This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities; this finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.
Size | 1.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 300 items) |
Abstract | Henry Harrisse, native of France, bibliographer, historian, and author of books, pamphlets, and articles mostly relating to early American history and exploration, came to America in the 1840s, taught in South Carolina and at the University of North Carolina, practiced law in Chicago, Ill., and New York until 1870, and then returned to France. The collection includes letters, chiefly after 1892, from booksellers, scholars, and others to Harrisse concerning his research and writings, mostly about early American history and exploration; papers relating to honors Harrisse received for his work; bibliographies; Harrisse's translations of Descartes and his writings about him; a typed version of Harrisse's literary autobiography (87 pages) with manuscript notes and corrections by him; and three albums of carte-de-visites, 1867-1907 and undated, of French literary critics, authors, artists, and philosophers, and of others. |
Creator | Harrisse, Henry, 1829-1910. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: SHC Staff
Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007
Updated by: Kate Stratton and Jodi Berkowitz, October 2009
This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.
Diacritics and other special characters have been omitted from this finding aid to facilitate keyword searching in web browsers.
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Henry Harrisse (1829-1910), native of France, bibliographer, historian, and author of books, pamphlets, and articles mostly relating to early American history and exploration, came to America in the 1840s, taught in South Carolina and at the University of North Carolina, practiced law in Chicago and New York until 1870, and then returned to France.
Back to TopThe collection includes letters, chiefly after 1892, from booksellers, scholars, and others to Harrisse concerning his research and writings, mostly about early American history and exploration; papers relating to honors Harrisse received for his work; bibliographies; Harrisse's translations of Descartes and his writings about him; a typed version of Harrisse's literary autobiography (87 pages) with manuscript notes and corrections by him; and three albums of carte-de-visites, 1867-1907 and undated, of French literary critics, authors, artists, and philosophers, and of others. Included amongst the correspondents are Edward G. Bourne, Alfred Cartier, A. Claudin, Ian Douglas, Wilberforce Eames, Arthur T. Hadley, John Johnson, Adolf Erik Nordenskiold, Benjamin Franklin Stevens, Anson Phelps Stokes Junior, John Boyd Thatcher, and Henry Vignaud.
Back to TopFolder 1a |
Original finding aid |
Folder 1 |
1855-1891 |
Folder 2-3
Folder 2Folder 3 |
October 1892Legion of Honor correspondence, certificates, cards, and clippings. |
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-3518/1b |
October 1892Legion of Honor correspondence, certificates, cards, and clippings. |
Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-3518/1a |
October 1892Legion of Honor correspondence, certificates, cards, and clippings. |
Folder 4 |
November-December 1892 |
Folder 5 |
1893-1895 |
Folder 6 |
1896-1899 |
Folder 7 |
1900-1901 |
Folder 8 |
1902 |
Folder 9 |
1903-1906 |
Folder 10 |
1907-1910 |
Folder 11 |
Undated |
Folder 12-13
Folder 12Folder 13 |
BibliographiesPrinted lists of works of Henry Harrisse, with manuscript revisions in his hand, apparently printed and reprinted 1887, 1895, 1897, and possibly other dates; one list labeled "Catalogue of Barlow's Library?"; and manuscript lists, 1908 and 1909, in connection with Harrisse's final disposition of his library; also Biblioteca Cartesiana, 1854. |
Folder 14 |
Writings |
Folder 15 |
Pictures, Clippings, and PamphletsIncludes a picture of Samuel L. M. Barlow, pictures of study and library, and clippings and pamphlets. |
Image Folder PF-3518/1 |
Pictures, Clippings, and PamphletsIncludes a picture of Samuel L. M. Barlow, pictures of study and library, and clippings and pamphlets. |
Folder 16 |
Miscellaneous Writings |
Folder 17-20
Folder 17Folder 18Folder 19Folder 20 |
Harrisse manuscript on Rene DescartesIncludes the remains of four bound volumes plus many manuscript sheathes, containing "The Philosphical Works of Rene Descartes...now first collected and literally translated from the original French and Latin, into English, with a Preliminary Discourse on the Cartesian Philosophy, and History of the Cartesian School of Metaphysics in England, and a life of Descartes," written by Henry Harrisse, 1854-1856. Harrisse's memoranda added 1889, 1902, and a few related papers are also included. |
Folder 21-22
Folder 21Folder 22 |
AutobiographyBound typescript with manuscript notes added by Henry Harrisse. This item is entitled "Epistola" and is an autobiographical narrative of the literary career of Henry Harrisse, written in letter form during the summer of 1883 at Divonne, France, and sent to Samuel L. M. Barlow in January 1884. In it Harrisse tells of his work on Descartes, Columbus, early American bibliography, New France in the 17th century, hieroglyphics, the Cantino World map, and the circumstances of his various undertakings, his financing and publishing efforts; also his early legal career and personal life in America; Paris, France, during the Prussian seige; and Harrisse's evaluation of his life's work. The original manuscript of this autobiography is in the Lenox Branch of the New York Public Library. Harrisse learned that it was there in 1900, having come from Samuel Barlow's possessions. This copy was evidently made between 1905 and Harrisse's death in 1910. |
Photograph Album PA-3518/1 |
Carte-de-visites: "Paris, 1869-1907"Contains carte-de-visites of literary critics, authors, artists, and philosophers with identifications and annotations by Henry Harrisse. Subjects include George Sand; Princess Mathilde; Marid de Flavigny, Countess d'Agouet; Guillaume Guizot; Maurice Sand; Victorien Sardou; Ernest Renan; Madame Renan; Hippolyte Taine; Gustave Dore; Sainte Beuve; Fortuny; Marcelin Berthelot; Feliciende Sauley; Emile Degirardin; Duke Deveraguas; Edmond About; Leon Gerome; Louis Bouihet; Paul de Saint-Victor; Charles Dollfus; Emile Littre; and Jules Michelet. |
Photograph Album PA-3518/2 |
Carte-de-visitesContains photographs of men, women, and children made in Paris, France; New York, N.Y.; and New Orleans, La. Most are unidentified. Among the identified persons are Alfred Herripeny, Nelvil Soule, Stugues de LaMarme, Clement Druendy, Father MaQuyre, M. A. Lizano, Ary Renan. |
Photograph Album PA-3518/3 |
Carte-de-visitesAmong the photographic subjects are Henri Martin, Jules Simon, Benjamin Franklin Stevens, Paul De Kock, Pierre-Joseph, Proudhon, Jules Michelet, A. Liebert, Pierre Soule, Juste Olivier, Paul de Saint-Victor, Guillame Guizot, Maurice Sand, Emile Erckmann, Alexandre Chatriand, Dumas Pite, Odillow Bassot, Armidi Smith, Madame Slidel, Mrs. S. A. Douglas, Queen Amelie, Prince de Joieville, Duc de Chattres, E. de Girarvin, Lina Sand, Prince Napoleon, George Sala, D'Agoult, Baron Ostensacken, Kitt Dit, M. Harrisse, Samuel L. M. Barlow, Baroness V. Hoffman, Angile Soule, Joseph B. Autin, Paul Berenger, L. Bouiehel, M. de Montholon, Couludo Ysanger, Claude Bernard, S. Antonio, Jenny Jerome, Duchess de Mouchy, Marguire de Galiffer, Madame Cordier, Colitte Dumas, and others. |