Finding aid for the Charles Henry Harris Collection

Biography of Charles Henry Harris

Charles Henry Harris was born in Athens, Ohio in November 1884 and remained a member of the community until his death in 1962. He graduated from Athens High School on 1902 and continued on to Ohio University, graduating in 1906. Harris was associated with the Athens Messenger newspaper from its first daily issue in 1905. His positions included reporter, managing editor, district editor, and later in his career as author of a series of local history series published in the Athens Messenger from 1948-1957. These articles and accompanying photographs later became the basis for his 1957 book, The Harris History. In addition to his service with the Athens Messenger, Harris was employed by Ohio University as a part-time journalism instructor for more than twenty years. Harris also served as Clerk of City Council for 34 years (1911-1945), and as a Councilmember from October 1948-December 1951. He founded and served as the first president of Ohio's Blue Pencil Club, organized for newspaper editors and copy readers. He was honored as an Ohio author by the Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Association.

Scope and Content

The Charles Henry Harris (CHH) Collection contains newspaper clippings and photographs collected by CHH in the course of his profession as a newspaperman and author. The newspaper clippings are of his work. This collection contains 400 clippings that were considered for inclusion in his book The Harris History; most show signs of editing. Of these, only 200 were actually used. Included are the two series "From Memory's Well," and "Visits to Little-Known District Spots" or "Visits to Little-Known Areas of the District," along with numerous columns with no series title. The subjects of the columns cover the southeastern Ohio countries of Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Mason, and Vinton Counties are represented by just a few images. The newspaper photographs here were taken by CHH, but there are also some older family pictures given to him. Most of the photographs of families and homes are organized or identified by locality rather than by county. The public buildings are identified by county. The collection also includes two incidental clippings concerning the history of Ohio University dated 1910 and 1912, which may have been written by CHH.

Statement of Arrangement

Subject Terms

The following terms have been used to describe this collection.

Subjects:

Persons:

Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in all footnotes and bibliographical references.

Other Finding Aid

A paper copy of the finding aid is available.