HARRIS, JOEL CHANDLER, 1848-1908.
Joel Chandler Harris papers > Correspondencebulk 1880-1908 > Family correspondence

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Scope and Content Note

The family correspondence subseries consists entirely of letters that Joel Chandler Harris wrote to his wife, sons, daughters and daughter-in-law. Most of Harris's letters to Esther LaRose were written in the early 1870s before they were married, when she returned to Canada after an extended stay in Savannah. These letters reveal an emotional and lonely Harris who feared that she would refuse his marriage proposal. Later letters were sent to Esther and family on the rare ocassions Harris traveled outside of Atlanta.

Harris wrote to his children from 1890 to 1908 when his daughters were attending boarding school in Washington, Georgia, and when his sons were vacationing or traveling. Letters to the daughters are more voluminous than those to his sons. Harris's letters to Mildred and Lillian tended to be lively reports of life at home, gossip of the community, and fictional accounts and short poems about the animals of Snap Bean Farm. He frequently commented on their progress in school and always appeared to be the proud and encouraging father. He generally wrote to his sons in a more serious tone, commenting on their careers, travels, and the way they conducted their lives. He occasionally analyzed Julian's and Evelyn's journalistic writings. A few letters to Julian in 1907-1908 discuss affairs of the Uncle Remus Magazine. Several letters to Julia Collier concerning her upcoming marriage to Julian and, years later, general family life are also included. Throughout these family letters, Harris rarely mentions his own writing or personal activities.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in chronological order by recipient.

Restrictions on Access

Special restrictions apply: Due to the fragile nature of the originals, researchers are required to use the microfilm copy.

Scope and Content Note The family correspondence subseries consists entirely of letters that Joel Chandler Harris wrote to his wife, sons, daughters and daughter-in-law. Most of Harris's letters to Esther LaRose were written in the early 1870s before they were married, when she returned to Canada after an extended stay in Savannah. These letters reveal an emotional and lonely Harris who feared that she would refuse his marriage proposal. Later letters were sent to Esther and family on the rare ocassions Harris traveled outside of Atlanta. Harris wrote to his children from 1890 to 1908 when his daughters were attending boarding school in Washington, Georgia, and when his sons were vacationing or traveling. Letters to the daughters are more voluminous than those to his sons. Harris's letters to Mildred and Lillian tended to be lively reports of life at home, gossip of the community, and fictional accounts and short poems about the animals of Snap Bean Farm. He frequently commented on their progress in school and always appeared to be the proud and encouraging father. He generally wrote to his sons in a more serious tone, commenting on their careers, travels, and the way they conducted their lives. He occasionally analyzed Julian's and Evelyn's journalistic writings. A few letters to Julian in 1907-1908 discuss affairs of the Uncle Remus Magazine. Several letters to Julia Collier concerning her upcoming marriage to Julian and, years later, general family life are also included. Throughout these family letters, Harris rarely mentions his own writing or personal activities.

Microfilm copy [see content details below]
Box	Folder	Content
MF1		Family correspondence, OP1-2
MF2		Family correspondence, OP19-30
Letters to Wife, Sons, and Daughter-in-law
OP1	1	Letters to Esther LaRose Harris and Harris family, 1872-1906 and undated
OP1	2	Letters to Julian, 1890 July-August
OP1	3	Letters to Julian, 1890 September-December
OP1	4	Letters to Julian, 1891-1899
OP1	5	Letters to Julian, 1906-1908, undated
OP1	6	Letters to Julia Collier Harris, ca. 1897, 1905-1907
OP1	7	Letters to Evelyn, 1890-1899
OP1	8	Letters to Evelyn, 1900-1904 and undated
OP1	9	Letters to Lucien, 1892
OP1	10	Letters to Joel Chandler, Jr., 1901-1906
Letters to Daughters
OP2	1	Letters to Lillian, 1896-1897
OP2	2	Letters to Lillian, 1898
OP2	3	Letters to Lillian, 1899 February-April
OP2	4	Letters to Lillian, 1899 May-July
OP2	5	Letters to Lillian, 1900-1908
OP2	6	Letters to Lillian, [dates supplied] [1896-1897 April]
OP2	7	Letters to Lillian, [dates supplied] [1897 May-1908]
OP2	8	Letters to Lillian, [dates supplied] [1896-1897]
OP3	1	Letters to Mildred, 1897-1898
OP3	2	Letters to Mildred, 1899
OP3	3	Letters to Mildred, 1900
OP3	4	Letters to Mildred, 1901 January-May
OP3	5	Letters to Mildred, 1901 June-December
OP3	6	Letters to Mildred, 1902-1906 and undated
OP3	7	Letters to Mildred, undated (two letters)
OP3	8	Letters to Mildred, envelopes
OP4	1	Letters to Mildred and Lillian, 1897-1898 October
OP4	2	Letters to Mildred and Lillian, 1898 November -1905 July
OP4	3	Letters to Mildred and Lillian, undated
OP4	5	Letters to Mildred and Lillian, fragments and envelopes, undated