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Abram Winegardner Harris, Sr., (1858-1935) Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 3/13

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The Abram Harris Family Papers span two generations of the Harris Family. The first, that of Abram, Sr., is represented here by the period from 1897 to 1935 during which Abram reached the peak of his productive career as an administrator in secondary, higher, and religious education. The generation of Abram, Jr., is represented here primarily by the period from 1929 to 1947, from shortly before the last of his three marriages to the end of these papers.

Dates

  • 1897-1947

Creator

Extent

8.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Abram Harris Family Papers span two generations of the Harris Family. The first, that of Abram, Sr., is represented here by the period from 1897 to 1935 during which Abram reached the peak of his productive career as an administrator in secondary, higher, and religious education. The generation of Abram, Jr., is represented here primarily by the period from 1929 to 1947, from shortly before the last of his three marriages to the end of these papers.

Arrangement

The Abram Winegardner Harris, Sr., Family Papers are arranged in two major sections (the papers of Abram, Sr., in the first, and of Abram, Jr., in the second) and are divided into eleven main categories. They are housed in 8 boxes containing 71 folders and a variety of separate items.

The papers of Abram, Sr., occupy Boxes 1-3 and are divided into the following categories: Biographical; President of Northwestern (1906-16): Correspondence, Financial, Publications, and Documents; Correspondence; and Legal and Financial Records.

1. Biographical, 1 folder, Box 1. Consists of newspaper and magazine clippings, a 3-page biographical sketch prepared just prior to his selection as President of Northwestern, and miscellaneous items.

2. President of Northwestern - Correspondence (1906-14), 6 folders, Box 1. Of special interest is a series with William Deering (1907) and letters from deans and departmental chairmen (1909-10, 1913-14) concerning a proposal by the Medical School for a six-year program awarding both the bachelor's and medical doctor's degrees.

3. President of Northwestern - Financial (1906-16), 11 folders, Box 3.

4. President of Northwestern - Publications (1911-12), 2 folders, Box 1. Articles in the Youth's Companion and clippings of addresses and other items.

5. President of Northwestern - Documents (1906), 1 folder, Box 1. Items pertaining to Harris' inauguration as President.

6. Correspondence (1897-1934), 20 folders, Boxes 1-2. Contains five folders of correspondence with his son, Abram, Jr., and correspondence (mostly to Abram, Sr.) from members of his immediate family, other relations, colleagues, and friends.

7. Legal and Financial Records, 6 folders, Boxes 2-3. Contains drafts of wills, marriage certificate, and financial records both before and after his term as President of Northwestern.

The papers of Abram, Jr., occupy Boxes 4-8 and are divided into the following categories: Biographical; Genealogical; Correspondence; and Financial and Legal.

1. Biographical, 1 folder, Box 4. Note also Folder 3, Box 7, which contains items pertinent to Abram, Jr.'s, work while a student at Northwestern (1907-12).

2. Genealogical, 1 folder, Box 4. Contains several short family trees, apparently worked out by Abram, Jr., illustrating the Harris and Bainbridge families in his direct line and the Clark and Belyea families in the line of his third wife.

3. Correspondence (1909-44), 35 folders, Boxes 4-6. The major collection (6 folders) contains correspondence between Abram, Jr., and John May, his attorney and close friend. Other folders contain correspondence with many relatives, his first and second wives and their children, associates of his father, and various business and legal associates. These letters, especially the correspondence with May, contain some comments on economic and political conditions.

4. Financial and Legal, 3 folders, Box 7, and loose items in Boxes 7-8. The latter consist mostly of checkbooks (1939-43) and canceled checks (1945-47).

Addenda Sheet

Typed, signed letter from President Woodrow Wilson, dated February 2, 1914, to President Harris.

Letter conveys President Wilson's regrets that he will not be able to attend event being planned by President Harris and President Judson (University of Chicago) for the end of February.; July, 1977

Other Descriptive Information

Geneology and addenda note about Woodrow Wilson included in original finding aid.

Title
Guide to the Abram Winegardner Harris, Sr., (1858-1935) Family Papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635