The Middleton A. "Spike" Harris Photograph Collection consists of his collection of African-American historical materials, as well as snapshots from his private life, including his service in the American Red Cross during World War II.Collection includes photographs assembled for the book, "The Black Man and the Sea," which Harris was writing when he died. These include a variety of historical images such as the ancient Egyptians, 19th century whalers, explorer Matthew Henson, U.S. Naval hero John Lawson, and 20th century graduates of the United States Coast Guard Academy. Also depicted are 19th century portraits of unidentified individuals; snapshots of Harris, family and friends, including views of his stepson, Douglas McQueen, in Europe; exhibitions of Harris's collection; and the gravesites of Pierre Toussaint, Scott Joplin and Granville T. Woods. There is also an album of numbered contact sheets of the Negro History Associates (NHA) photograph collection, consisting of images of historical and contemporary African-Americans, artifacts, illustrations, title pages of publications, and NHA functions. There is also a series of oversize formal portraits of notable African-Americans, including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Jane Bolin, Harriet Tubman, Leontyne Price, Thurgood Marshall, Mary Church Terrell, and others, as well as reproductions of some historical documents. A series of photographs documents a Negro History Associates tribute to explorer Matthew Henson, in Harlem, attended by city dignitaries, school children and others, with views of speakers (including Spike Harris) and the audience. Also included are several photographs of historic buildings in the New York City area.
Content: Some images are duplicates; some bear captions; some have written descriptive information.
Biographical/historical: Middleton Allen "Spike" Harris, 1908-1977, was an author, historian, collector and dealer of African Americana, and one of the founders of Negro History Associates.
Citation/reference: Forms part of Middleton A. "Spike" Harris Papers.
Physical Description
Extent: 883 items (2.37 cu. ft., 8 boxes)
Extent: 1 photomechanical print :col. ;26 x 21 cm.
Extent: 1 album (84 contact sheets) :bw ;29 x 28 cm.
Extent: 12 stats :bw ;31 x 26 cm. or smaller.
Extent: 62 photomechanical prints :bw ;38 x 28 cm. or smaller.
Extent: 41 photographic prints :col. ;21 x 26 cm. or smaller.
Extent: 766 photographic prints :silver gelatin, bw ;41 x 51 cm. or smaller.
