Guide to the Erna P. Harris Papers

Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Erna P. Harris Papers

Collection number: MS 54

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

Oakland, California
Processed by:
Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:
09/05/2013
Encoded by:
Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Erna P. Harris papers
Dates: circa 1890s-1995
Collection number: MS 54
Creator: Harris, Erna P.
Collection Size: .5 linear feet (1 box)
Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: Erna P. Harris Papers consists of photographs of family and friends of Erna P. Harris, Gaynelle Harris’ certificates attending school in Enid, Oklahoma, and assorted printed material.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Access Restrictions

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the Erna P. Harris Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Erna P. Harris papers, MS 54, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Processing Information

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 09/05/2013.

Biography / Administrative History

Journalist and peace activist Erna P. Harris (1908-1995) was born on June 29, 1908 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma to James E. and Francis Harris. After attending segregated schools in Oklahoma, she attended Wichita State University because of its stance on integrated education. While at Wichita State, she served as a reporter and editor of the school's newspaper, The Sunflower, and graduated with a B.A. in journalism in 1936. Upon graduation, she had difficulty finding a position as a reporter, so she decided to start her own newspaper, The Kansas Journal, in 1936. The weekly newspaper had a circulation of over 500 and operated for 3 1/2 years until an editorial opposing conscription in October 1939 angered readers and forced the withdrawal of many of the newspaper's advertisers.
In 1941, she moved to Los Angeles and was hired as a reporter for the Los Angeles Tribune. She wrote an editorial column for the Tribune, Reflections in a Crackt Mirror, where she regularly wrote about controversial issues such as questioning the constitutionality of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. She was also active in a number of pacifist and civil rights organizations such as the War Resisters League, Fellowship of Reconciliation, and CORE.
In 1952 she moved to Berkeley, California where she operated a print shop and continued to be active in a number of peace and civil rights organizations. She was appointed to the National Board of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) in 1956 and regularly traveled to WILPF congresses in Europe and Asia. She was a member of the WILPF delegation that traveled to the U.S.S.R. in 1964 to participate in the U.S.-Soviet Women's Seminar in Moscow that sought to build peaceful ties between women in the two countries. Harris was also active in many CO-OPs in the Berkeley area, working closely with the Consumers' Cooperative of Berkeley, Books Unlimited, CO-OP Legal Services, and U.A. Housing, Inc.
For her contributions to peace and human rights, Harris was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the Urban Black Studies Department of the Graduate Theological Union in 1978.

Scope and Content of Collection

Erna P. Harris Papers consists of photographs of family and friends of Erna P. Harris, Gaynelle Harris’ certificates attending school in Enid, Oklahoma, and assorted printed material. Photographs include a few portraits of Erna Harris, though the majority of the photographs are portraits of Harris family and friends. The papers also include Erna Harris’ funeral program, an address book, a book review, a recipe for banana angel food cake, and assorted political and CO-OP buttons.

Arrangement

Series I. Photographs Series II. Gaynelle Harris Series III. Assorted printed material Series IV. Buttons

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Harris, Erna P.
African American families--California.


 

Photographs

Physical Description: 108 photographs

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes photographs of family and friends of Erna P. Harris.

Arrangement

Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 1:1

Portrait of Lynda Venerable, inscribed: 'To Aunt Annabelle with all my love, Lynda' [001] 1961

Box 1:1

Portrait of a young woman, caption: 'Karen' [002] circa 1960s

Box 1:1

Portrait of a girl [003] circa 1960s

Box 1:1

Portrait of a woman, C.C. Stotz photographer, Fort Reno, Indian Territory [004] circa 1890s

Box 1:1

Portrait of a young man [005] circa 1960s

Box 1:1

Man standing in park holding his hat [006] circa 1960s

Box 1:1

Gaynelle Harris standing on sidewalk [007] circa 1960s

Box 1:1

Erna P. Harris sitting behind men and women seated at banquet table with microphones [008] circa 1964

Box 1:1

Portrait of Cecil Edward McLinn, Roberts Studio, Los Angeles, California, inscribed: 'To Aunt Annabelle Love, Cecil' [009] circa 1950s

Box 1:1

Group of women seated at banquet table [010] circa 1960s

Box 1:1

Edna Harris at the Moscow Kremlin [011] circa 1964

Box 1:1

Family standing on steps [012] circa 1970s

Box 1:1

Portrait of man in backyard [013] 1961

Box 1:2

Baseball player wearing San Juan baseball uniform [014] circa 1900s

Box 1:2

Two men in suits standing next to billboard [015] 1926

Box 1:2

Delbert Venerable wearing sunglasses, reverse: 'To Aunt Annabelle I send love from Delbert' [016] 1961

Box 1:2

Portrait of a baby girl [017] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Baby girl standing on sidewalk holding a stuffed animal [018] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Baby girl standing on sidewalk, reverse: 'Karen Haynes' [019] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a baby boy, reverse: 'Thad Mitchel' [020] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a baby, reverse: 'Melbry Mitchel' [021] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a baby, inscribed, 'To my dear aunt Love, Tiffany' [022] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Nellie Lutcher Capitol Records publicity still, inscribed: 'Best wishes Nellie Lutcher' [023] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Unidentified man in a suit [024] circa 1970s

Box 1:2

Woman kneeling next to toddler along roadside, reverse: 'Gay & Francis Cherri' [025] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Man and woman embracing along roadside [026] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Man and woman sitting on rock, reverse: 'Lela and husband' [027] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Woman holding baby standing in front of brick building with Atlanta-Seattle-San Antonio banner, reverse: 'To grandmother: this is my godmother holding me June 10, 1946 6 months' [028] 1946

Box 1:2

Baby girl sitting on sidewalk, reverse: 'Karen Hayes' [029] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Portrait of man in backyard, inscribed: 'Love from the father July 21, 1961' [030] 1961

Box 1:2

Photo booth portrait of Cecil Edward McLinn [031] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Photo booth portrait of young woman [032] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Photo booth portrait of young woman [033] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Photo booth portrait of young woman [034] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Lynda Venerable, inscribed: 'To the sweetest woman in the world Mrs. Harris Love, Lynda "B" V. 59'' [035] 1959

Box 1:2

Graduation portrait of young man in cap and gown [036] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a Cecil Edward McLinn [037] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Man and two women sitting in chairs in backyard [038] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Bill and Jim Hopkins sitting on front lawn [039] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Ronnie Scott [040] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a boy [041] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a boy [042 A/B] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a woman [043] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of a woman [044] circa 1970s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Frederick Marc [045] 1974

Box 1:2

Portrait of Ronnie Scott [046] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Karen Hopkins [047] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Karen E. Banks [048] circa 1970s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Eric Owens [049] 1962

Box 1:2

Portrait of Lloyd D. [050] 1961

Box 1:2

Portrait of Lynda Venerable [051] 1963

Box 1:2

Portrait of Ruby Owens [052 A/B] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Lynda Venerable [053] 1964

Box 1:2

Portrait of Lynda Venerable [054] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Portrait of Susan [-] [055] 1963

Box 1:2

Portrait of Erna P. Harris [056] circa 1970s

Box 1:2

Woman sitting on couch holding a glass [057] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Karen Haynes standing in front lawn [058] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Woman standing in living room in black dress [059] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Man standing in store [060] circa 1970s

Box 1:3

Woman and three children standing next to car [061] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Robin Nicole Cooley sitting next to birthday cake [062] 1974

Box 1:3

Girl in living room [063] circa 1970s

Box 1:3

Jim, Bill, and Ker[-] Hopkins sitting outdoors [064] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

David Edward McLinn lying on blanket in living room [065] 1976

Box 1:3

Boy opening Easter basket [066] circa 1970s

Box 1:3

Gay [-] sitting at the base of palm tree [067] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Gay [-] and Lela [-] sitting on front steps [068] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Christmas card portrait of three children, inscribed: 'To Aunt Annabelle from Charles, Lisa, and Donna Brown' [069] 1962

Box 1:3

Man sitting in chair with feet on stool, reverse: 'So this is the way the other half lives!' [070] 1957

Box 1:3

Delbert Venerable wearing sunglasses [071] 1961

Box 1:3

Delbert and Lynda Venerable posing at Disneyland [072] 1961

Box 1:3

Baby boy dressed as a cowboy riding a pony [073] circa 1930s

Box 1:3

Woman and boy in front yard [074] 1960

Box 1:3

Woman holding a baby standing in front of house, reverse: 'Charles' wife and baby' [075] circa 1930s

Box 1:3

Portrait of Birdalee Jordan Williams [076] circa 1920s

Box 1:3

Rosie Scott and Oscar Garnet sitting on couch [077] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Captain Charles Owens' family dressed in Japanese kimonos [078] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Cecil Edward McLinn dressed in army uniform standing on front steps [079] circa 1940s

Box 1:3

Three girls and a boy standing on walkway next to peddle car looking up at camera [080] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Mike McLinn standing next to door with arm raised [081] circa 1940s

Box 1:3

Man standing in backyard [082] circa 1940s

Box 1:3

Woman and boy standing on front steps [083] circa 1940s

Box 1:3

Woman and girl standing in driveway [084] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Baby sitting in chair holding a stuffed animal [085] 1961

Box 1:3

Family standing in the Hollywood hills, reverse: 'Delbert, Mr. Cricton, Daddy, Lynda, Lloyd' [086] 1958

Box 1:3

Barbara Haynes standing with back to the camera [087] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Barbara Haynes sitting on couch [088] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Barbara Haynes and two women in dining room [089] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Helen Hopkins standing in entryway of house [090] 1961

Box 1:3

Two men at the beach [091] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Boy standing in backyard next to pool [092] circa 1960s

Box 1:3

Mike McLinn standing in front of trailer in costume [093] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Man and woman dancing in living room [094] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Rosie Scott and Nicky Owens sitting on couch [095] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Charles Owens sitting in chair [096] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Man and woman sitting on couch [097] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Girl standing in backyard next to agave cactus, reverse: 'Karen' [098] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Gaynelle Harris standing in backyard next to agave cactus with arms crossed [099] circa 1950s

Box 1:3

Gaynelle Harris and Teretha [-] standing next to house [100] circa 1951

Box 1:3

Portrait of Lynda Venerable [101] 1967

Box 1:4

Barbara Haynes standing with back to the camera [102] circa 1950s

Box 1:4

Portrait of Cecil and Mike McLinn in sailor's uniforms [103] circa 1940s

Box 1:4

Portrait of Nickie Owens [104] circa 1940s

Box 1:4

Girl and two boys sitting on Santa Claus' lap [105 A/B] circa 1940s

Box 1:4

Girl cutting into merry-go-round cake with knife [106] circa 1950s

Box 1:4

Portrait of Erna P. Harris [107] circa 1960s

Box 1:4

Portrait of Owen Jr. [108] circa 1960s

 

Gaynelle Harris

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Gaynelle Harris' report card and junior high certificate from Enid Oklahoma schools, and The Book of Happiness.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.
Box 1:5

The Book of Happiness circa 1918

Box 1:5

Report of Gaynelle Harris, Booker T. Washington Enid High School 1934

Box 1:5

Enid Junior High School certificate 1933

 

Assorted printed material

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Erna P. Harris' funeral program, a personal directory, retirement luncheon program, and a recipe for banana angel food cake.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.
Box 1:6

Personal directory circa 1980s

Box 1:6

Erna Prather Harris funeral program 1995

Box 1:6

Retirement luncheon for Lela McLinn program 1980

Box 1:6

Assorted notes undated

Box 1:6

Book review, Benjamin Banneker: A Plan of Peace-Office for the United States undated

Box 1:6

Banana angel food cake recipe undated

 

Assorted printed material

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes Erna P. Harris' CO-OP Board of Directors buttons and assorted political campaign buttons.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject.
Box 1:7

Ronald Dellums and Mondale/Ferraro political campaign buttons circa 1980s

Box 1:7

Erna Harris' CO-OP Board of Directors buttons circa 1980s