Research Catalog

Title

Middleton "Spike" Harris papers, 1929-1977.

Author

Harris, M. A., 1908-

Supplementary Content

Finding aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

18.2 lin. ft.

Summary

Papers primarily consist of research files created by Harris and the Negro History Associates (NHA) document the contributions of Blacks in the U.S., and business and organizational records of NHA. Harris family papers pertain to family history and contain copies of manumission papers, financial and legal documents. Personal papers of Harris consist of correspondence, financial records, and certificates documenting his career as a parole officer and his personal affairs. Research correspondence demonstrates the effects of the Civil Rights era on the publication of information regarding African Americana. Correspondence with Random House related to the publication of "The Black Book," 1974, which Harris was primarily responsible for compiling. Included are correspondence files of the NHA, 1963-1975, and extensive subject files comprised of research notes, clippings, and photocopies of original documents. Among topics covered are soldiers from the Revolutionary War era through the Vietnam Conflict; Black seamen; scientists and inventors; states; and individuals including Matthew Henson, Pierre Toussaint, Granville T. Woods, and George T. Downing; slavery; and benevolent societies. Material pertaining to Lewis H. Latimer consists of correspondence, military papers, patents, poems, and autobiographical notes, as well as minutes and correspondence of the Edison Pioneers. Also includes newspapers associated with the collection.

Subjects

• Henson, Matthew Alexander, 1866-1955
• Slaves > Emancipation
• African Americans > History
• Vietnam War, 1961-1975 > Participation, African American
• African American families
• African American sailors
• Harris family
• African American press
• African American scientists
• African Americans > Charities
• Civil rights > United States
• Latimer, Lewis Howard, 1848-1928
• Negro History Associates
• Random House (Firm)
• Woods, Granville, 1856-1910
• African Americans > Civil rights
• African American soldiers
• African American historians
• United States > Armed Forces > African Americans
• African American inventors
• Toussaint, Pierre, 1766-1853?
• Edison Pioneers
• Parole officers > United States
• Fraternal organizations > United States
• United States > History > Revolution, 1775-1783 > Participation, African American
• African Americans > Societies, etc
• African American authors
• Explorers > United States

Note

• Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
• Material transferred to Arts and Artifacts Division.

Reproduction (note)

• Photocopies in part.

Source (note)

• Mary Greene-Cohen

Biography (note)

• Author, historian, collector and dealer of African Americana. Middleton Alexander "Spike" Harris (1908-1977) was founder of the Negro History Associates in 1964, an organization which collected and disseminated information about African Americans.

Call Number

Sc MG 34

OCLC

122455464

Author

Harris, M. A., 1908-

Title

Middleton "Spike" Harris papers, 1929-1977.

Reproduction

Photocopies in part.

Biography

Author, historian, collector and dealer of African Americana. Middleton Alexander "Spike" Harris (1908-1977) was founder of the Negro History Associates in 1964, an organization which collected and disseminated information about African Americans.

Source

Mary Greene-Cohen Purchase 1979 SCM 77-39.

Connect to:

NYPL Digital Collections

Finding aid

Occupation

African American authors.

Research Call Number

Sc MG 34