Gladys Knight Harris

Object ID: Harris, Gladys Knight, 1892-1974, creator

Title: Gladys Knight Harris papers [manuscript materials] 1941-1970

Imprint: 1941-1970

Description: 3 linear feet (6 boxes)

Category: Manuscript Collections

Subjects:

Harris, Gladys Knight,--1892-1974

Helmerick, Bud

Helmericks, Connie

Carrighar, Sally

Arctic peoples.

Unangan (Aleut/Alutiiq)

Indians of North America--Alaska.

Signs and symbols.

Photography.

Frontier and pioneer life--Alaska.

Alaska--Description and travel.

Photographs.--lcsh

Letters.--lcsh

Notebooks.--lcgft

Clippings.--aat

Drawings.--aat

Illustrations.--aat

Maps.--lcgft

Postcards.--lcsh

Biographical/Collections Notes:

The Gladys Knight Harris Papers document Harris’s personal interest in domestic science, household affairs, child rearing or what could be characterized as ”women’s work” in a harsh, unspoiled environment.

The Gladys Knight Harris Papers document Harris’s personal interest in domestic science, household affairs, child rearing or what could be characterized as ”women’s work” in a harsh, unspoiled environment. The collection consists of six boxes containing personal papers, correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings and drawings almost exclusively pertaining to Harris’s travels and lifelong interest in Alaska. From 1947-1955, Harris collected newspaper and magazine articles that reflected her interest in the lifestyle north of the Arctic Circle. These appeared in the national general interest picture magazines such as LIFE, Colliers and the Saturday Evening Post. The collection includes a number of articles about the Helmericks, Bud and Connie, adventurous ’pioneers’ who wrote articles and books about their experience between 1942 and 1953. She also followed the writings of the naturalist Sally Carrighar. Even Harris’s friend, Laura P. Ordway, joked with her about the possibility of homesteading in a letter written in 1948. The clippings collection includes many advertisements that feature line drawings, paintings, and illustrations of Alaskan animals in silhouette. Animals and other Alaskan icons such as sleds and totem poles, appeared as popular motifs in advertising, cartoons and as decorative motifs throughout the 1940-1950s. Harris copied or traced animal silhouettes onto parchment or tracing paper and the collection contains many of her original line drawings. There are some transparencies of studio still life studies and personal pictures of family and friends that have not been incorporated into the Gladys Knight Harris Photography Collection, and are also housed in the Braun Research Library. These images are black and white and color, and in diverse formats. There is irreparable damage to 18 of the negatives. newspaper clippings and technical notes to aid Harris’s photography. One notebook contains The notebooks combine thoughts, conversations, addresses, accounts, lecture notes, notes on a course on nutrition taken at Pomona City College in 1941-1942. The collections also includes the ”Release and Consent” forms that Harris asked her models to complete during her three years in Alaska, including the extensive work during her four month stay in Kotzebue in 1949. These releases include hand written notes about age, physical description, livelihood, family history and connections among the models. The smallest portion of the collection consists of personal ephemera such as greetings cards, recipes, menus, and articles clipped for her grandchildren Michael and Lucinda Harris.

Call Number: MIMSY MS.245