Lawren S. Harris MG30-D208 Finding Aid 631data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000000097.pdf · 2005. 1. 19. · 6 10 Ivory Tower in Art n.d. 6 11 Letter Drafts n.d., 1944 6 12 “Limitation

ii

Lawren S. HarrisMG30-D208

Finding Aid 631

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PAPERS . . . . . . . . . . . iii

CORRESPONDENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

BUSINESS PAPERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

SUBJECT FILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

NOTEBOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 10

MANUSCRIPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

TRANSCRIPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 10

PRINTED MATERIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Catalogues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Periodicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Pamphlets, Press Releases, Reprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Clippings and Scrapbooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

MEMORABILIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

APPENDIX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

iii

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Lawren Harris was born in Brantford, Ontario. After travelling in Europe and the MiddleEast, 1904-[1909] , Harris settled in Toronto where, with Dr. James MacCallum, he built the StudioBuilding on Severn Street and was instrumental in the formation of the Group of Seven. For the nexttwenty years, Harris painted throughout Canada with other members of the Group. During the1930's, Harris lived in the United States, for a time as artist in residence at Dartmouth College, N.H.He moved to Vancouver in 1942, where he remained until his death. Harris was a founding memberof the Canadian Group of Painters, 1933, and the Federation of Canadian Artists, 1940. He was atrustee of the Emily Carr Scholarship Fund, a member of the board of the Vancouver Art Gallery,and was associated with the Theosophical Society in Canada.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PAPERS

Correspondence, 1925-1966. 6 cm (volume 1)Arranged chronologically.

Business Papers, n.d., 1939-1960. 1 cm (volume 1)Financial records and lists of paintings.

Subject Files, n.d., 1944-[1967]. 5 cm (volumes 1-2)Arranged alphabetically.

Notebooks, [c.1910]-[1954]. 21.5 cm (volumes 2-4, 13)Containing notes, addresses, quotations, poems, and essays. Arranged chronologically.

Manuscripts, n.d., 1905-[1954]. 30 cm (volumes 4-7)Essays, speeches, radio talks, letter drafts, and notes. Miscellaneous manuscripts by otherauthors. Arranged alphabetically by title or subject.

Transcripts, n.d., [c.1969]. 33 cm (volumes 7-10, 13)Transcripts of Lawren Harris’ manuscripts used in the preparation of Lawren Harris (1969),edited by Bess Harris and R.G.P. Colgrove. Arranged in three series: transcripts grouped in‘collections’ by Harris/Colgrove; Harris/Colgrove files of transcripts; miscellaneoustranscripts. Also, a mock-up of Lawren Harris.

Printed Material, 1925-1967. 28 cm (volumes 10-12)Catalogues, n.d., 1930-1963, and programmes, 1946-1953, arranged chronologically;periodicals, 1926-1967, and pamphlets, press releases, and reprints, 1925-1965, arrangedalphabetically; clippings and scrapbooks, 1922-1960.

Memorabilia, 1945-1958. .5 cm (volume 13; see also vertical filing cabinet)Degrees and certificates.

Lawren S. Harris

MG30-D208

Vol. File File Title Date

CORRESPONDENCE

1 1 Correspondence to Lawren Harris 1925-1927






1 7 Correspondence to Lawren Harris n.d.

1 8 Correspondence to Bess Harris n.d.

BUSINESS PAPERS

1 9 Financial Records n.d., 1939-1960

1 10 Lists of Paintings n.d.

SUBJECT FILES

1 11 C.B.C. “Wednesday Night” Scripts 1950

1 12 Canadian Group of Painters n.d., 1957

1 13 Centennial Arts Conference, U.B.C. [1967]

2 Lawren S. Harris MG30-D208Vol. File File Title Date

1 14 Cleaning and Handling Paintings 1950-[c.1955]

1 15 Dynamic Symmetry n.d.

1 16 Emily Carr Scholarship Fund 1954

1 17 The Federation of Canadian Artists and the Special Committee onReconstruction. Briefs

1944-1945

2 1 The Federation of Canadian Artists n.d., 1945

2 2 Bess Harris n.d., 1944-[1964]

2 3 Interviews n.d.

2 4 University of British Columbia, Fine Arts 1963-1964

2 5 The Writers’ Broadcasters’ and Artists’War Council

n.d.

NOTEBOOKS

2 6 Notebook n.d., [c.1910-1914]

2 7 Notebook 1922-1925

2 8 Notebook [1920s]



2 11 Notebook [early 1940s]





3 3 Notebook [1943]

MG30-D208 Lawren S. Harris 3Vol. File File Title Date

3 4 Notebook [1945]

3 5 Notebook [1945]

3 6 Notebook [1945]

3 7 Notebook [c.1945]



3 10 Notebook [1948]



4 1 Notebook [1954]

4 2 Notebook [1954]

MANUSCRIPTS

4 3 “ABC of Abstract Painting” n.d.

4 4 Abstract Painting n.d.

4 5 “The Academic and the Creative” n.d.

4 6 “Art and Exploitation” n.d.

4 7 Art and History n.d.

4 8 “Art and Life” n.d.

4 9 “Art and Propaganda” n.d.

4 19 “Art as an Expression of the Values of its Day” n.d.

4 11 Art Gallery Directors n.d.

4 12 Art in Canada n.d.

4 13 “Art in Canada: An Informal History” (Part III) 1950

4 14 “Artist and Audience n.d.


4 15 “The Artist and his Day” n.d.

4 16 Artist and Public n.d.

4 17 “Art is the Distillate of Life” n.d.

4 18 “The Artist’s Point of View” n.d.

4 19 Artist’s Role in Wartime n.d.

4 20 “The Arts and Divine Discontent” n.d.

4 21 “Basis of Art” n.d.

4 22 B.C. Binning n.d.

5 1 The Beautification of Ottawa as a National War Memorial 1945

5 2 “Canada and the Arts” n.d.

5 3 “Canadian Art” n.d.

5 4 “Canadian Art and Internationalism” n.d.

5 5 Capital and Labour n.d., 1905

5 6 Changing Ideologies n.d.

5 7 “Commercialism and Art” n.d.

5 8 “Community Centres for the Arts” n.d.

5 9 “Conditioning in Art” n.d.

5 10 “The Creative” n.d.

5 11 “The Creative Attitude” n.d.

5 12 “The Creative Individual and a New Order” n.d.

5 13 “Creative Individual and a New Order” n.d.

5 14 “Creative Life... an Interplay of Opposites” n.d., [1943]

5 15 Criticism n.d., [1953-1954]

5 16 “Democracy and Art” n.d.

5 17 “A Disquisition on Abstract Painting” [1954]

5 18 Emily Carr n.d.


5 19 Europe and America n.d.

5 20 Experience n.d.

5 21 “Experience and Theory” n.d.

5 22 “Fallacies About Art” n.d.

5 23 Federation of Canadian Artists n.d.

6 1 Function of Art n.d.

6 2 “Goodwill” n.d.

6 3 Grants for Artists n.d.

6 4 Group of 7 n.d., [1932]

6 5 “Hints to Young Artists” n.d.

6 6 “Internationalism in Art” n.d.

6 7 “Interplay Life and Form” n.d.

6 8 Introduction to Book n.d.

6 9 “It Takes All Kinds to Make a World of Art” n.d.

6 10 Ivory Tower in Art n.d.

6 11 Letter Drafts n.d., 1944

6 12 “Limitation and Universal Life” n.d.

6 13 “Love and Art” n.d.

6 14 Miscellaneous Notes n.d.

6 15 “National Council of the Arts” n.d.

6 16 “Past and Future” n.d.

6 17 “Pattern” n.d.

6 18 “Personal and Impersonal” n.d.

6 19 “Philosophy and Art” n.d.

6 20 “A Piece of Being” n.d.

6 21 Poems n.d., [1923]


6 22 “Reason and Perception” n.d.

6 23 “Reincarnation” n.d.

6 24 “Science and Art” n.d.

6 25 “Sectarianism in Art” n.d.

6 26 “The Seed in the Soil” n.d.

6 27 “Spirituality and Art” n.d.

6 28 “The Status of Canadian Painting and Sculpture” n.d.

6 29 “Strength” n.d.

6 30 “Structure and Reality” n.d.

6 31 “Symbolism and Art” n.d.

6 32 Theosophy n.d., [1925]

6 33 Theosophy and Art n.d.

6 34 “T.S. Eliot’s Tone Poem” n.d.

6 35 “Unconventional Artists” n.d.

6 36 “The Unheroic North. Four Plays by Merril (sic) Denison” n.d.

7 1 Vancouver Art Gallery n.d.

7 2 “Vicarious Atonement” n.d.

7 3 “What the Public Wants” [1954]

7 4 Woman’s Art Association n.d.

7 5 Women 1922

7 6 Works of Art n.d.

7 7 “Art, National and Universal” (not by Harris) 1929

7 8 Hedges, Doris. “The Citizen and his Child” 1944

7 9 Housser, Fred. “The Amateur Movement in Canadian Painting” 1929

TRANSCRIPTS OF MANUSCRIPTS


7 10 Transcripts: Lists of Collections n.d.

7 11 Collections 1, 4, 7-8, 10, 16-18 (8 files) n.d.

8 1 Collections 19, 22-24, 26 (5 files) n.d.

8 2 Collection Red Book n.d.

8 3 Abstract Painting n.d.

8 4 Art Middle Section n.d.

8 5 Emily Carr n.d.

8 6 For Consideration n.d.

9 1 Loan Collection n.d.

9 2 Personal Comments n.d.

9 3 Rejects n.d.

9 4 Transcripts (6 files) n.d.

10 1 Transcripts (2 files) n.d.

PRINTED MATERIAL

Catalogues

10 2 Group of 7, C.S.P.W.C./S.C.P.E.E., Toronto Camera Club at ArtGallery of Toronto

1930

10 3 Exhibition of Abstract Paintings by Lawren Harris, Little Centre,Victoria

1946


10 4 Lawren Harris Paintings 1910-1948 1948

10 5 Lawren Harris Retrospective 1910-1948, Vancouver Art Gallery 1949

10 6 Progressive Painters of Western Canada, U. of Manitoba 1953

10 7 100 Years of Canadian Painting, Laing Galleries 1959

10 8 Lawren Harris 1959

10 9 Canadian Group of Painters Exhibition 1962

10 10 Lawren Harris Retrospective 1963

10 11 Lawren Harris Retrospective Exhibition 1963

10 12 A.Y. Jackson 30 Years of Painting, Dominion Gallery 1963

Programmes

10 13 University of British Columbia Conferring of Degrees 1946

10 14 University of Toronto Conferring of Degrees 1951

10 15 University of Manitoba Official Opening of the University Library 1953

Periodicals

10 16 Art Gallery of Toronto Bulletin April 1930

10 17 Canadian Art Christmas 1948

10 18 Canadian Art Autumn 1954

10 19 Canadian Plate Block Journal September 1966

10 20 Canadian Plate Block Journal March 1967

11 1 Canadian Review of Music and Art April-May 1944

11 2 The Canadian Theosophist July 1926

11 3 The Canadian Theosophist July 1933


11 4 The Canadian Theosophist August 1933

11 5 The Canadian Theosophist November 1948

11 6 The Canadian Theosophist December 1948

11 7 The Canadian Theosophist January 1949

11 8 The Canadian Theosophist April 1953

11 9 The Canadian Theosophist July-August1957

Pamphlets, Press Releases, Reprints

11 10 The Canada Council Medal 1961 [1961]

11 11 Harris, Lawren. “A Disquisition on Abstract Painting” 1954

11 12 Harris, Lawren. “The Group of 7 in Canadian History” 1948

11 13 The McMichael Conservation Collection of Art. Press Releases 1965

11 14 Morang, Alfred. “Transcendental Painting” 1940

11 15 “Press Comments on the Canadian Section of Fine Arts BritishEmpire Exhibition 1924-1925"

[1925]

11 16 Sedgewick, G.G. “Stephen Leacock As Man of Letters” 1945

11 17 “Tom Thomson 1877-1917: In Tribute” [1956]

Clippings and Scrapbooks

11 18 Clippings 1926-1969

11 19 Scrapbook n.d., 1944-1945

12 1 Scrapbook (6 files) 1922-1960


NOTEBOOKS (Oversize)

13 1 Notebook [c.1937-1953]

13 2 Notebook [c.1937-1953]

TRANSCRIPTS OF MANUSCRIPTS (Oversize)

13 3 Lawren Harris (1969) mock-up [1969]

MEMORABILIA

13 4 Degrees and certificates 1945-1958

BUSINESS PAPERS

14 1 Documents relating to the Studio Building 1873, 1913-1936

MEMORABILIA

15 1 Honorary Degree from University of British Columbia, 1946 andHonorary Degree from University of Toronto, 1951

1946, 1951

11

APPENDIX A

Correspondence: Lawren Harris 1925-1966, n.d.

AUTHOR DATE

Albert E.S. Smythe, May 25, 1925The Theosophical Society in Canada

O.S. Finnie Department of Interior Oct. 12, 1927(to F. Housser)

John Robins, Victoria College June 15, 1941

John Robins, Victoria College Dec. 31, 1943

Fred Stables Mar. 8, 1943

Elizabeth Wyn Wood June 1, 1944

Elizabeth Wyn Wood May 31, 1944

Edward Parker, Department of Public Health, Sask. Dec. 8, 1944

Ira Dilworth July 27, 1944

John Robins, Victoria College Oct. 9, 1944

H.O. McCurry, Feb. 12, 1944National Gallery of Canada

E. Lindner Nov. 21, 1945

E. Lindner Nov. 27, 1945

H.O. McCurry, Jan.15, 1945National Gallery of Canada

H.O. McCurry, Feb. 26, 1945National Gallery of Canada

H.O. McCurry, Mar. 9, 1945National Gallery of Canada

12

AUTHOR DATE

H.O. McCurry, n.d.National Gallery of Canada

Arthur Lismer Nov. 17, 1945

J.B. Bickersteth, July 10, 1945Hart House

R.G. Robertson, Nov. 9, 1945Office of the P.M. (with enclosure)

M. John Nov. 1, 1945

Neil M. Morrison, Nov. 15, 1945C.B.C. (to Ira Dilworth)

Joe Plaskett Jan. 15, 1946

Joe Plaskett Mar. 29, 1946

Joe Plaskett Oct. 25, 1946

A.S. Grigsby, July 9, 1946Vancouver Art Gallery

Joe Plaskett Dec. 8, 1947

Ed Hughes Oct. 28, 1947

Ed Hughes Oct. 7, 1947

Joe Plaskett July 5, 1947

Joe Plaskett May 22, 1947

[Dosia] Thornton Dec. 8, 1947

Agnes Newton Keith Feb. 24, 1947

C.A.G. Matthews (to Sydney Key) Nov. 11, 1948

Jean Stewart (to C. Romanick) Nov. 6, 1948

13

AUTHOR DATE

H.O. McCurry Dec. 14, 1948

Charlie Band July 7, 1948

Harry Southam Dec. 13, 1948

R.A. Daly Dec. 2, 1948

Ed Hughes July 16, 1948

A.O. Meredith Nov. 16, 1948

George Hulme Nov. 29, 1948

Joe Plaskett Sept. 22, 1948

Joe Plaskett April 28, 1948


Don Jarvis Oct. 7, 1948


H.O. McCurry Feb. 16, 1948

Walter Herbert Dec. 9, 1948

Charles Band Aug. 26, 1949

Frances Parker, London Jan. 20, 1949Public Library and Art Museum

A.H.S. Gillson, University of Man. Dec. 10, 1949

A.H.S. Gillson, University of Man. Dec. 21, 1949

Josephine Harper, July 11, 1949Women’s Art Association of Canada

Harry Southam April 6, 1949

Louise Balllantyne July 1, 1949

14

AUTHOR DATE

Louise Ballantyne Feb. 27, 1949

Joe Plaskett June 20, 1949


Vincent Massey Oct. 15, 1949

Lionel Thomas Feb. 5, 1949

Peter Aspell Feb. 28, 1949

Ira Dilworth April 26, 1949Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Don Jarvis Feb. 14, 1949

Ira Dilworth, May 10, 1949C.B.C.

Lionel Thomas May 6, 1949

Ira Dilworth April 25, 1949

Bill [?] Oct. 20, 1949

R.W. Hedley, Edmonton Museum of Arts Feb. 18, 1949

R.W. Hedley, Edmonton Museum of Arts [Feb. 1949]

Nick Ignatieff Sept. 7, 1949

Percy Robertson, General Insurance Co. May 25, 1950(with enclosure)

George How Feb. 19, 1950

George How May 27, [1950]

Max Stern, July 10, 1950Dominion Gallery

Arthur Lismer June 12, 1950

15

AUTHOR DATE

Alex Panton June 21, 1950

A.H.S. Gillson, University of Man. Mar. 10, 1950

A.H.S. Gillson, University of Man. April 27, 1950

Joe Plaskett Nov. 10, 1950

Joe Plaskett Nov. 4, 1951

Joe Plaskett July 26, 1951

Jack Vaughan May 8, 1951

Catherine E. Thomas May 21, 1951

Jim Macdonald Jan. 21, 1951

Fred A. Ames, Jan. 17, 1951Van. School of Art

Rolph Blakstad Jan. 15, 1951

William Calder Jan., 1951

Joe Plaskett Feb. 13, 1951

Jack Vaughan Feb. 9, 1951

Jack Vaughan Feb. 16, 1951

Jack Vaughan Jan. 31, 1951

Jack Vaughan Aug. 21, 1951

A.H.S. Gillson Oct. 29, 1951University of Manitoba

Max Stern Jan. 15, 1952Dominion Gallery

Vincent Massey Mar. 24, 1952

16

AUTHOR DATE

R.S. Van Valkenburg, Sept. 17, 1952Fine Art GalleriesT. Eaton Co. Limited

D.W. Buchanan Oct. 7, 1953Canadian Art

R.S. Von Valkenburg, May 12, 1953Fine Art Galleries,T. Eaton Co. Limited

R.S. Von Valkenburg, May 22, 1953Fine Art Galleries,T. Eaton Co. Limited

Takao Tanabe Aug. 27, 1953Banff School of Fine Arts

Joe Plaskett Oct. 1954

J.C. Fraser, Aug. 20, 1954Fraser, Dingham & Co.

Pearl McCarthy Sept. 1, 1954Globe & Mail

Alex Campbell April 18, 1955

Alex Campbell Feb. 14, 1955

Ruth Martin Aug. 2, 1955

Gary [?] Nov. 22, 1955

Donald Stewart July 17, 1956

Charles E. McFaddin, Jan. 19, 1956Art Gallery of Toronto

Gary [?] Jan. 25, 1956

Gary [?] Feb. 14, 1956

Gary [?] Mar. 7, 1956

17

AUTHOR DATE

Heather Spears Nov. 14, 1956

W.Y. Brown, Tom Thomson Memorial Art Centre Feb. 10, 1956

Donald Stewart July 18, 1956

Herman A. Voaden Oct. 25, 1957

R.W. Finlayson Jan. 31, 1957

N.A.M. MacKenzie Dec. 30, 1957President, University of B.C.

Reg Holmes Dec. 2, 1957

Reg Holmes Dec. 26, 1957

Donald Stewart April 10, 1958

Donald Stewart May 23, 1958

Bill Lewis Feb. 11, 1958

Paul Duval Jan. 11, 1960

Harold & Vera Mortimer - Lamb Sept. 8, 1961

A.W. Trueman, Dec. 21, 1961Canada Council

Joe Plaskett April 10, 1961

A.W. Trueman, Mar. 9, 1962Canada Council

Arthur Lismer Aug. 19, 1962

Charles F. Comfort Dec. 22, 1962

A.Y. Jackson May 11, 1962

18

AUTHOR DATE

Walter C. Koerner Oct. 10, 1963

Joe McCulley, Sept. 30, 1963Hart House Univ. of Toronto

A.Y. Jackson Nov. 26, 1964

A.Y. Jackson Mar. 23, 1965

A.Y. Jackson Apr. 24, 1965

A.Y. Jackson Oct. 19, 1965

A.Y. Jackson Sept. 10, 1965

Lord Beaverbrook Nov. 14, 1965

Joe Plaskett Feb. 2, 1965

S. Harris Olmstead Jan. 13, 1966

S. Harris Olmstead Dec. 12, 1966

Ron Nagy Mar. 16, 1966

Joe Plaskett n.d.

Doris [?] n.d.

Amy B. [?] n.d.

Ira Dilworth May 16, 1946

Ira Dilworth July 27, 1947

Albert Barthe, The Deanery, Windsor Castle April 1, 1927

B.C. Binning [1944]

Bob [Ayre] Apr. 22, 1943

Ira Dilworth Nov. 9, 1945

Mark H. [?] Jan. 26, 1945

19

AUTHOR DATE

John C. [?] [ca.May 1946]


A.H.S. Gillson Apr. 27, 1950

Arthur Lismer Jan. 28, 1950

Vincent Massey Sept. 21, [1950]

Ursula Malkin, Youth Music League, Vancouver Mar. 24, 1954

Donald Stewart [Feb. 1957] Gov.-Gen. & Madame Vanier Feb. 18. 1960

Arthur Lismer [June 1963]

A.Y. Jackson [Summer 1964]

Joe [?] n.d.

Don Erickson n.d.

Evangeline Harris Olmsted n.d.

Lord Beaverbrook n.d.

[George] How n.d.

Margaret Musselman, [C.B.C.] n.d.

Correspondence: Bess Harris 1945-1966, n.d.

Irene H. Lewis July 15, 1945

Maria [?] Nov. 30, 1960

A.W. Trueman, Canada Council Mar. 9, 1962

Charles Comfort Sept. 18, 1963

Bob Ayre Sept. 18, 1963

20

AUTHOR DATE

Vincent Massey Jan. 7, 1964

A.Y. Jackson May 30, 1965

Norah [de Pencier] Nov. 14, 1965

Doris [Mills] Nov. 24, 1965

Alistair [Bell] Dec. 12, [1965]

Alistair [Bell] Jan. 13, 1966

Barbara [?] n.d.

Mary Tunnard n.d.

LeMoine FitzGerald June 21, 1955

Nan [?] M a y 2 4 ,1959