William Harris correspondence, 1817-1828

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Cataloged.

• Series I: William Harris correspondence, 1817-1828

Description

Summary

Letters concerning academic matters and student discipline at Columbia College. Most of the letters are addressed to the Rev. Dr. William Harris.

• Series I: William Harris correspondence, 1817-1828

  Letters are addressed to William Harris, unless otherwise specified. Correspondence is organized alphabetically by sender's last name.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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); William Harris correspondence; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

Additional letters and manuscripts related to William Harris and his term as Columbia College President can be found in the Columbia College papers.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number--M-59.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89.

Revision Description

2023-05-26 Published inventory (JR)

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical Note

President of Columbia College, 1811-1829.

William Harris, a Harvard graduate and Episcopalian minister, was elected president in conjunction with the appointment of Columbia College's first provost, a newly created office to which John Mitchell Mason, a Presbyterian minister, was elected.

Administrative duties were shared between the two offices although most of the executive activity was vested with the Provost leaving Dr. Harris with ample time for his duties as Rector of St. Mark's in the Bouwerie. Following Mason's resignation in 1816, a new provost was not appointed and Harris, resigning from his rectorship, assumed the full duties of the office until his death in 1829.

The ever-present problem of money haunted Harris's administration and, as a result of repeated application to the Legislature for financial assistance, the Elgin Botanical Garden (now Rockefeller Center), conveyed to the State by David Hosack, its creator, was assigned to Columbia College (1814). Though the condition was made that the College move to this site, this was never carried out. Instead, wings were built in the original building to take care of the growing institution.