Porter-Harvey Family Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-731-BC
Scope and Content
The Porter-Harvey Family Papers consist of five series: Harvey Family Papers, Porter Family Papers, Porter-Harvey Genealogy, Miscellaneous and Photographs.
The largest series in the collection is the Harvey Family Papers, which contain letters written by Julian C. Harvey to his parents (largely to his mother, Mary Harvey), detailing his experiences in World War II. The letters give a personal look into the life of a family during the pre-War, War, and post-War period. Sections of some letters have been censored by the War Department. A portion of this series consists of field notes, a scrapbook, and papers of Augustus Ford, surveyor of Nebraska/Kansas territory. This series also contains letters from Captain John Studley to his wife and from William Goddard to Studley's wife. Studley died at sea, and some of the letters pertain to the disposition of Studley's property for the benefit of his widow.
The Porter Family Papers contain information from the World War I period, mostly in the form of letters between Clyde H. Porter and his wife Mae Reed Porter during the traumatic period of WWI. Another significant component of the Porter Family Papers is a holographic journal, "Taos Notes," written by Mae Reed Porter and containing personal notes from her visits with prominent Taos personalities and contemporaries including Dorothy Brett, Mabel Dodge Luhan, the Lawrences, Leon Gaspard, etc. Another portion of this series deals with Joseph Franklin Porter and his leadership of the Kansas City Power and Light Company
The Porter-Harvey Genealogy series consists of family journals and family histories which give genealogical background to both families. This series contains information on the social life and customs of the Porter and Harvey families.
The Miscellaneous series, contains ephemera and memorabilia, and information on the Alfred Jacob Miller art collection.
A CD added to the Miscellaneous series in 2014 contains information relating to the Line Camp, a nightclub in Pojoaque, New Mexico, owned and operated by John and Julian Harvey from 1979 to 1986. The popular venue attracted nationally known musicians such as Taj Mahal, New Riders of the Purple Sage, J.J. Cale, Etta James and Bonnie Raitt. There are also images of Gary Eckard, a musician who frequently performed at the Line Camp, and photos from his memorial service in August 2012.
The Photographs series contains family portraits and picture postcards. Included are some World War I and World War II era images.
The largest series in the collection is the Harvey Family Papers, which contain letters written by Julian C. Harvey to his parents (largely to his mother, Mary Harvey), detailing his experiences in World War II. The letters give a personal look into the life of a family during the pre-War, War, and post-War period. Sections of some letters have been censored by the War Department. A portion of this series consists of field notes, a scrapbook, and papers of Augustus Ford, surveyor of Nebraska/Kansas territory. This series also contains letters from Captain John Studley to his wife and from William Goddard to Studley's wife. Studley died at sea, and some of the letters pertain to the disposition of Studley's property for the benefit of his widow.
The Porter Family Papers contain information from the World War I period, mostly in the form of letters between Clyde H. Porter and his wife Mae Reed Porter during the traumatic period of WWI. Another significant component of the Porter Family Papers is a holographic journal, "Taos Notes," written by Mae Reed Porter and containing personal notes from her visits with prominent Taos personalities and contemporaries including Dorothy Brett, Mabel Dodge Luhan, the Lawrences, Leon Gaspard, etc. Another portion of this series deals with Joseph Franklin Porter and his leadership of the Kansas City Power and Light Company
The Porter-Harvey Genealogy series consists of family journals and family histories which give genealogical background to both families. This series contains information on the social life and customs of the Porter and Harvey families.
The Miscellaneous series, contains ephemera and memorabilia, and information on the Alfred Jacob Miller art collection.
A CD added to the Miscellaneous series in 2014 contains information relating to the Line Camp, a nightclub in Pojoaque, New Mexico, owned and operated by John and Julian Harvey from 1979 to 1986. The popular venue attracted nationally known musicians such as Taj Mahal, New Riders of the Purple Sage, J.J. Cale, Etta James and Bonnie Raitt. There are also images of Gary Eckard, a musician who frequently performed at the Line Camp, and photos from his memorial service in August 2012.
The Photographs series contains family portraits and picture postcards. Included are some World War I and World War II era images.
Dates
- 1815-2012 (bulk 1917-1969)
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution..
Biographical Information
Augustus F. Harvey, son of Henry L. and Nancy Wilbur (Ford) Harvey, was born at Waterville, NY on January 19, 1830. Moving to Pennsylvania and later to Washington D.C., he became a teacher of mathematics at Rugby Academy. In 1856 he came west and settled in Nebraska City. Upon arriving in Nebraska City, Augustus F. Harvey became involved in real estate. He also joined a military company known as the "Otoe Rifles" which served as a militia for times of need. In less than a year, he became a second lieutenant. In 1857, Augustus along with his brother William, opened a night school that taught mathematics, physics, chemistry, drawing, and civil engineering. In time, he launched a political career, holding key positions such as city engineer, secretary to the Otoe County Horticultural Society, and city recorder. Among other accomplishments he was an editor and wrote under the assumed name "Ajax." On May 20, 1868 he married Julia A. Studley, daughter of Captain John Studley. Together they moved to Kirkwood, Missouri where he later died on August 28, 1900. He left behind three children, one of whom was Julian C. Harvey.
Julian C. Harvey was born in 1869 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a graduate of Washington University and married Mary Elizabeth White on September 30, 1913. He had one son, Julian C. Harvey Jr., who was born in 1916 and became a bomber navigator in World War II . Later, Julian C. Harvey Jr. sought his fortune in mines and electronics. During WWII he met Jean Porter, and the two were married on September 16, 1943.
Jean Porter was born on November 19, 1914. She was raised by her parents, Clyde Henderson Porter and Mae Reed Porter. Jean Porter was a gifted and well known artist. In her professional career, Jean Porter had many interesting jobs, including being a clerk and then a photographer for Vogue Magazine. While working in New York, she had a relationship with Bernard Baruch.
Mae Reed Porter was born on September 2, 1889. She spent seven years homesteading with her husband in Jerome, Idaho. Her husband was shipped to Europe during World War I and Mae Reed Porter left the homestead and moved to Kansas City. When her husband returned from war, they spent a majority of their time in Kansas City pursuing their mutual interest in history. Together they investigated the history of the fur trade. With this historical knowledge they supplied introductory material to many volumes including: Beyond the Wide Missouri (1947), Ruxton of the Rockies (1950), Life in the Far West (1951), Prairie and Mountain Sketches (1957), and Matt Field on the Santa Fe Trail (1960). A lover of art, Mae Reed Porter acquired the Alfred Jacob Miller collection. In her later years, she moved to Santa Fe, NM were she lived until her death on October 23, 1969. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Henderson Porter.
Clyde Henderson Porter was born in St. Louis on April 27, 1889. He attended Culver Military Academy and later Iowa State College at Ames. At college he met Willie Mae Reed whom he married on July 23, 1910. He joined the army when World War I broke out and was shipped to France where he drove an ambulance from 1917 to 1918. After the war he remained an executive at the Kansas City Power & Light Company for the next 35 years. He later moved to Santa Ana, California were he died August 20, 1958. Clyde Henderson Porter was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Franklin Porter and his mother, Jennie Henderson Porter.
Joseph Franklin Porter was a successful man and held many influential positions. He was a member of the Edison Pioneers in his early years. In 1893, he became president of the Alton Railway, Gas and Electric Company. In 1906 he became president of the Tri-City Railway and Light Company in Rhode Island. The Kansas City Power and Light Company made him president in 1917, a position he held for twenty-two years. He died on November 7, 1942.
Julian C. Harvey was born in 1869 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a graduate of Washington University and married Mary Elizabeth White on September 30, 1913. He had one son, Julian C. Harvey Jr., who was born in 1916 and became a bomber navigator in World War II . Later, Julian C. Harvey Jr. sought his fortune in mines and electronics. During WWII he met Jean Porter, and the two were married on September 16, 1943.
Jean Porter was born on November 19, 1914. She was raised by her parents, Clyde Henderson Porter and Mae Reed Porter. Jean Porter was a gifted and well known artist. In her professional career, Jean Porter had many interesting jobs, including being a clerk and then a photographer for Vogue Magazine. While working in New York, she had a relationship with Bernard Baruch.
Mae Reed Porter was born on September 2, 1889. She spent seven years homesteading with her husband in Jerome, Idaho. Her husband was shipped to Europe during World War I and Mae Reed Porter left the homestead and moved to Kansas City. When her husband returned from war, they spent a majority of their time in Kansas City pursuing their mutual interest in history. Together they investigated the history of the fur trade. With this historical knowledge they supplied introductory material to many volumes including: Beyond the Wide Missouri (1947), Ruxton of the Rockies (1950), Life in the Far West (1951), Prairie and Mountain Sketches (1957), and Matt Field on the Santa Fe Trail (1960). A lover of art, Mae Reed Porter acquired the Alfred Jacob Miller collection. In her later years, she moved to Santa Fe, NM were she lived until her death on October 23, 1969. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Henderson Porter.
Clyde Henderson Porter was born in St. Louis on April 27, 1889. He attended Culver Military Academy and later Iowa State College at Ames. At college he met Willie Mae Reed whom he married on July 23, 1910. He joined the army when World War I broke out and was shipped to France where he drove an ambulance from 1917 to 1918. After the war he remained an executive at the Kansas City Power & Light Company for the next 35 years. He later moved to Santa Ana, California were he died August 20, 1958. Clyde Henderson Porter was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Franklin Porter and his mother, Jennie Henderson Porter.
Joseph Franklin Porter was a successful man and held many influential positions. He was a member of the Edison Pioneers in his early years. In 1893, he became president of the Alton Railway, Gas and Electric Company. In 1906 he became president of the Tri-City Railway and Light Company in Rhode Island. The Kansas City Power and Light Company made him president in 1917, a position he held for twenty-two years. He died on November 7, 1942.
Extent
3 boxes (2 cu. ft.)
Abstract
This collection consists of correspondence, news clippings, journals, scrapbooks, photographs and genealogical information relating to the Porter and Harvey families. The collection documents their personal, social, and political experiences.
Separated Material
The following book has been transferred to UNM University Libraries for cataloging: Cooper, James Fenimore. The Prairie. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, n.d.
- Artists -- New Mexico -- Taos
- Harvey, Julian C.
- Intellectuals -- New Mexico -- Taos
- Letters
- Military dependents -- Correspondence
- Photographs
- Soldiers -- Correspondence
- Taos (N.M.) -- Social life and customs
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, American
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Porter-Harvey Family Papers, 1815-1989 (bulk 1917-1969)
- Status
- For Approval
- Author
- Processed by Jared Vanderpool
- Date
- ©2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu