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RICHARD TIGHE HARRIS FAMILY.
Papers; 1853-1969. 3.5
cu. ft. Published
guide.
Richard Tighe Harris was born on October 31, 1833. He attended Duff's Merchant College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the late 1850's he went west and began prospecting for gold in Montana and Idaho. In the late 1870's he was prospecting in the Cassiar Mountain Region. In 1880, working under contract for Hall and Pilz, he and Joseph Juneau discovered gold on the Silver Bow Basin in the vicinity of present day Juneau. The mining district was named after Dick Harris and Juneau was originally called Harrisburgh. Claims were staked and Harris operated his mines until 1885 when he lost most of them in a law suit. During this period, he married Kitty, a Native woman. They had two sons - William John Harris and Richard T. Harris, Jr. Their only daughter died at about one year of age. Richard Harris died in 1907. The two sons attended Chemawa Indian School in Oregon. William Harris later became a guide and painter in Juneau.
This collection consists of correspondence, mining records, legal papers, financial records, drawings and photographs, maps, newspapers, miscellaneous printed matter, and other records. The collection provides documentary information on the life and activities of Richard Harris and of his children, especially William Harris. The largest group of letters are between Harris and his children when they were students in Oregon. The legal, mining and financial records provide insight into Harris' prospecting and business activities, especially for the period of 1879-1885. Among the financial records are a cash book listing expenditures for prospecting trips in 1879 and 1880, an account book covering the period 1881-1885, and receipts for shipments of gold by the Wells Fargo Company. The photographs include pictures of members of the family, of hunting trips guided by William J. Harris, and of buildings and groups in the Juneau area. There are also several caricature drawings by William J. Harris.
This collection was presented to the Archives in June, 1980, by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Harris and their sons, Hugh and James. Frederick Harris is a grandson of Richard T. Harris. Additional papers were acquired from Mrs. David Tanner in 1981. A guide to the collection was published in 1981.
HMC-0131