Jeanne Harris Papers
Scope and Contents Note
The Jeanne Harris Papers, dated 1947 to 1987, consist of maps, postcards, photographs, scholarly papers, a scrapbook, and other miscellaneous materials. Most of the materials are associated with her travels, most notably her 100 day trip around the world in 1960. There are also some papers written by Harris as part of her college course work, a manuscript written by Laurence Sickman, and a scrapbook given to Harris upon her retirement from the Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 1947-1987
Restrictions on Access
Open to researchers. Appointments are necessary for the use of manuscript and archival collections.
Conditions Governing Use Note
Notification of intent to publish, quote, or cite archival materials is required. Contact the archives via https://nelson-atkins.org/library/.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Jeanne Harris was born on March 9, 1919. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Romance Languages from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She then moved to New York City where she worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and pursued a master’s degree in Asian Art at Columbia University, from which she later graduated. Her next job was in an Asian art gallery on 57th Street in New York City. Here she met Laurence Sickman, who was then the Curator of Oriental Art (as the department was then known) at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. He offered her a job at the Museum, and in 1949 Harris relocated to Kansas City. She began as Sickman's assistant and was named Assistant Curator in the department eight years later. Harris retired from the Museum in December 1987, after thirty-eight years of service. She died at the age of seventy-seven in April of 1996.
Extent
1.2 Linear Feet (In 2 legal document cases and 1 half document case; 1 loose bound volume.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Papers of Jeanne Harris, dated 1947 to 1987, consist primarily of maps, postcards, photographs, scholarly papers, a scrapbook, and other miscellaneous materials.
Organization
This collection is divided into three series: Academic (Series I); Professional (Series II); and Travel (Series III). Each series is arranged topically with little regard to chronology, as a date could not be established in many cases.
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
Transfer; accession numbers associated with this collection are 1993-17 and 1996-04.
Accruals Note
Additions to the collection are not anticipated.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Jeanne Harris Papers, MSS 009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Archives Repository