Harris Family Papers, 1860 – ca. 1940 – MS078

Harris Family Papers, 1860 – ca. 1940 – MS078

Provenance:

The main portion of the Harris Family Papers came to the Portsmouth Athenaeum in 2003 as a gift from Nancy Beck. A portion of the papers also came as a gift from Margaret Morrissey in 2004. These items are noted in the finding aid with an “[MM].” The Morrissey and Beck collections of Harris materials both came from the same original source, an antique dealer on Marcy Street, and were therefore incorporated into one collection. This collection also includes correspondence under the the former catalog number S0550, a gift from the Portsmouth Public Library in 1993. It contained additional Harris family correspondence from 1876 to 1911. The items formerly included in S0550 are noted in the finding aid with “[S0550].” In 2022, a dozen diaries, primarily belonging to Robert Harris, were removed from the Nancy Beck Papers (MS147) and integrated into this collection. These are in Box 2.

Citation: Harris Family Papers (MS078), Portsmouth Athenaeum

Size: 7 Hollinger boxes (3 1/2 linear feet) and 1 oversize flat box

Access: No restrictions

Processed by: Susan Stowe Kindstedt in October 2004; additions by Roland Goodbody in November 2022

Scope and Content

The Harris Family Papers span the years from 1860 to ca. 1940. The earliest materials primarily cover the professional career of Robert Harris, with some personal family content in the form of letters to his wife Lucy. The bulk of the collection, however, consists of materials relating to sisters Mary Harris and Edith Harris. Much of the correspondence is to and from Edith Harris while she is traveling in Europe. Letters discuss various attractions she visits, lessons she is taking (art, music, and foreign languages). There are several diaries documenting her travels and daily tasks. Some letters also discuss her time with missionaries in Greece and several letters mention her interest in photography. The collection also contains artwork, much of which is unsigned, but is presumably by one or both of the Harris sisters (see collection MS065 for Mary A. Harris sketchbooks). There is also a large collection of journals and individual journal articles. Those articles that were retained as part of the collection have some connection either to art in the Piscataqua region or to artists who are known to have influenced local artists. The Harris women were involved in several local art clubs and discussion groups. One journal cover has a circulation list of one of these clubs and lists the names of the Portsmouth women who shared the journal.

The collection is a rich source for women’s history and travel during the Victorian period, as well as women’s art and art education and also has valuable information about the life and civil engineering career of Robert Harris.

Biographical Notes

Mary Aubin Harris (1864-1952) was born in San Francisco, California on December 18, 1864. Mary was the first child of Lucy Woodward (Kimball) and Robert Lewis Harris. The family traveled a great deal due to Robert Harris’s career as a civil engineer working on railroads and bridges throughout the country. In 1900, Mary made Portsmouth her permanent home, residing at 43 Austin Street. An active artist, Mary attended the Packer Collegiate Institute of Art in Brooklyn, as well as schools on Cape Cod and other areas of the country. Mary died in Portsmouth in 1952. There is additional information about Mary Harris in the Portsmouth Athenaeum curatorial artist files.

Edith Kimball Harris (1868-1956) was the second child of Lucy Woodward (Kimball) and Robert Harris and was born in Vallejo, California in 1868. Edith spent time in Europe during 1890 and 1891, including Germany, Switzerland and Greece. While in Europe Edith studied art, visited numerous museums, took lessons (foreign language) and spent some time with a missionary in Greece. Edith returned to live in Portsmouth with her sister Mary and died on June 6, 1956. She is buried in the South Street cemetery..

Robert Lewis Harris (1834-1896) was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and from the age of fifteen studied engineering with Ezra Lincoln in Boston. From 1852 to 1858 Harris worked on the Cleveland and St. Louis Air-Line Railway, the Delaware Railroad, Mississippi and Milwaukee Railroads, and the Interoceanic Railway in Honduras. Harris traveled west in 1860 and from 1860-1871 worked in San Francisco. During this time he was an engineer for the San Francisco and Oakland Railway, the California Pacific, and the Central Pacific, among others. From 1871-1872 he was superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Minnesota and worked on railroads in Canada from 1875-1876 and Texas in 1880-1882. From 1883-1891 Harris was a consulting engineer in New York City. He married Lucy Woodward Kimball in 1864 and died of apoplexy in New Hampshire in 1896.

Related Materials

MS 065 Mary Aubin Harris sketchbooks, art and lecture notes, and correspondence.

PS 2514-2552  Harris Family Photograph Collection. Photographs that were separated from this collection.

S0706 Mary Aubin & Edith Kimball Harris personal accounts.

S0980  Mary Aubin Harris Address Book.

S1515  Mary Aubin Harris Letters, 1881-1889.

S0687 Robert Harris Letters to his wife,  Lucy W. Kimball Harris, 1860-1880.

Series Listing

I. Correspondence

II. Diaries and bound volumes

III. Pamphlets

A. Journal

B. Exhibit Catalogs

C. Art Class Pamphlets

D. Articles

E. Miscellaneous and Fragments

IV. School Papers and Artwork

V. Robert Harris

VI. Miscellaneous

I. Correspondence

Letters from 1890 and 1891 discuss Edith Harris’s trip to Europe, including stops in Greece, Germany, and Italy. Edith’s writing usually included description of sightseeing, food, language lessons (usually German), and visiting museums, gardens, and churches. After 1891, the letters include correspondence from Edith’s friends who are still abroad and from Robert Harris while he is in various other parts of the country for his work as a civil engineer working on the railroads. Robert Harris spends time in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Orleans. In the later 1890s and through the early 1900s, the letters discuss Mary and Edith’s art careers, including teaching lessons. In 1911, the focus of the letters shifts to Harriet McEwen Kimball, sister of Lucy (Kimball) Harris. Harriet Kimball is a poet and letters often discuss publication arrangements and permissions.

BOX 1

Folder 1 Correspondence before 1890

Sept. 6, 1866    Elle [?] Whipple to Robert Harris: Financial matters, investment decisions.
Jan. 20, 1868    Unidentified correspondent, Portsmouth to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM]: Mentions baby care.

Feb, 17, 1869 Unidentified correspondent to Robert Harris re article in the Morning Call (in S.F.) critical of the engineering construction of the California Pacific Railroad, assuring him that the correspondent (and perhaps the company he represents) do not hold Harris responsible
Oct. 18, 1869     Allen Reed, New York to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM].
ca. 1872            Edith Harris, Portsmouth to Robert Harris, New York [S550]: Family matters and daily activities, including school lessons.
Jan. 16,1876     Frank [?], Brooklyn to Lizzie [?]: Discussion of difficult financial times [Unsure how this letter and the correspondence relate to the rest of the collection.].
April 1, 1877      Robert Harris, St. Cloud, Minnesota to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM]: Travel and observations, including economic hardship in the West.
April 13, 1822    Robert Harris: Confirmation of arrival in Mexico.
Nov. 30, 1822    J.E. Wikie [?] to Robert Harris: Living arrangements for Robert Harris’s mother [?].
May 25, 1884    Mary M.W. (Conner) Harris to Mary Harris: Family matters and reflections on faith.
Aug. 13, 1884    Edith or Mary Harris, Portland, Oregon to Lucy [Kimball] Harris [MM]: Travel in the West, description of Robert Harris’s work, shopping and sight seeing.
Aug. 13, 1884    Mary Harris, Portland, Oregon to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM]: Travel to the West to visit Robert Harris.
July 3, 1885       John Barnes to W.H. [?] Barnes: Letter of introduction for Robert Harris while he is in San Francisco.
Aug. 21, 1887    Robert Harris to Edith Harris: Robert is in Duluth, Minnesota, letter discusses traveling and being away from the family.
Sept. 25, 1887   Robert Harris, Duluth, Minnesota to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM].
Sept. 27, 1887   Robert Harris, Duluth, Minnesota to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM].
Dec. 21, 1887    Charlie — to Robert Harris [MM].
Nov. 5 , 1888      Lucy M. Harris: List of silver in the vault at the New Hampshire National Bank.
April 16, 1889    Mary Harris, Germany to Edith Harris: Learning to speak German, living conditions and daily life while visiting Germany.
July 15, 1889     Invitation to the wedding of Jeanie Austin Gerrish and John Pickard.
July 15, 1889     Announcement for the wedding above.
Nov. 10, 1889    John Pickard to Edith Harris from Leipzig, Germany [in German].

Folder 2 Correspondence, January to April 1890

1890 Feb. 4 Jeanie Gerrish to Edith Harris from Leipzig, Germany [in German].

Folder 3 Correspondence, May to June 1890

1890 May 4 Unknown, Mobile, Alabama [fragment]: Describes a voyage from Philadelphia to Mobile with a stop in and description of Havana, Cuba.
1890 June 1 Edith Harris to Mary Harris, Lucy (Kimball) Harris, and Robert Harris: Description of voyage at sea on the Steamship Teutonic.
1890 June 8 —Caroline Gerrish and Edith Harris, London to Harriet Kimball: Travel through Great Britain, gardens, paintings, sightseeing in Stratford-on-Avon, including Holy Trinity Church, at the residence of the Duke of Westminster, and in London.
1890 June 13 Edith Harris, London, England to Mary Harris, Lucy (Kimball) Harris, and Robert Harris: Description of the London police and a visit to the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels.
1890 June 15 Edith Harris, Berlin, Germany: Travel to Germany.
1890 June 22 Edith Harris, Berlin, Germany to Mary Harris: Visit to a museum with discussion of art.
1890 June 29 Edith Harris, Berlin, Germany to Mary Harris: Visit with a German family, manner of dress, children, missionary work, an orphanage.

Folder 4 Correspondence, July to August 1890

1890 July 7    Edith Harris, Berlin, Germany to Robert Harris: Travel and visiting Germany.
1890 July 22  Edith Harris, Dresden, Germany to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Discussion of German lessons, household furnishings, and gardens.
1890 Aug. 24 Edith Harris, Geneva, Switzerland to Mary Harris: Shopping, sending home souvenirs, living conditions, and the health of Robert Harris.
1890 Aug. 31 Edith Harris, Geneva, Switzerland to Robert Harris: Shopping, sending home souvenirs, and taking photographs with a “Kodak.”

Folder 5 Correspondence, September 1890

1890 Sept. 4  Edith Harris, Geneva, Switzerland to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel plans.
1890 Sept. 4  Susan H. Martin to Cyrus —: Weddings and receptions in Portsmouth for Mrs. H. Goodall and Edwin C. Blaisdell and Clara L. French (married 9/3/1890).
1890 Sept. 14 Edith Harris, Geneva, Switzerland to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Discussion of lessons and travel also of the death of Ned Highbee in Portsmouth; Edith requests that her mother take $1 from her bank account
to give to the “poor and sick” in Portsmouth.
1890 Sept. 18 Edith Harris, Lyons, France: Descriptions and drawings of stained glass windows, architecture, travel to Marseilles, a visit to a Catholic church, and the countryside of France.
1890 Sept. 28 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel to Marseilles, France, shopping and sightseeing.
1890 Sept. 28 Edith Harris, Athena, Greece to Robert Harris: Travel and news from friends at home.

Folder 6 Correspondence, October 1890

1890 Oct. 5  Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Discussion of a friend, Jessie, who is very sick and also of Robert Harris looking for work
1890 Oct. 12 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy Harris: Illness during travel, living conditions and the family that Edith is staying with in Greece.
1890 Oct. 13 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Travel and missing Portsmouth.
1890 Oct. 24 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Death of Edith and Mary’s friend, Jessie and gifts Edith received from friends and family.
1890 Oct. 31 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy Harris: German lessons and daily activities.
1890 Oct. 31 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris.

Folder 7 Correspondence, November 1890

1890 Nov. 2   Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Financial arrangements for travel, travel and history.
1890 Nov. 7   Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Wedding of Mary Lawrence (in Haverhill) and food in Germany.
1890 Nov. 10 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Fashion and descriptions of the royal family.
1890 Nov. 16 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy Harris.
1890 Nov. 23 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Customs procedures in Greece, shipping new travel clothes from the US to Greece.
1890 Nov. 24 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Sarah Kittridge, Haverhill, Massachusetts: Methods of communication, sightseeing, churches in Greece.
1890 Nov. 28 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Subscribing to art magazines in Greece.
1890 Nov 28  Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Thanksgiving in Athens.

Folder 8 Correspondence, December 1890

1890 Dec. 5 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris.
1890 Dec. 5 Sophia E. McCarter [?] to Mary Harris.
1890 Dec. 7 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Launching of the USS Maine and Greeley coming to Portsmouth.
1890 Dec. 14 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel and lessons.
1890 Dec. 15 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris.
1890 Dec. 18 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Food in Greece.
1890 Dec. 22 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: thank you for New York Times subscription.
1890 Dec. 21 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Travel and going to church in Greece.
1890 Dec. 28 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Christmas celebrations and gift exchanging in Greece.
1890 Dec. 29 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Lessons.
1890 Dec. 29 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Christmas gifts.

Folder 9 Correspondence, January to February 1891

1891 Jan. 1  Robert Harris to Edith Harris: Bible verse: Numbers VI, 24-26.
1891 Jan. 5  Edith Harris, Greece to Robert Harris: Excavations in Greece near Hadrian’s Arch, including a Roman bath, palace, and mosaics; living expenses while in Greece and financial matters.
1891 Jan. 5  Edith Harris, Greece to Mary Harris: Poetry and travel in Greece.
1891 Jan. 11 Edith Harris, Greece to Mary Harris: Attended a lecture given by a German archaeologist includes general discussion about archaeology in Greece.
1891 Jan. 12 Edith Harris, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris
1891 Jan. 18 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris: Photography and photographic equipment.
1891 Feb. 8   Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Game playing and recreation while in Greece, news of an ice storm in Portsmouth.
1891 Feb. 9   Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel, including a visit to a museum.
1891 Feb. 9   Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel, weather, and lessons.
1891 Feb. 12 Unknown to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 Feb. 16 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Robert Harris.
1891 Feb. 16 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel, including an illustrative sketch.
1891 Feb. 22 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Food and lessons.
1891 Feb. 23 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: News from Portsmouth and wishing she was home.

Folder 10 Correspondence, March 1891

1891 March 1 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel to Switzerland and daily activities
1891 March 4 Mary Harris, Portsmouth to Edith Harris: Snowstorms and transportation in Portsmouth (sleighs), returning from a trip to New Orleans (description of the city).
1891 March 6 Edith Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Visit to the Erectheion, Parthenon, and the Acropolis.
1891 March 8 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Fire at the Post Office in Portsmouth.
1891 March 12 Mary D. Parker to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 March 15 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris.
1891 March 19 Lucy (Kimball) Harris to Edith Harris.
1891 March 22 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Gifts sent to Edith from family in Portsmouth, lessons and travel.

Folder 11 Correspondence, April 1891

1891 April 5  Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [fragment].
1891 April 19 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1891 April 23 Flora C. White to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 April 26 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: preparing to leave Athens.

Folder 12 Correspondence, May 1891

1891 May 3 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Mary Harris: Food and travel.
1891 May 3 Edith Harris, Athens, Greece to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: News from friends at home, walking in the mountains in Greece.
1891 May 8 Edith Harris to Harris Family: Travel in Europe (leaving Athens).
1891 May 17 Edith Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Travel to Pompeii, having to purchase new clothes.
1891 May 18 Edith Harris, Naples, Italy to Robert Harris: Birthday greeting, sending photographs home, food in Italy.
1891 May 24 Edith Harris, Rome, Italy to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Living arrangements while in Italy, sightseeing.

Folder 13 Correspondence, June 1891

1891 June 28 Edith Harris, Munich, Germany to Lucy (Kimball) Harris.

Folder 14 Correspondence, July 1891

1891 July 5   Edith Harris, Munich, Germany to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Trees in Germany, visiting museums and gardens.
1891 July 11 Edith Harris, Munich, Germany to Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1891 July 21 Edith Harris, Munich, Germany to Lucy (Kimball ) Harris.
1891 July 26 Edith Harris, Munich, Germany to Mary Harris: Looking forward to returning home in September.
1891 July 26 Edith Harris, Munich, Germany to Robert Harris.
1891 July 30 Phillip [?] to Edith Harris: Poetry.

Folder 15 Correspondence, August 1891

1891 Aug. 13 [?] Robinson: Poetry.
1891 Aug. 16 Edith Harris, Germany to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Birthday greetings, travel, and sightseeing.
1891 Aug. 20 Georgia Stearns Harris to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 Aug. 23 Caroline P. Gerrish to Edith Harris.
1891 Aug. 27 Sophia C. McCarter to Edith Harris: Poetry.

Folder 16 Correspondence, September – October 1891

1891 Sept. 4 Caroline P. Gerrish to Edith Harris: Travel in Germany (Edith has now returned to Portsmouth).
1891 Sept. 10 Frances G. Davenport to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 Sept. 10 Robert Harris, New York to Edith Harris: Travel expenses and family matters.
1891 Sept. 21 Louisa — to Sarah Kittredge, Haverhill: Travel in Germany.
1891 Oct. 8 Alice R. Young to Edith Harris: Greetings from home.
1891 Oct. 15 Marie [?] Bond to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 Oct. 25 Robert Harris, New York to Edith and Mary Harris: Children and education (GAR).

Folder 17 Correspondence, November – December 1891

1891 Nov. 19 Celia [?] Hobson to Edith Harris: Poetry.
1891 Nov. 22 Unknown, Munich to Edith Harris.
1891 Nov. 23 Unknown, Munich to Edith Harris.
1891 Dec. 7 E.C. Stedman, New York to Mary Harris [MM].
1891 Dec 15 E.C. Stedman, New York to Capt. Thomas A. Harris [MM].
1891 Dec. 27 Caroline Gerrish, Munich to Sarah Kittredge.
1891 Dec. 28 Jeanie — to Unknown [letter in German].
1891 Dec. 28 Caroline P. Gerrish, Munich to Edith Harris.
1891 Emma Potter to Edith Harris [illegible – written in German].

Folder 18 Correspondence, January – February 1892

1892 Jan. 5 E.C. Stedman, New York to Capt. Harris [MM],
1892 Jan. 8 Caroline P. Gerrish, Munich to Sarah Kittredge,
1892 Jan. 12 Unknown [letter in German].
1892 Jan. 28 Robert Harris to Edith Harris and Mary Harris: Family history.
1892 Feb. 11 Caroline P. Gerrish, Munich to Sarah Kittredge.
1892 Feb. 14 Caroline P. Gerrish, Munich to Mary Harris.
1892 Feb. 27 M.K. Kalopothakes, Athens, Greece to ?Edith Harris: Description of an attack on a Protestant church (mission) in Greece.
1892 Feb. 28 Robert Harris, Brooklyn to Edith Harris [MM].

Folder 19 Correspondence, March – December 1892

1892 March 6 John Pickard, Munich, Germany to M.K. Kalopothakes: Calling on the people of Portsmouth to help the Protestant missionary cause that was attacked in Greece.
1892 March 13 Caroline P. Gerrish, Munich to Edith Harris.
1892 June Caroline P. Gerrish, Munich to Edith Harris.
1892 July 17 Theodore Harris, Boston to Edith Harris.
1892 Aug. 13 Caroline P. Gerrish, London to Edith Harris: Travel and sightseeing.
1892 Dec. 19 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1892 Dec. 28 M.K. Kalopothakes, Athens, Greece to ?Edith Harris.
1892 Dec. 28 Invitation to the wedding of Emma Josephine Potter and Carleton Lewis Brownson.

Folder 20 Correspondence, 1894

1893 Jan. 29 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris: Living arrangements in New York, daily activities, and family matters.
1893 Jan. 29 Robert Harris, New York to Edith Harris.
1893 Feb. 6 Katherine [?], Portsmouth to Mary Harris: From a child, wishing that Mary would begin to feel better.
1893 April 7 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Edith and Mary Harris.
1893 April 21 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Mary Harris.
1893 April 22 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Mary Harris.
1893 April 23 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Mary Harris.
1893 April 25 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Edith Harris.
1893 April 30 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Mary Harris.
1893 May 21 Robert Harris, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania to Mary Harris.
1893 Aug. 7 Lizzie H. Perry, Westminster Park, NY to Mary Harris: School friend of Mary Harris.
1893 Aug. 22 Estella H. Lovering, Brooklyn to Mary Harris.
1893 Dec. 17 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.

Folder 21 Correspondence, 1894

1894 March 4 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1894 March 15 Death announcement for Isabella Ambrose Kennedy Moffat.
1894 May 8 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Providence to Mary Harris: Daily activities, including painting.
1894 June 10 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris and Edith Harris.
1894 June 21 Robert Harris, New York to Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1894 June 21 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1894 Dec. 16 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1894 Dec. 19 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris: Mary’s art.

Folder 22 Correspondence, 1895

1895 Theodore Harris, Boston to Edith Harris.
1895 Jan. 15 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris: Calling on Louis C. Tiffany at his factory.
1895 March 4 Unknown to Mary Harris: List of art supplies, including paper, charcoal, crayons, and pencils.
1895 April 21 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1895 July 14 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1895 July 31 Sadie G. Crathern to Mary Harris.
1895 Sept. 20 Robert Harris, New York to Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1895 Sept. 22 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris [MM]: Unusually high temperatures.
1895 Dec. 15 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.

Folder 23 Correspondence, 1896

1896 Jan. 26 Robert Harris, New York to Edith Harris and Mary Harris [S550]: Daily activities while in New York.
1896 March 22 Robert Harris, New York to Mary Harris.
1896 April 10 Mary Harris, New York to Edith Harris and Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Visit to New York to see Robert Harris, travel and sightseeing.
1896 April 10 Robert Harris, New York to Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1896 July 1 W.DH Washington, The Hydraulic Construction Company, New York to Robert Harris.
1896 Oct. 4 Mary Harris, New York to Edith Harris and Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1896 Oct. 6 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Portsmouth to Mary Harris.
1896 Oct. 6 Sarah Kittredge, Haverhill to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM]: Condolences after the death of Robert Harris.
1896 Oct. 15 T.W. Snow to Lucy (Kimball) Harris: Death of Robert Harris and offering assistance in his affairs.
1896 Nov. 18 Helen Thayer, Portsmouth to Mary Harris: Helen Thayer (wife of North Church minister) is offering condolences and assistance after hearing about the passing of Robert Harris.

Folder 24 Correspondence, 1897-1909

1897 April 20 Frances Davenport, London to Edith Harris.
1897 April 29 Theodore Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM]: Financial matters.
1900 Nov. 24 Unknown to Edith Harris [MM].
1901 April 23 P.R. Carleton to Edith Harris.
1902 Dec. 29 P.R. Carleton to Edith Harris [MM].
1903 July 29 H. Hawgood [?], Los Angeles, California to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [MM]: Financial matters, perhaps a pension of Robert Harris.
1905 Feb. 12 Lucy (Kimball) Harris to Mary Harris: Valentine greetings.
1905 Feb. 17 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Portsmouth to Mary Harris: Daily activities, including illness in Portsmouth, cooking, and looking for a maid to hire, mentions the Tryon family, perhaps whom Mary is staying with.
1905 April 5 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Portsmouth to Mary Harris: Hiring a maid for their Portsmouth home.
1906 Jan. 12 Unknown.
1907 Lucy (Kimball) Harris to Mary Harris.
1907 March 3 Lucy (Kimball) Harris to Mary Harris.
1909 May 25 Lucy (Kimball) Harris, Portsmouth to Mary Harris [MM]: Financial matters and decorating the Portsmouth house (painting and plastering).
1909 Nov. 24 City Art Museum, St Louis, Missouri to Mary Harris: Regarding an invitation to come to Portsmouth.

BOX 1A

Folder 1 Correspondence, 1911-1930

1911 April 11 Mary Harris, Warwick, Bermuda to Edith Harris [S550]: Travel to Bermuda with Mary’s friend, Anne, including discussion of art lessons and painting while in Bermuda.
1911 April 2 Mary Harris, Warwick, Bermuda to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [S550]: Travel and sites in Bermuda with friend Anne.
1911 June Unknown [MM]: Permission for Harriet McEwen Kimball to use the Missionary Processional poems
1911 Sept.14 R.W. Johnson to Harriet McEwen Kimball [MM]: Permission to publish poems.
1911 Oct. 11 Mary Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [S550].
1911 Oct. 16 Mary Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [S550].
1911 Oct. 20 Mary Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [S550].
1911 Oct. 25 Little, Brown &Co. to Harriet McEwen Kimball [MM]: Agreement concerning publication of poetry.
1911 Oct. 29 Mary Harris to Lucy (Kimball) Harris [S550].
1911 Nov. 17 Little, Brown & Co. to Harriet McEwen Kimball [MM]: Republication of Harriet’s book due to crooked margins.
1912 Jan. 10 Little, Brown & Co. to Harriet McEwen Kimball [MM]: Agreement concerning publication of poetry.
1912 Jan. 13 Eva Schmidt to Edith or Mary Harris: Mother has died, and she will no longer be able to take drawing lessons, she will be moving to New York.
1912 April 11 Frank W. Bayley, Boston to Mary Harris: Mary’s pictures have been placed on display at the Copley Gallery in Boston.
1912 June 22 Harriet Joor, Ada, South Dakota to Mary Harris: Painting, cooking, surroundings in South Dakota.
1912 Dec. 16 Mary Potter, Farmington, Connecticut to Edith or Mary Harris.
1912 Palm Sunday Poem (author uncertain).
1913 April 5 Albert Getchell to Mary Harris: Getchell is a physician and letter discusses medical issues.
1913 July 8 Young Women’s Christian Association of New York to Mary Harris: Regarding looking for a job as a designer.
1913 Dec. 31 Catherine Stanley to Mary Harris [MM].
1915 Feb. 1 [?] Harris to [?].
1917 July 1 Walter Webb to Mary Harris [MM]
1917 Sept. 29 Lucy (Kimball) Harris to Josephine Fitts Prescott and Mary Elizabeth Prescott: Thanks for a gift apparently related to the town of Kensington.
1921 Sept. 14 E. Irene Clark to Mary or Edith Harris [MM].
1922 Nov. 16 William Macbeth to Mary Harris: Regarding her subscription to Art Notes magazine.
1929 June 4 Edith Harris, Portsmouth to Mary Harris: Death of Flinders [?], possibly a child living with the Harris family.
1929 Dec. 11 Unknown, Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
1930 Jan. 27 Edith L.G. Clark to Mary or Edith Harris [MM].
1933 June 15 W. Hinckle Smith (Bryn Mawr, PA) to G.S. Ramsburg (South Eliot, ME): Request for plants sent by mail.
1936 May 19 Doris Seiler (The Montclair Art Museum) to Mary Harris: Regarding scheduled of art exhibits.

Folder 2 Undated Correspondence [MM].

Folder 3 Undated Correspondence and Fragments.

Folder 4 Undated Correspondence and Fragments.

Folder 5 Letter covers [MM].

Folder 6 Greeting cards:

1921 Christmas Card Margaret and Lester Hornby.
1922 Christmas Card Helen McCarthy.
1923 Christmas Card Lucy (Kimball) Harris.
1927 Christmas Card Emma C. Freman.
Christmas Card Irma Kohn.
Christmas Card Margaret and Lester Hornby.
Christmas Card Margery, Daniel, and Edmund C. Tarbell.
Christmas Card Pickard.
Christmas Card S.G. Wentworth.
Christmas Card Helen Thayer.
3 Christmas Cards from unidentified correspondents.
Christmas Card [illegible] Elma Todd.
Christmas Card Mr. and Mrs. Albert Nicholson Garrett.
Easter Card Belle to Jessie.
Easter Card from H.A.D.
Thanksgiving Card [illegible].

II. DIARIES AND BOUND VOLUMES

BOX 2

Folder 1.1-3   Robert Harris diaries, 1858, 1859, 1861.
Folder 2.1-3   Robert Harris diaries, 1863-1865.
Folder 3.1-3   Robert Harris diaries, 1867, 1872, 1873.
Folder 4.1-3   Robert Harris diaries, 1877-1879.
Folder 5.1 -3  Robert Harris diaries, 1883, 1886, 1887 and a small amount of loose material from 1887
Folder 6.1 -2  Robert Harris diaries, 1888 and a blank embossed diary with Harris’s name on it , undated..
Folder 7.1-2   Mary Harris diaries, 1896 and 1897.
Folder 8          “The New Catechism”: Transcriptions of quotations and lessons, undated (Harriet Kimball McEwen?)
Folder 9.1       Edith Kimball Harris cash book, undated.
Folder 9.2       Horace L. Rowe diary, 1908. Rowe lived on Union St. in Portsmouth.
Folder 9.3       Two diaries, 1913 and 1920, owners unidentified.

III. PAMPHLETS

A. Journals

BOX 3

Folder 1 Journals: American Magazine of Art – Art Digest:

The American Magazine of Art, Vol. XV, No. 3, March 1924.

Art Digest, Vol. II, No. 13, April 1, 1928.

Art Digest, Vol. VII, No. 17, June 1, 1933. Advertisements for art schools in New York.

Art Digest, Vol. XIII, No. 7, January 1, 1939. Article about Robert Henri (teacher of the Harris girls).

Folder 2 Journals: Art Notes

Art Notes (Macbeth Gallery), No. 78, November 1923. Reference to Sclofield.

Art Notes (Macbeth Gallery), No. 85, June 1927. Reference to Childe Hassam.

Art Notes (Macbeth Gallery), No. 87, November 1929. Reference to Childe Hassam and Henri (p.1590).

Arts and Decoration, Vol. 2, No. 1, November 1911. Reference to Robert Reed (paper cover by Harris).

El Palacio, Vol. XXIV, No. 25, June 23, 1928. Article discusses Taos who had a connection with Harris friend and artist, Susan Ricker Knox.

Folder 3 Journals: Hunt

Hunt, William. Talk on Art, Second Series, Houghton Mifflin and Company, Boston, 1888. Hunt was very involved at Isles of Shoals, which is where he died.

Folder 4 Journals: International Studio

The International Studio, Vol. XXXIII, No. 131, January 1908. Advertisements for china painting classes.

Folder 5 Journals: Motif

Motif, A Magazine of the Three Arts, Vol. 2, No. 1, May 1923. Poetry by Caroline Gerrish Pickard on page fourteen.

Folder 6 Journals: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin, Vol. XVII, No. 104, December 1919.

Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin, Vol. XVIII, No. 105, February 1920.

Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin, Vol. XIX, No. 116, December 1921.

Museum of Fine Arts, Bulletin of the, Vol. XXIV, No. 141, February 1926.

Museum of Fine Arts, Bulletin of the, Vol. XXVII, No. 165, February 1930.

Museum of Fine Arts, Bulletin of the, Vol. XXXIII, No. 199, October 1935.

Museum of Fine Arts, Bulletin of the, Vol. XXXIV, No. 201, February 1936.

Museum of Fine Arts, Bulletin of the, Vol. XXXIV, No. 205, October 1936.

Folder 7 Journals: New England Magazine

The New England Magazine, Vol. VIII, No. 2, April 1893. Articles reference artists with Piscataqua connections such as Edmund Tarbell and Benjamin Kimball.

 

B. Exhibit Catalogs

BOX 3

Folder 8 Exhibit Catalogs: American Painting

American Painting and Sculpture, 1932-1933, The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Folder 9 Exhibit Catalogs: Catalog of Paintings

Catalog of Paintings by Joaquin Sorolla Y Bastida, February 8 to March 8, 1909, The Hispanic Society of America. Artists include those who influenced Portsmouth artist, Susan Ricker Knox.

Folder 10 Exhibit Catalogs: Contemporary – Exhibitions

Contemporary American Painters, October 28 to December 9, 1928, The Corcoran Gallery,Washington, D.C.

Exhibition of Oils, Water-Colors, Drawings and Prints by James McNeil Whistler, April 24 to May 13, 1934, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Exhibition of Paintings, Water Colors, and Etchings by Frank Brangwyn, R.A., March 9 to March 21, 1925, Robert C. Vose Galleries, Boston.

Exhibitions of Paintings and Pastels by Mary Cassatt, 1935, Durand-Ruel Galleries, New York.

Exhibitions for October 1931 at The Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, NH.

Folder 11 Exhibit Catalogs: Important – Pastels

An Important Exhibition of the Latest Works of Mary L. Macomber, March 3 to March 15, 1913. Messrs. R.C. & N.M. Vose Gallery, Boston.

The Museum of Versailles Catalogue of the Paintings, Statues, and Artistic Decorations, 1877. Paris. Catalog during Harris European tour.

New York Society of Painters Annual Exhibition 1935, October 23 to November 5, 1935, Fine Arts Building, New York.

Pastels of Flowers by Laura Coombs Hills, November to December 8, 1928, Copley Gallery. Boston. The Harris’s had paintings on display at the Copley Gallery.

Folder 12 Exhibit Catalogs: Retrospective

Retrospective Exhibition of Important Works of John Singer Sargent, February 23 to March 22, 1924, Grand Central Art Galleries, New York.

Folder 13 Exhibit Catalogs: Robert Henri

Robert Henri Memorial Exhibition, 1931, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Folder 14 Exhibit Catalogs: Saint Gaudens – Twelfth

Saint Gaudens Memorial Exhibit, 1908, New York.

Third Annual Exhibition of the Piscataqua Sketch Club, August 21 to 24, 1895, Portsmouth, NH.

The Twelfth Exhibition of Contemporary American Oil Paintings, November 30, 1930 to January 11, 1931, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

C. Art Class Pamphlets

BOX 4

Folder 1

Cape Cod School of Art, Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Folder 2

Browne, George Elmer, The Browne Art Class, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1928. Edith Harris attended Browne’s classes.

Packer Collegiate Institute Alumni Bulletin

D. Articles

The following articles were bound in paper with Mary Aubin Harris written in ink at the top of the paper binding. Most of the articles do not have bibliographical information other than author and title.

BOX 4

Folder 3 Articles: Balfour – Blashfield

Balfour, Arthur James, “Thinking Dogs, with illustrations by Carton Moor-Park.”

Blashfield, Edwin Howland, “Mural Painting in America.”

Folder 4 Articles: Brinton

Brinton, Christian, “German Painting of Today.”
Brinton, Christian, “Jacques-Emile Blanche.”

Brinton, Christian, “Russia’s Greatest Painter – Ilia Repin.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 5,
November 1906).

Brinton, Christian, “William Orpen, A New British Painter.”

Folder 5 Articles: Cortissoz

Cortissoz, Royal, “Abbey’s Last Mural Paintings.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. LI, No. 1, January
1912).

Cortissoz, Royal, “John S. Sargent.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. XXXIV, No. 5, November 1903).

Folder 6 Articles: Cox

Cox, Kenyon,” American Art and the Metropolitan Museum.”

Cox, Kenyon, “The Art of Winslow Homer.”

Cox, Kenyon, “The Classic Spirit in Painting; Design; The Subject in Art.”

Cox, Kenyon, “Hans Holbein.”

Folder 7 Articles: Daingerfield – King

Daingerfield, Elliott, “George Inness.”

Eaton, Walter Pichard, “Rivers.”

Fowler, Frank, “The Portraiture of Ingres.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. XLV, No. 6, June 1909).

Halsey, R.T.H., “Malbone and His Miniatures.”

Keppel, Frederick, “Piranesi, Etcher and Architect.”

King, Pauline, “Abbott H. Thayer – His Paintings.”

Folder 8 Articles: Levy – Page

Levy, Clifton Harby, “James Tissot and His Work.”

Lucas, Edward Verall, “Vermeer of Delft.”

Marquand, Allan, “A Search for Della Robbia Monuments in Italy.”

Morton, Rosalie Slaughter, “A Buried Civilization of Ceylon Polonnarua and Dambulla.”

Page, Thomas Nelson, “The Stable of the Inn.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. LII, No. 6, December
1912). References to Zorn.

Folder 9 Articles: Smith – Whelpley

Smith, F. Hopkinson, “The Man in the High-Water Boots.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. XLI, No. 6, June 1907).

Urrabieta, Daniel Vierge, “The Father of Modern Illustration.”

Walton, William, “An Alliance of Architecture and Sculpture.”

Walton, William, “Eastman Johnson, Painter.”

Weitenkampf, Frank, “Some Women Etchers.” Important reference for female etchers.

Whelpley, James Davenport, “The Commercial Strength of Great Britain.” (The Century Magazine, Vol. LXXXII, No. 2, June 1911).

Folder 10 Articles: [No author]

“A Decorative Painting by Robert Blum.” (Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. XIX, No. 1, January 1896).

“The Field of Art.”

“The Field of Art.”

“A Painter of Men and Ideas.”

“Thomas Couture.” (The Century Magazine, Vol. XLIV, No. 1, May 1892).

E. Miscellaneous and Fragments

BOX 4

Folder 11 Miscellaneous

Dow, Arthur W., Composition, Baker and Taylor, New York, 1900. Art instruction book, inscription for Mary Harris.

Folder 12 Miscellaneous

Elder, Paul, Happiness, Paul Elder and Company, San Francisco, 1903.

Examples of Modern Tendencies.

George Grey Barnard’s Cloisters, April 29, 1915.

Weir, Irene, Great Artists, The Perry Pictures Company, Boston, 1898.

Whistler, J. McNeil, Ten O’Clock, New York, ca. 1885.

Folders 13 and 14 Fragments

Article fragments, including Frank W. Benson, Henri, “Carl N. Werntz, and Ignacio Zuloaga.” (Influenced Susan Ricker Knox).

Review Club book sign out sheet, including numerous Portsmouth names.

Typed lists of books and paintings.

IV. School Papers and Artwork

BOX 4

Folder 15  Ledger.

Folder 16 Poetry and essays (loose materials).

Folder 17 Miscellaneous and fragments.

BOX 5

Folders 1, 2, and 3 Artwork

Sketches, primarily of people
*See also oversized box.

V. Robert Harris

BOX 5

Folder 4 Robert Harris: Materials related to Robert Harris and his career as an engineer, including biographical information and various newspaper articles..

See also oversized materials.

VI. Miscellaneous

BOX 5

Folder 5 Miscellaneous.

Folder 6 Miscellaneous Prints.

Folder 7 Scrapbooks: c. 1850 Vital record newspaper clippings [very poor condition].

Folder 8 Engineering articles by Robert Harris, 1890-1894.

Folder 9  Record book: Stock on Hand.

Folder.10 Letter copying book, Ross & Harris Co., 1881.

BOX 6

Folder 1  Letter copying book, Ross & Harris Co, San Antonio, 1881.

Folder 2  Letter copying book, Ross & Harris Co, San Antonio, 1882.

Folder 3  Sketchbook, Mary Harris, 1880.

Folder 4  Spanish exercise book, Mary Harris, 1881.

Folder 5  Sketchbook, Mary A. Harris, 1904-1907.

Folder 6  Notebook with sketches, Mary A. Harris, 1904-1907.

BOX 7

Folder 1  Sketchbook, Mary Harris, 1913.

Folder 2  Notes on Art, Mary Harris, undated.

Folder 3  French notes, Mary Harris, undated.

Folder 4  Physics notes (Packer Institute), Mary Harris, undated.

Folder 5  History chart, Edith K. Harris, undated.

Folder 6  Autograph book, anonymous, 1895-1897.

Folder 7  Notebook, Theodora Lyman, Oxford England, 1902.

Folder 8  Index of books, anonymous, undated.

Folder 9  Bible study notes, anonymous, undated.

Folder 10  Notebook on art history, anonymous, undated.

Folder 11  Charades by an Idle Man, undated.

Folder 12  Art notes, anonymous, undated.

Folder 13  Prints of Renaissance art and sculpture.

Folder 14  Business stationery, Robert L. Harris, civil engineer.

Oversized Flat Box

Artwork – watercolors
Scrapbook – marriage and death notices clipped from newspapers
Journal – The Art Amateur, Vol. 34, No. 1, December 1895

Issue has transcription in ink on cover: “Read and send on as soon as possible –
Miss Knox [Susan Ricker Knox], Miss Webster, Miss Remick, Miss Yates, Miss
Treadwell, Miss Vaughan, Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Heffenger [?spelling], Miss Harris,
Miss Shores, Miss Cheever, Miss Bradford, Miss Freeman, Miss Call, Miss Tilton”

Article: “A New Process For Dealing With Quicksand,” Robert Harris, Harris’ Hydraulic Foundations. Reprinted from Engineering News, April 28, 1892.