Joseph Harris papers

Collection

Identifier: D.208

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

Joseph Harris was the editor for the agricultural journal The Genesee Farmer in the 1860s. Approximately 500 letters in the collection were written to him during the time he held this position. The majority of the correspondence of this time consisted of requests and payments for advertising space in The Genesee Farmer. Most of the requests contained the copy of the advertisement. These letters give an interesting insight to the agricultural and nursery history of that era.

Sarah Ann Mathews went to school as a young woman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her correspondence from family and friends begins at this time in the 1840s and continues until after her marriage in 1862. Her correspondence comes from mainly various cities in New York and Pennsylvania. Out of the nearly 90 letters in this collection that were written to her, the majority of them are undated.

Her father, Selah Mathews (1807-1861) was a well known lawyer in Rochester during the mid 1800s. His papers in the collection include: his diplomas and licenses, his will, some personal correspondence, as well as mementos from his 1860 tour of Europe. There is also a copy of the will of his wife, Mary Mathews (1806-1881). The collection also contains calling cards of various people, presumably friends and acquaintances of the Mathews family, as well as several copies of Selah Mathews' card. In addition there are photographs of individuals and postcards and pictures of Shawbury, Shropshire, England (c. 1908).

Biographical information: Dictionary of American Biography, 1932, vol. 8, p. 315-316.

Scope and Contents

The Harris Papers are a collection of letters, photographs, and papers spanning the mid to late 1800s of the Harris and Mathews families, both prominent families of Rochester, New York. The collection centers around the 1860-1877 business correspondence of Joseph Harris (1828-1892), and the 1840s through 1860s personal correspondence of his wife, Sarah Ann Mathews Harris (1833- ). In addition there are also the letters and papers of Sarah Harris' parents, Selah and Mary Pitkin Mathews.

Creator

Harris, Joseph, 1828-1892 (Person)
Harris, Sarah Ann Mathews, 1833- (Person)
Mathews, Selah, 1807-1861 (Person)
Mathews, Mary Pitkin, 1806-1881 (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1847-1908

Language of Materials

English

Extent

3 box(es)

Access

The Joseph Harris Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Harris Papers were the gift of a descendant of Joseph Harris, Mrs. Richard Bennett in July 1982.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Joseph Harris Papers, D.208, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester