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Size | 0.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 150 items) |
Abstract | Correspondence, sermons, memoirs, financial records, and other papers of the Henry T. and Mary Ann Harris family of Urbanna, Va., documenting the lives of a southern African-American family at the turn of the century. The majority of the material is correspondence and sermons of Henry T. and Mary Ann Harris, both actively involved in the Baptist Church. Henry Harris's correspondence concerns his work as a Baptist minister and book dealer; his wife's correspondence reflects her work with women's missionary groups and a home for elderly blacks. Of particular significance is a set of sermons by Mary Ann Harris (fl. 1889-1929). The sermons deal with missionary work, the role of women, and the importance of raising children properly. |
Creator | Harris, Henry T., fl. 1889-1916. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: David Day, Ray Moretz, February 1985
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
Updated by: Kathryn Michaelis, January 2010
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.
Little information was found about the Henry T. and Mary Ann Harris family except what is discernible through their papers. These papers were accumulated chiefly between 1900 and 1925 while the Harrises lived in Urbanna, Middlesex County, Virginia.
Henry T. Harris attended Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), became a Baptist minister, and married Mary Ann (Smith?). He served as moderator of the Southside Rappahannock Baptist Association. (Published minutes of the Association for the years 1898 and 1901 may contain additional information about his work with this Association.)
Mary Ann Harris was active in women's missionary groups and was also associated with running a home for elderly blacks.
The Harris's children were Naomi, who married Percell (or Purcell) C. Dabney, a physician, and lived in Fredricksburg, Virginia; William D. (Willie), who married Daisy, worked as a funeral director and embalmer in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and later moved to New York State; Newton (Bet), who married Florence (?) and served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Willie and Bet attended Virginia Union University.
Back to TopThis collection consists primarily of correspondence, sermons, memoirs, financial records, and miscellaneous papers of the Henry T. and Mary Ann Harris family of Urbanna, Va. The collection is small, but the papers do touch on aspects of the social history of a southern black family at the turn of the century. The most significant material may be the set of sermons by Mary Ann Harris.
The majority of the material is correspondence and sermons of Henry T. and Mary Ann Harris, both actively involved in the Baptist Church. Many of the sermons are fragments, and only one is by Henry T. Harris. The rest are in the handwriting of Mary Ann Harris. Henry Harris's sermon addresses the topic of "Evils of Child Labor in the South." Mary Ann Harris's sermons deal with missionary work, the role of women, and the importance of raising children properly. Much of Henry Harris's correspondence concerns his work as a Baptist minister and book dealer, while his wife's correspondence reflects her work with women's missionary groups and a home for elderly blacks. The correspondence also includes various letters from family members and friends.
The collection also contains various financial accounts (some written on the backs of letters) probably pertaining to church records or missionary groups. Other accounts with merchants relate to the home for elderly blacks. A folder of receipts is also included, most dealing with expenditures for the home for the elderly.
Back to TopArrangement: by recipient, then chronological.
Most of the letters of Henry T. Harris relate to his work as a minister, especially requests to speak or give seminars. A few are from members of his immediate family.
The letters to Mary Ann Harris chiefly concern her work with women's missionary groups, requests to deliver sermons, letters from various family members, and financial matters. There is also correspondence, particularly letters from Ida Bayton and Lucy Wheeler, related to the home for elderly blacks.
Series 1 also includes letters to William D. Harris from college friends and family members; several letters to other family members and other miscellaneous letters. The back of the letter of 23 March 1914 (in folder 5) contains an account of contributions. A letter from M. A. Harris of 10 May 1915 (also in folder 5) deals with problems at the home for the elderly.
Folder 1 |
Letters to Henry T. Harris, 11 September 1899-3 December 1916 and undatedFrom Chas. Hamilton, Essex County, Va., 11 September 1899 Postcard from McDowell, Corstra (?), Va., 11 July 1900 From his wife Mary, Phoebus, Va., 22 October 1900 Postcard from S. Lindley, Euforia, Va., 14 November 1900 From CWW Frazier, Lancaster, Va., 15 December 1900 From D. Tucker, White Stone, Va., 30 October 1902 Postcard from Ch. H. Morton, Harmony Village, Va., 26 September 1904 From Lewis Jamis, Urbanna, Va., 30 November 1904 From Wm. H. Ward, Rexburg, Va., 11 January 1905 Postcard from North Jersey Nurseries, Millburn, N.J., 15 May 1905 From Chas. Hamilton, Essex Co., Va., 7 July 1905 From Geo. Armstead, New Kent, Va., 18 September 1905 Fragment of a receipt from R. S. Bristow, Urbanna, Va., 10 July 1906 From P. T. Edwards, King & Queen Co., Va., 2 September 1906 From Mallie E. Harris, Norfolk, England, 1 January 1907 From Lucy A. Borum, Gloucester, Va., 20 August 1907 From Fady Taylor, Bock P.O., New Kent County, Va., 13 September 1907 From P. T. Edwards, Cologue, King & Queen County, Va., 9 October 1907 Wedding announcement from Mr. and Mrs. Giles Williams, Phoebus, Va., 10 December 1907 From his son W. D. Harris, Virginia Union University., December 1908 From the Alumni Association of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, 3 December 1916 From H. V. Washington, Downings, Va., undated Stray envelope with note on back |
Folder 2-3
Folder 2Folder 3 |
Letters to Mary Ann Harris, 7 June 1889-1 July 1915 and 20 December 1917-10 September 1929From Catharine Smith, 7 June 1889 From C. Nelson, 9 April 1889 Postcard from Mary E. Tyson, 11 July 1902 From Bertha Powell, 8 October 1906 From J. T. Gay, 31 July 1914 From Willie U. Williams, 6 October 1914 From Ida Bayton, 2 November 1914 (includes receipt) From Ida Bayton, 19 November 1914 From S. A. Page, February 1915 Postcard from Mrs. R. E. Richardson, et. al., 14 April 1915 From Ida Bayton, 5 May 1915 From Mrs. W. V. Williams, et. al., 14 April 1915 From Minnie Coleman, 12 May 1915 From Lucy E. Wheeler, 14 May 1915 From Lucy Wheeler, 18 May 1915 From Lucy Wheeler, 24 May 1915 From C. P. Tabb, 26 May 1915 From Mary E. Smith, 8 June 1915 From Eliza Moody, 12 June 1915 From N. A. Coleman, et. al., 28 June 1915 From Mrs. Lucy Wheeler, 1 July 1915 From James Richardson, 20 December 1917 From her son Newton, 20 January 1918 From Florence (daughter or daughter-in-law), 13 June 1918 (?) From J. A. Martin, 14 October 1918 (on back is a draft of a letter to Mrs. U. Thomas from Mrs. M. A. Harris(?) ), 23 October 1918 From Mrs. Sophie Wilson, et. al., 11 May 1921 From Willie U. Williams, 21 August 1922 From her daughter, Naomi, 18 August 1923 From her son, William D. (Willie), 24 September 1923 From Willie U. Williams, 29 December 1923 From her daughter, Naomi, 12 May 1924 Mother's Day card from son William D. (Willie) and Daisy, 10 May 1928 (?) From son, W. D. (Willie) and Daisy, 24 October 1928 From Mary Towbs, et. al., 10 September 1929 |
Folder 4 |
Letters to William D. Harris, 12 September 1905-November 1903Pages 1 and 2 of letter to WDH from unidentified source, 12 September 1905 From C. P. (Connie) Myers, 14 June 1906 From Ollie Guerrant, 17 July 1906 From Connie (Myers?), 9 August 1906 From W. D's sister, Naomi, 25 November 1907 (includes card for Bessie Hearn) Miscellaneous receipt, November 1903 |
Folder 5 |
Miscellaneous letters, 23 February 1905-8 October 1944 and undatedTo Mr. F. A. Bristow, from Union Book and Bible House, 23 February 1905 (includes return envelope) To Mr. Newton T. Harris from his mother, Mrs. M. A. Harris, 29 November 1907 Pages 1 and 2 of a letter probably to Mrs. M. A. Harris from one of her children, 23 March 1914; rest of letter missing. (See back of both pages - seems to be an account of religious contributions, probably recorded by Mrs. M. A. Harris) To Mr. Rice from M. A. Harris, 4 February 1915 To Mrs. Ida Bayton from M. A. Harris, 10 May 1915 To Mr. Nathan Rayfield from John A. Bradshaw, 6 March 1922 To Miss Robenette (Bob?) Drusilla (Goode?) from Douglass, 8 October 1944 To Bet (probably Newton T. Harris) from Doof, undated |
Most of these sermons are fragments. The backs of some were used for accounting purposes. The sermons and fragments of sermons have been reorganized without regard for the order of the financial information written on them, and with priority given to the original organization of the sermons.
Folder 6-7
Folder 6Folder 7 |
Sermons by Henry T. Harris and Mary Ann Harris"Evils of Child Labor in the South." Also labeled "H. T. Harris, Class 1914." Apparently complete. Comments on the importance of rearing children properly (fragment, 6 pages) Handwritten sermon by Mary Ann Harris (fragment, 3 pages). Appears to be a draft or copy of the above. Handwritten sermon by Mary Ann Harris (fragment, 2 pages). The text addresses themes similar to the preceding two items. Fragment of a sermon by Mary Ann Harris (1 page) Fragment of a sermon by Mary Ann Harris (1 page) Brief comments for an anonymous funeral (1 page) Undated sermon by Mary Ann Harris (3 pages). Addressed to a convention concerning a Jubilee in 1927. Fragment of a sermon by Mary Ann Harris (3 pages). Conveys inspiration of last Cary Convention, and relates missionary efforts in foreign countries. Undated sermon by Mary Ann Harris (5 pages). An Easter Day sermon. Undated sermon by Mary Ann Harris (4 pages). Addresses the issue of prejudice against blacks. Undated sermon by Mary Ann Harris (7 pages). Delivered to the BGPU. Fragment of a sermon by Mary Ann Harris (2 pages). An Easter Day sermon. Undated sermon by Mary Ann Harris (5 pages). Addressed to the BGPU. Undated sermon by Mary Ann Harris (10 pages). Comments on the role of women, and encourages missionary effort abroad. Undated memoirs of a convention Brief notes concerning a dead friend |
Form letters, order forms, invoices, and promotional material from the Union Book and Bible Publishing Company; similar materials from other publishing companies; and receipts.
Folder 8 |
Union Book and Bible Publishing Company, 1902-1906 |
Folder 9 |
Other publishers, 1889-1909 |
Folder 10 |
Receipts, 1913-1914 |