Collections : [Rare Book & Manuscript Library]

This series is composed of three photograph albums with typical nineteenth century photographic portraits, one recording the Harper-Hyde-Meade branch of the family and the others with portraits of the Leale- Copcutt family members. Four folders of this series contain framed pictures from the beginning of nineteenth century, portraits of Philip A. Harper, from the end of nineteenth century, and pictures of various groups of people, including members and friends of the family, from nineteenth century. Philip A Harper's folder contains pictures of family members and of the family residence in Far Rockaway. Some of the portrait pictures are captioned on the back, but the majority of the group pictures are hard to identify because of either the lack of captioning or a mere mention of a familial relationship or date and event. The folders in this series are arranged chronologically.

This series is composed of six folders, chronologically organized, of legal papers, diaries and pamphlets, and two over-size folders holding drawings and news-papers. This series includes: Maria Arcularius's diary documenting her trip to Europe in 1835, James Harper Jr.'s baby book, from 1919 (containing a genealogical tree), locks of hair, and short notes of a personal nature. One of the pamphlets in this series is the centennial commemorative 1917 advertisement of the reprint of the first work by Harper printers, Seneca's Morals with facsimile pages from the first edition and letter with a sample reservation note from the company. This pamphlet reveals the fact that Joseph Wesley Harper and Fletcher Harper, the two younger brothers of the four founders, worked on the first printed Harper book, in 1817, as compositors. One folder of this series contains a tentative genealogical outline of one branch of Harper family and a history of family names of English origin (Harper included); the author of both documents is not mentioned. Particularly interesting and revealing, of the history of the family, are the clippings from new papers of several obituaries for the death of Philip A. Harper (a second generation); these short articles from the press of the time brings light into the complicated genealogy and succession of Harpers.

The vast majority of this collection is arranged alphabetically under Series I: Research Files for The Publisher and pertains to Brinkley's biography of Henry Luce, The Publisher: Henry Luce and His American Century (Knopf, 2010). This series contains some of Brinkley's correspondence and research notes, but is mainly composed of subject files containing photocopies of archival material that Brinkley consulted.

This series is composed of primarily letters from various members of the Barrell family to Theodore Barrell, There are also a few letters to other members of the Barrell family, however the bulk of the correspondence is addressed to Theodore. The largest single group comprises the letters of Walter Barrell in London to his son, Theodore who was then a merchant in Demarara. These letters mention such family affairs as births, deaths and marriages, business matters including payments received and payments due, and advice from father to son on interpersonal matters often including remarks on religion and faith. Some correspondence makes passing mention of the change of rule in Demarara from British to Dutch and then back to British rule again from 1802-1803 and the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. The majority of the correspondence from other members of the family deals with major family events, health of family members and friends of the family and trade matters.

This series contains autograph books belonging to Theodore Barrell's children, Walter Newberry Barrell and Theodora Barrell, a diary and cashbook belonging to Theodore Barrell from 1841 and an exercise book belonging to John Stayner Barrell dated 1814-1816.