Richard Harison papers, 1734-1900

Creator:
Harison, Richard, 1747-1829
Extent:
.42 linear feet 1 document box
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

The correspondence consists of letters from Richard Harison to his wife, Frances, 1790-1794, from his trips to Albany and one to Philadelphia. There seem to be periodic meetings with various well-known legal figures including Egbert Benson, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Abraham Ten Broeck, Morgan Lewis, and William North, who are mentioned in the letters. Two letters from Princeton and Philadelphia, Jan.-Feb. 1794, have interesting reference to Citizen Genet. Of his wife's letters to him, from New York, sixteen were while he was in Poughkeepsie at the Constitutional Convention in 1788, and three letters, 1783-1784, were sent to him in New Jersey while she was attending to family affairs in New York during his exile from the city. The manuscripts include his commonplace book, entitled "Extracts from various authors, upon several subjects" [after 1763]-1781, and ten genealogical and biographical records from his family papers.

Biographical / historical:

Harison received his Columbia degrees in the same years as John Jay, and they each received an LL.D. from the University of Edinburgh, 1792. Harison was Secretary of the Regents of New York State, 1784-1790; vestryman, warden, and comptroller of Trinity Church, 1783, 1788-1827, where he is buried; Delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention; Member, New York Assembly, 1788-1789; Trustee, Columbia College, 1788-1829; U.S. District Attorney for New York State, appointed by George Washington, 1789-1801; Recorder, New York City, 1798-1801. His second wife, Frances, was daughter of George Ludlow, jurist and loyalist, and niece of Daniel Ludlow, merchant and banker.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Richard Harison papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu