1999 10 Color slides of John McCurdy's paintings, shows, and wedding, 1965-1987 11Oversize artwork 1Miscellaneous Oversize Material Accession (2009-0021), 1949-2006 (2 boxes)

Addition (2009-0021) (8 items; 0.2 lin. ft.; 1949-2006) consists of 6 bound notebooks and diaries kept by McCurdy. Some of the diaries appear to be sequential; other notebooks include clippings and writings. There is also an index of McCurdy's submissions (1949-1998), as well as a compilation of his poetry (2006).

 1Diary, 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) 2Index 1949-1998 Poetry compilation, 2006