TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview of the Collection
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Related Material
Detailed Description of the Collection
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An inventory of the Harker papers at MacMurray College Archives
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| Repository: |
MacMurray College ArchivesJacksonville, IL |
| Creator: |
Harker, Joseph Ralph |
| Title: |
Papers of Joseph R. Harker |
| Dates: |
1894-1930 |
| Quantity: |
2 cubic feet |
| Abstract: |
This collection encompasses the working papaers from the office of President Harker, as well as his personal correspondence and ephemera. |
| Language: |
The records are in English.
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Joseph Harker was born in Durham County, England in 1853. He attended school only to the
age of 10 as family circumstances forced him to work in the coal mines alongside his father. At the generosity of his eldest brother living
in DuQuoin, Illinois, Joseph emigrated to America in 1871.
After a few years of mining, Harker started on a path of self-education, minimally instructed by the county superindendent of schools. In a few years, the
superintendent offered him a teaching position at the "colored" school. From the moment he began teaching, Harker
realized this is what he was meant to do. Over the next ten years, he taught schools in several counties before
arriving in Morgan County. At Meredosia he taught the high school level and eventually
arrived in Jacksonville on the staff of Illinois College, where he enrolled as a college
student at the same time. He received his bachelor's degree in 1888, a master's degree in 1890 and a PhD in 1893.
Shortly after he received his doctorate, the Illinois Conference offered him the position as president
of the Illinois Female College, as it was known in 1893, a position he held until his retirement
in 1925. Harker served the longest tenure in the college's history. During his presidency, Harker changed
the name of the college to Illinois Woman's College and built up a substantial endowment through a capital campaign beginning
with small amounts pledged by many former students. He oversaw the expansion of the college, first
with purchases of nearby lots allowing for an additional wing onto Main, a new residence hall, and with funding from
Andrew Carnegie, construction of a fine arts building.
The greatest achievement attributed to Harker is the offical full accreditation of the college as a four-year degree-offering school.
Return to the Table of Contents
Considering the length of tenure of Harker's presidency, the collection has
minimal office files. Many of Harker's files became part of President McClelland's office files.
There are several files concerning the college's efforts to raise capital. Correspondence
files have been separated into personal correspondence and offical correspondence. Personal
correspondence are letters written to him from alumnae who tell of their work history
following graduation. Official correspondence includes requests from graduates seeking
class confirmations for specific degrees or teaching certificates and other college related business.
One folder contains unidentified photographs. There is one scrapbook of letters addressed to him in honor of his retirement
and a photograph album of English churches he visited after retirement. Also in
the collection are his diplomas and several very early 19th century letters addressed to men associated with the
early history of the college. There are 2 ledger books that Harker used for personal and college
accounts. One book has a start date of 1893 and the second book begins in 1903.
Return to the Table of Contents
Other than a separation of personal and official correspondece, this collection is not arrange by series. All correspondence from
married alumnae are filed under the married surname.
Return to the Table of Contents
Restrictions on Access
This collection is not restricted.
Return to the Table of Contents
Oversized diplomas are stored separately.
Return to the Table of Contents
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:
Harker, Joseph Ralph (1853-1938)
Places:
Jacksonville (Ill.)
Subjects:
MacMurray College--Presidents
Return to the Table of Contents
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| 2A |
01 |
Correspondence, A-C 1917-1925 |
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Inez Huckley Anderson; Mrs. F. A. Bower; Laura L. Butcher; Grace Ward Callahan;
Eugene Camp; Lillian A. Clearwater; Edith A. Conley; E. E. Crabtree |
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02 |
Correspondence, D-G, 1920-1923 |
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Naomi Davis; Mrs. John C. Davidson; Margaret Davison; Gertrude Tanner Day;
Boutwell Dunlap; Olivia Dunlap; Mary Edwards Gardiner; Edna Line Gordon; Annie P. W. Graham;
Edith Sawyer Gray; Harriet Ellis Green; Martha Leaton Guthrie |
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03 |
Correspondence, H-L, 1916-1924 |
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Interchurch World Movement; Florence Keleher Haller; Leaton Irwin; Edmund J. James;
Grace Wood Jess; Ida Johnston; Hattie Jumper; Robert Kelly; Vivian Kelplinger;
Mildred Keys; Mary Kuhl; Rebecca Lacy; Belle Short Lambert; William Lane; Mary LaRue; Nellie Lundley
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04 |
Correspondence, M-O, 1918-1929 |
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James MacMurray; Katherine Madden; Florence Madden; George Marshall; Helen Mason; Anna Watson Masters;
Rebecca McCarty; Margaret McKee; Emma Merrick; May Kendall Milhoit; Frances V. Melton; Maurine Motsenbocker;
Mary P. Murphey; Dell Nichols; Anna Simms Oliver; Ellen Yates Orr; Ralph Overton |
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05 |
Correspondence, P-R, 1916-1925 |
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Mrs. E. M. Painter; Pauline Patton; Carrie Peters; Esther Thockmorton
Peterson; Rachel Phillippe; Mary Louise Powell; Blanche Purl; C. H. Rammelkamp;
Rachel Tomkin Rankin; Susan Rebhan; Lucille Reinbach; Dorothy Finley Reed; Abbie Reynolds;
Mona Ramsay Roesler; W. Rutledge |
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06 |
Correspondence, S-U, 1909-1925 |
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Elizabeth Seward; Maymie Frazier Seymour; Nina Sherman; Brother Shields;
Louise Shoop; Miriam Sipfle; Freda Fenton Starness; Josephine Stewart; Ruth Want Stewart;
Edna Robb Sykes; Linda Layton Trapp; R. Travelute; Helen Uhl |
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07 |
Correspondence, V-Z, 1919-1924 |
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Orpha Van Ness; L. E. Vance; Mrs. Bethnel Vincent; Dr. Julian Wadsworth; John N. Ward;
Vera Wardner; Juanita Warfield; Clara Weer; Mabel Weiss; Mabel Deaman Wilder;
Cornelia Young; Dr. E. Robb Zaring |
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09 |
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Blackstock, 1913-1924 |
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10 |
Mary Johnston, 1920-1925 |
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11 |
Juliard Musical Foundation, 1920-1925 |
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13 |
James MacMurray, 1916-1925 |
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14 |
N. O. Nelson Manufacturing, 1924 |
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15 |
Passavant Hospital, 1921 |
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16 |
Platt Properties, 1915-1922 |
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17 |
Rockford College, 1920-1922 |
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18 |
Francis Short (J. C. Penney Co.), 1921-1925 |
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20 |
Sarah Wycoff, 1920-1923 |
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21 |
Articles of Incorporation and Name Change, 1899-1913 |
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22 |
Athletic Association Constitution, 1913 |
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24 |
Capital Campaign, 1913-1917 |
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26 |
Capital Campaign Sample Letters |
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27 |
Educational Aid Society, 1914 |
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28 |
Educational Commission, 1918 |
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Moving Illinois Wesleyan University to Springfield |
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29 |
Endowment Committee Minutes, 1925 |
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30 |
Financial Reports, 1908-1924 |
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31 |
General Board of Education, 1911-1917 |
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32 |
General Board of Education, 1920-1923 |
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33 |
Board of Education University Senate, 1919 |
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34 |
Jacksonville Zoning Commission, 1920-1924 |
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36 |
MEC Educational Forward Movement Campaign, 1910-1918 |
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37 |
Organizational Structures and Duties, 1918-1922 |
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38 |
Student Government, 1914-1929 |
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39 |
Notes on the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary, 1917-1921 |
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40 |
Student Statistics, 1914-1925 |
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41 |
Subscriptions Pledged, 1900-1909 |
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42 |
Letter of Resignation, 1924 |
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43 |
Tributes to Dr. Harker upon Retirement, 1925 |
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44 |
Trustees Tributes to Dr. Harker, 1925 |
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45 |
Illinois Conservatory of Music, |
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46 |
Advisory Council Minutes, 1915-1925 |
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| 2B |
01 |
Writings |
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In typescript and handwritten format, some of these essays are
part of the research material for his unpublished college history. Other writings
appear to be commencement speeches. One is a funeral sermon for Dr. Short. |
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02 |
Personal Correspondence, A-D, 1894-1919 |
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03 |
Personal Correspondence, E-H, 1918-1930 |
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04 |
Personal Correspondence, I-R, 1918-1929 |
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05 |
Personal Correspondence, S-W, 1914-1924 |
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06 |
Cornelia Young Correspondence, 1922 |
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07 |
Illinois Woman's College History |
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Newspaper clippings and typescript pages (may have been for his
unpublished book). |
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09 |
Unidentified Items |
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Ephemera with different script. |
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10 |
List of donors for car given to Dr. Harker, 1920 |
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11 |
Hardtner Gymnasium, 1916-1917 |
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History of Illinois Woman's College Part One, 1824-1893 |
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Bound volume of typescript carbon copy of Harker's unpublished manuscript |
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Photograph album |
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Contains reproduction photographs and original postcards of churches
and cathedrals the Harkers visited on travels through England and the US.
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Scrapbook, 1925 |
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Inside are letters that students and others wrote congratulating Dr.
Harker for his accomplishments and given to him on his retirement day. |
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