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.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Places
Donors
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.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
View Inventory
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Exhibition Materials (Templates), circa 1970s
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Flying Machine, 1973
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- MEM, 1974
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- One/Four, 1973-1976, inclusive
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- The Return of the Square, 1975
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Steel Pipes, 1973
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Suzanne Harris' Personal Photographs & Negatives, 1970-1972, inclusive
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Untitled Cardboard Installation, 1972
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Wheels, 1973
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Won for the One, 1974
112 Greene St. (New York City) -- Z, circa 1970s
Address Book, undated
Administrative Papers -- General, 1976
Administrative Papers -- Reproduction Requests, 1981, 1994, 1999, 2007-2008, inclusive
Alternatives in Retrospect: An Historical Overview, 1969-1975, 1981
American Cultural Center Exhibition (Paris, France), 1975
Art Park (Lewistown, NY) -- Correspondence, 1978-1979, inclusive
Art Park (Lewistown, NY) -- Haniel the Light Splitter, 1978
Art Park (Lewistown, NY) -- The Light Splitter, 1978
Art Park (Lewistown, NY) -- Sunstroak, 1974
Video
Artist Statements - Suzanne Harris Explaining Her Art, 1973
"Bag Lady - Suzanne Harris (Video tape Juan Downey)", undated
Language of Materials
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold and is currently isolated from other items by housing it 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.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 4 minutes; Preservation note: Transferred twice using different signal paths to stabilize video. Both takes retained. Poor quality with damage throughout, required baking twice.
Video
"Batman - Propoganda for American Avoidance Syndrome" by Suzanne Harris, 1977
Ben Shahn Galleries (New Jersey) -- Exhibition Programs, circa 1970s
"Birds at Woodstock", undated
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold. Duration: 7 minutes.
Audio
Brooklyn Studio, circa 1974, 1977, inclusive
California Institute of Arts (CalArts), 1979
"City Hall - pillars, shoe repair shop, 14th st subway, dance segment, suzie working on outdoor piece", 1975
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 33 minutes; Preservation note: Noticable line of tape damage in sections.
Video
"Clocktower" by Robert Petersen Poster, 1979
Collage of Suzanne Harris' International Travels, undated
Correspondence, 1979
Correspondence - David Findlay, 1978
Correspondence - Keith Sonnier, 1979
"Dissolve (#2)", undated
Scope and Contents
Content warning: This recording contains nudity.
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold and is currently isolated from other items by housing it 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.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 29 minutes
Video
Drawings of Wheels, undated
Documentation of All Drawings and Objects (Photographs and Negatives), circa 1970s
Domestic Travels (Negatives), circa 1970s
Down the Road by Manassas, 1973
Early Photographs of Suzanne Harris, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
Egg Sculpture, undated
European Installations, 1977-1978, inclusive
Exhibition Promotional Materials, 1975-1980, 1989, 2012, inclusive
France (Paris) -- 10th Bienneale de Paris, 1977
France (Paris) -- Focus, 1978
Franklin Furnace Archive, 1978
Franklin Furnace Posthumous Suzanne Harris Exhibition, 1989
Franklin Furance -- Tape of Suzanne Harris Reading, 1978
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 41 minutes; Preservation Note: No content in the left channel. Right channel contains sound effects and bits of music with from one to three minutes of silence between each section.
Audio
Galerie Ala (Milan, Italy) -- Dalet Series, 1977
Galerie December (Dusseldorf, Germany), 1977
Galerie Mollet-Vieville (Paris, France), 1977
Glenda Hydler (Curator), 1979
Glenda Hydler -- Art for Suzanne Harris, 1977
Glenda Hydler -- Photographs of Suzanne Harris, 1974
Glenda Hydler -- Posters for Suzanne Harris, 1979
Hal Bromm Gallery (New York City) -- Introductory Show, 1977
Hal Bromm Gallery (New York City) -- Rectangular Oval, 1978
Hal Bromm Gallery (New York City) -- Stucco Works, 1975, 1978, inclusive
Hal Bromm Gallery (New York City) -- Untitled Glass Piece, 1976
"Hands", 1974
Language of Materials
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 19 minutes
Video
Holly Solomon Gallery (New York City) -- Dalet Series, 1977
Holly Solomon Gallery: The First Two Years, 1977
Holly Solomon Gallery -- Locus Up One, 1976
Holly Solomon Gallery -- Locus Up One, 1976
Holly Solomon Gallery -- Untitled Piece, 1975
The Hudson River Museum (Yonkers, NY) -- Baby Jane, 1973, 1977, inclusive
International Travels -- China, 1978-1979, inclusive
International Travels -- Various (Greece, Egypt, Haiti, St. Lucia, India), circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
James Yu Gallery (New York City) -- Stucco Works, 1975, 1978, inclusive
Jeff Lew (Sculptor) - Hartford Art School, 1971
Mixed Materials
Video
Processing Information
This tape was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 8 minutes; Preservation note: Tape in poor condition, poorly shot, and there are tape speed issues towards end of tape.
Video
Jene Highstein (Sculptor), 1979-1980, inclusive
Jene Highstein Family -- Collage, undated
Jene Highstein: Five Black Cement Sculptures, 1977
Jene Highstein and Suzanne Harris at Harris' Cabin (Woodstock, NY), circa 1970s
"Jene and Suzie talking about cats and dogs and territory", undated
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 11 minutes
Video
Lance Fung Gallery (New York City) -- Consignment Information for Harris' Works, 1997
Lance Fung Gallery (New York City) -- Won for One, 1974, 1997, inclusive
MoMA PS 1 -- After the Math, 1977
MoMA PS 1 -- Newspaper Scenes for Information Exhibition, 1970
MoMA PS 1 -- Peace for the Temporal Highway (Part of the Rooms series), 1976
MoMA PS 1 -- Tower of Power, 1979
More I Remember by Joe Brainard, 1972
New Hampshire Academie of Dance (NHAD) Performances and Rehearsals, 1971-1974, inclusive
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
7 minutes
Video
Audio
Audio
Audio
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 68 minutes; Preservation note: Consists of four separate recordings of the same piece of music and from the same source, with increasingly long gaps between each recording. These gaps were left intact on the master, but removed from the access copy.
Audio
Video
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 7 minutes; Preservation note: Vertical sync issues.
Video
The Norman Fisher Collection at the Jacksonville Art Museum: A Collection, A Collective, 1980
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches, undated
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches, undated
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches -- 14 Diazotypes, undated
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches -- 95 (a-d), undated
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches -- 96 (a-d), undated
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches -- 104 (a-c), undated
Original Art, Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches -- Contact Sheets and Negatives, 1972-1975, inclusive
Original Writings, 1974-1979, inclusive
Paul Harris, 1968-1970, inclusive
Personal Photographs -- Negatives, undated
Photographs of Suzanne Harris, undated
Photographs of Suzanne Harris at Work, circa 1970s
Posthumous Sale of Suzanne Harris' Works, 1989
Pratt Institute -- Teaching Materials for Sensory Awareness Course, 1971-1972, inclusive
Press about Suzanne Harris, 1971-1980, inclusive
Proposal -- Gateway National Recreational Area Group Project, 1976
Proposal --The Light Machine, 1973
Proposal -- Van Cortland Park, 1979
Rachel Lew Performance -- Rubber Thoughts on the Way to Florida, 1971
Research Materials -- Suntrack Pyramids (Model for Sculpture), 1976-1979, inclusive
Robert Stefanotti (Art Dealer), 1979-1980, inclusive
Robert Stefanotti -- Appraisal of Harris Estate and Foundations, 1982-1985, inclusive
"S. Harris (#8)", undated
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Sculpture Center (New York City) -- Decoys, Complexes, and Triggers: Feminism and Land Art in the 1970s, 2008
Sketchbooks, undated
Small Casting, 1978
The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band by the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, 1974
Squared Circle, 1978
"St. Mark's", 1976
Language of Materials
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 33 minutes
Video
Stage Design for Mabou Mines, 1979
Studying Hungry by Bernadette Mayer, 1975
Suzanne Harris Archives Tapes, 2014
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 134 minutes in two parts
Video
Suzanne Harris and Glenda Hydler Discussions, 1974-1975, inclusive
Processing Information
The quarter inch audio reel was treated for mold.
Digital materials
Suzanne Harris Interview with Denise Shavers, undated
Suzanne Harris Involvement with Music Industry, circa 1960s
Suzanne Harris Objects and Clothing, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
Suzanne Harris Passport, undated
Suzanne Harris Personal Photographs, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
Suzanne Harris and Psychoanalysis, 1975
Digital materials
Suzanne Harris Resumes and Curriculum Vitae, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive
Suzanne Harris Slides Information, undated
"Suzie on camera, Gene/Art Park (#3)", undated
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 21 minutes; Preservation note: Noticable line of tape damage throughout.
Video
"Suzie/Dance", 1975
Language of Materials
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 32 minutes; Preservation note: Noticable line of tape damage throughout.
Video
"Territory/Hydler", undated
Mixed Materials
Video
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 23 minutes
Video
"Thunder (#6)", undated
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Travel Performances, 1964-1976, inclusive
Unfinished "Sefirot" Kabbalah Drawing, undated
"Untitled (#9)", undated
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Untitled Film -- Outdoor Structures, undated
Language of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
This film is silent; Duration: 3 minutes.
Video
Untitled Installations with Glass, undated, 1976, 1978, inclusive
Untitled Pieces, 1976-1977, inclusive
Untitled Photographs and Negatives, undated
Untitled Photographs of Dancers, undated
"Walking with Camera", undated
Language of Materials
Processing Information
This item was treated for mold.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 17 minutes; Preservation note: Noticable line of tape damage throughout, horizontal distortion recorded on tape.