Suzanne Harris Papers
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Abstract
Suzanne Harris (1940-1979) was a New York City-based artist whose work has been exhibited domestically and internationally. She was a member of SoHo's 112 Greene Street artistic community in the early 1970s. The Suzanne Harris Papers (1960-2014) consists of materials created and collected by artist Suzanne Harris and documents her artistic processes and output. Materials in this collection include photographic documentation of her exhibitions including negatives, slides, and prints; press clippings and reviews of exhibitions in various publications; lecture notes and course syllabi; proposals for projects including artist statements, project summaries, and proposed budgets; exhibition ephemera and administrative papers; documents relating to the posthumous sale and use of Harris' works; as well as recordings of her performances and projects. The collection also includes original drawings and some objects related to Harris' personal life.
Biographical Note
Suzanne Harris (1940-1979) was a New York City-based artist whose work has been exhibited domestically and internationally. Before becoming an artist, Harris studied medicine. In the early 1970s, she moved to New York City and became a member of SoHo's 112 Greene Street experimental artistic community. 112 Greene Street was an exhibition and performance space located inside an abandoned SoHo factory. All artists were welcome to use the space as long as they were willing to install and dismantle their own work. Throughout the 1970s, Suzanne Harris exhibited several performances, such as Flying Machines, and art pieces, such as Steel Pipes, at 112 Greene Street. As an artist, Harris was interested in the movement of the human body and explored this through dance. She performed alongside dancers Steve Paxton, Trisha Brown, and others. She was also interested in sculpture and created art installations including Locus Up One, The Tower of Power, and Sunstroak. In addition to being a working artist, Suzanne Harris was also an arts educator and taught a Sensory Awareness course at the Pratt Institute in New York City.
Arrangement
Materials in the collection have been arranged alphabetically by topic. Art exhibitions and installations have been grouped by gallery.
Scope and Contents
The Suzanne Harris Papers (1960-2014) is composed of paper and audiovisual materials documenting Harris' life and work as an artist and arts educator. The collection contains materials created and collected by Harris and documents her artistic processes and output, as well as her installations and exhibitions held in the United States, mainly in New York City, as well as abroad in locations including France, Germany, and Italy.
Materials in this collection include photographic documentation of her exhibitions including negatives, slides, and prints; press clippings and reviews of exhibitions in various publications; lecture notes and course syllabi; proposals for projects including artist statements, project summaries, and proposed budgets; original art, paintings, drawings, and sketches; original writings; exhibition ephemera and administrative papers; documents relating to the posthumous sale and use of Harris' works; as well as recordings of her performances and projects. Together, these materials highlight the types of exhibitions Harris created and participated in, her various inspirations for art pieces, the types of classes she was teaching, and the ways in which she was perceived by her colleagues and critics. Personal photographs of Suzanne Harris, her friends, and colleagues also provide insight about her private life.
The Suzanne Harris Papers contain materials related to sculptor Jene Highstein and art curator Glenda Hydler -- both of whom were Harris' colleagues and close friends. Monographs focused upon Highstein's work and career, as well as some reviews of his works are included in the collections. Glenda Hydler's posters, which she made for Harris, and personal notes that mainly address Harris' death are also included. The collection contains correspondence between Harris and Hydler that address both personal and business affairs, as well as personal photographs of Harris, Highstein, and Hydler. Between 1974 and 1975, Harris and Hydler recorded conversations addressing topics such as secrets and interpersonal relationships. Those conversations can be found in the collection. Throughout the 1970s, Harris recorded videos, some of which featured Highstein and Harris. Audiovisual projects found within the collection have been listed with the original titles found on their containers.
The collection also contains some materials related to Harris' ex-husband, Paul Harris, including descriptions of their horoscopes and photographs of the couple. Paul Harris was a musician and worked as a keyboard player. He was featured on two studio albums, Down the Road by Manhassas and the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band's self-titled album. Copies of both vinyl records can be found within this collection.
Finally, the Suzanne Harris Papers contain various objects belonging to Harris including glass jars, a silver spoon, bells, a glass ash tray, a tambourine, remnants of a drum, pencil cases, and some pieces of clothing. The origins of these items is unknown.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection created by Suzanne Harris was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Suzanne Harris; MSS 547; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Glenda Hydler in July 2018; the accession number with this gift is 2018.101.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Access to some audiovisual materials in this collection is available through digitized access copies. Researchers may view an item's original container, but the media themselves are not available for playback because of preservation concerns. Materials that have already been digitized are noted in the collection's finding aid and can be requested in our reading room.
Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact [Fales Library, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596] with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
Born-Digital Access Policies and Procedures
An access terminal for born-digital materials in the collection is available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Researchers may view an item's original container and/or carrier, but the physical carriers themselves are not available for use because of preservation concerns.
About this Guide
Processing Information
At the time of accessioning materials were rehoused in archival boxes and folders, and described on the collection-level.
The Suzanne Harris Papers was processed and described by an archivist in the spring of 2023. Materials were placed in new archival folders and boxes. Original folder titles were retained when possible and materials were then arranged alphabetically by file title. Related materials were grouped together intelllectually and physically, when possible. Photographs, negatives, and slides were removed from their original housing and placed into archival sleeves. Duplicate and commercially published materials were removed from the collection and returned to the donor. A large portion of the audiovisual materials found in the collection were treated for mold, stabilized, and rehoused by New York University's Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department.
New York University Libraries follow professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the content. Five optical discs containing audio files were forensically imaged and analyzed using Exact Audio Copy.
Two half inch video reels housed in Box 15 were identified as moldy on April 19, 2023. These items are currently isolated from other items by housing them in a polyethylene bag with a desiccated board and RH monitor strip. If this strip indicates an RH greater than 50%, contact the Preservation Department immediately. Do not open this packaging without contacting the Preservation Department. One audiocassette housed in Shared Fales Box 094, ten half inch video reels housed in Box 15, and five quarter inch audio reels housed in Box 15 were also surface cleaned for mold and were rehoused into archival cases.
