This microfilm collection of the papers of African American painter, printmaker, and instructor John T. Harris date from 1943 to 1988. The collection contains biographical information; correspondence (1965-1979) regarding paintings, as well as a draft of a letter detailing Harris' family history; and financial information (1960-1977). Also included are teaching records (1958-1979) from State Teachers College at Cheyney, including class notes, exhibition checklists, an annual report, and a scrapbook containing photographs of Harris' students in class; lists of paintings; exhibition guest lists; printed material (1943-1988), including exhibition catalogs and announcements; and 13 works of art, including prints and drawings. Photographs of Harris, works of art, and works by Lavinia Harris Hardy, Harris' sister, are also included in the collection.
Biographical / Historical:
John T. Harris (1908-1972) was an African American painter, printmaker, and instructor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1991 by Earl Harris, John Harris' nephew. Microfilmed in 1991 as part of AAA's Philadelphia Arts Documentation Project.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Printmakers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Painters -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Portrait painters -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
This microfilm collection consists of papers compiled by Milton Morriss James on African American artists Laura Wheeler Waring and Henry Ossawa Tanner, as well as on artist Julius Bloch.
The compiled papers related to Laura Wheeler Waring include correspondence (1923-1946) regarding commissions, exhibitions, honorary positions, and activities related to State Teachers College at Cheyney, as well as a letter from J. O. Tanner offering to sell an H. O. Tanner painting to Waring for Cheyney; teaching materials, including course outlines, exams, and reports for music and art appreciation, handwriting, visual education, and other art classes; a sketchbook; and printed material (1948-1977).
Julius Bloch material (1950-1980) includes correspondence regarding James' effort to purchase a Bloch painting, as well as an article on Bloch.
James' correspondence (1948-1977) relates to efforts to get a Philadelphia public school named after Laura Wheeler Waring and to organize exhibitions of Waring's work. Research correspondence conserns publications on Warring and Henry O. Tanner. Also included is correspondence with Mary Beattie Brady of the Harmon Foundation regarding works of art for Cheyney and the Laura Wheeler Waring Public School.
Biographical / Historical:
Milton Morriss James (1926-) is a teacher and author in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. James taught in the Philadelphia Public School System and publishes books and articles on African American artists. He was acquainted with Laura Wheeler Waring in the 1940s.
Provenance:
Microfilmed in 1990 as part of AAA's Philadelphia Arts Documentation Project. James collected the Waring papers from Dr. Waring after Laura Wheeler Waring's death for his research.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
