Finding Aid for the Ann Cunningham Smith collection of letters from Juanita Harrison to Alice M. Foster, ca. 1919-1936
Processed by Yasmin Damshenas in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Lilace Hatayama,
December 2011; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Ann Cunningham Smith collection of letters from Juanita Harrison to Alice M. Foster
Date (inclusive): ca. 1919-1936
Collection number: 1846
Creator:
Ann Cunningham Smith
Extent:
1 oversize flat box
Abstract: Ann Cunningham Smith's grandmother, Alice M. Foster, was a Pasadena resident who corresponded with writer Juanita Harrison
known for her autobiography
My Great, Wide, Beautiful World (1936). The collection includes letters from Harrison to Foster, clippings, a lap desk and materials related to a 1936 exhibit
on Harrison's book at the Los Angeles based Vernon Library.
Language: Finding aid is written in
English.
Language of the Material:
Materials are in English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Donated by Ann Cunningham Smith, October 13, 2009.
Processing Note
Processed by Yasmin Damshenas in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Lilace Hatayama,
December 2011.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ann Cunningham Smith collection of letters from Juanita Harrison to Alice M. Foster (Collection
1846). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
Alice M. Foster was a resident of Pasadena who corresponded with Juanita Harrison, known for her only published work,
My Great, Wide, Beautiful World (1936). Foster helped Harrison secure a passport in 1927 after which Harrison, then only 16 years of age, traveled the world
for the next decade. Harrison documented her experiences visiting 22 countries which eventually were published as a book.
Selections also appeared in the
Atlantic Monthly. Some of the content was based on letters Harrison penned to Foster. Foster helped contribute materials related to Juanita
Harrison to the Vernon Branch Library which organized an exhibit on the author in 1936 and received recognition for her involvement
from librarian Miriam Matthews.
Scope and Content
The collection includes letters from Juanita Harrison to Ann Cunningham Smith's grandmother, Alice M. Foster, as well as clippings,
a lap desk and materials related to a 1936 exhibit on Harrison's book at the Los Angeles-based Vernon Library. The stamps
have been removed from the envelopes, but many of the postmarks still can be discerned, including postmarks from Colombo,
Nice, Paris, Rome, Naples, London, and Darjeeling. The envelopes held letters from Harrison to Foster. Harrison asked Foster
to return her letters so they could be used for her book
My Great, Wide, Beautiful World. Three letters from Harrison to Foster are in this collection.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Harrison, Juanita --Correspondence.
Foster, Alice M. --Correspondence.
Harrison, Juanita --Correspondence.
Harrison, Juanita. My great, wide, beautiful world.
African American women authors --United States --Correspondence.
Box 1, Folder 1
Lap desk.
ca. 1920-1930s.
Scope and Content Note
Lap desk containing pencils, box of Dennison's letter wax, and blotter. Includes 1994 clipping from "Art and Antiques" magazine,
"Yesterday's Lap Desks are Today's Treasures," about lap desks, their history and significance.
Box 1, Folder 2
Letters and clippings from Juanita Harrison.
ca. 1927-1936.
Scope and Content Note
Envelopes addressed to Alice Foster, handwritten letters to Alice Foster from Juanita Harrison. Clippings from Spanish newspaper
re: procession of the "parade of kings" in Seville. Also, clippings re: gala at Hotel Imperator and Josephine Baker's panther.
Envelopes held letters from Juanita Harrison to Alice Foster. Most of the envelopes bear postmarks, including postmarks from
Colombo, Nice, Paris, Rome, Naples, Darjeeling and London. Stamps have been removed.
Box 1, Folder 3
Materials related to Vernon Library exhibit on Juanita Harrison's book.
1936.
Scope and Content Note
Clipping regarding the exhibit, includes information about Alice Foster's involvement. Letter from Miriam Matthews of Vernon
Library to Alice Foster. Handwritten signage from the exhibit.
Box 1, Folder 4
Honolulu Star Bulletin article re: Juanita Harrison.
1936 March 25.
Scope and Content Note
Includes full edition of the newspaper, as well as photocopies of the article on Juanita Harrison.
