Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. 18.2 lin. ft.

Summary

1. 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.

Subject

1. Henson, Matthew Alexander, 1866-1955
2. Toussaint, Pierre, 1766-1853?
3. Woods, Granville, 1856-1910
4. Latimer, Lewis Howard, 1848-1928
5. Harris family
6. Negro History Associates
7. Edison Pioneers
8. Random House (Firm)
9. African American press
10. African Americans > History
11. Enslaved persons > Emancipation
12. African American families
13. Civil rights > United States
14. African Americans > Civil rights
15. Parole officers > United States
16. Explorers > United States
17. African American scientists
18. African American inventors
19. African Americans > Charities
20. African American sailors
21. African American soldiers
22. African Americans > Societies, etc
23. Fraternal organizations > United States
24. Vietnam War, 1961-1975 > Participation, African American
25. African American historians
26. United States > History > Participation, African American. > Revolution, 1775-1783
27. United States > Armed Forces > African Americans

Call number

1. Sc MG 34

Note

1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
2. Material transferred to Arts and Artifacts Division.

Reproduction (note)

1. Photocopies in part.

Source (note)

1. Mary Greene-Cohen

Biography (note)

1. 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.

Author

1. Harris, M. A., 1908-

Title

1. Middleton "Spike" Harris papers, 1929-1977.

Reproduction

1. Photocopies in part.

Biography

1. 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

1. Mary Greene-Cohen Purchase 1979 SCM 77-39.

Connect to:

1. NYPL Digital Collections
2. Finding aid

Occupation

1. African American authors.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 34