Harry Wentworth Higman papers, 1947-1948

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Higman, Harry Wentworth, 1883-1969
Title
Harry Wentworth Higman papers
Dates
1947-1948 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 cu. ft. (1 box)
Collection Number
4293 (Accession No. 4293-001)
Summary
Papers of a Seattle naturalist and author
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Harry Wentworth Higman was born in Chicago September 11, 1883. He attended Dartmouth college as an undergraduate where was a member of Phi Delta Theta and served on the board of "The Dartmouth". He married Florence E. Jordan in St. Joseph, Michigan, June 12, 1909.

After graduation he moved to Washington State where he lived for the rest of his life. He engaged in business, first in Kittikas and Beverly but after 1920 in Seattle. He was president of the Crockett Company, general merchandise, from 1915 to 1949, and treasurer of A. F. Cox and Co. from 1920 to 1949, when he retired.

Harry's lifetime avocation had been the study of biology and ecology, and in retirement he gave all his attention to it. He was widely known in the Northwest for his knowledge of nature and the out-of-doors. He was a recognized authority on ferns and Alpine flora, and had a solid reputation as a skilled nature photographer. For several years he wrote a weekly nature article for the Seattle Times. He was a prominent and active member of ten or more biological and conservation societies, including the Seattle Audubon Society, of which he was president for two years, the Seattle Mountaineers, and the Northwest Bird and Mammal Society. In 1960 he received the Irving M. Clark Conservation Award from the North Cascades Conservation Council He was the co-author of two books: Pilchuck, the Life of a Mountain (1949), and Union Bay, the Life of a City Marsh (1951).

Higman was also a member of the Committee to Save Olympic National Park. His main role was to publicize and let people know the threats to national parks. He was a publisher of the Northwest, producing books such as "Union Bay". His goal was for people to understand threats made to parks.

He died in Seattle on April 9, 1969 after a long illness.

Sources: https://archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/article/1969/6/1/deaths; collection materials

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These papers of Seattle naturalist and author Harry Higman primarily document his involvement with the Committee to save Olympic National Park. His efforts include the distribution of a pamphlet entitled Will Olympic National Park Get the Axe? in order to publicize, both locally and nationwide, the threats to the park. Much of the correspondence is actually that of Irving M. Clark, who was secretary of the committee. Also included among the papers is an outline for Higman's book, Pilchuck, the Life of a Mountain, published in 1949. This may be found in the "writings" series.

Much of the correspondence is actually that of Irving M. Clark, who was secretary of the committee. Also included among the papers is an outline for Higman's book, Pilchuck, the Life of a Mountain, published in 1949.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Burke Museum, 5/29/1991.

Related Materials

Harry Wentworth Higman home movies (Coll PH0963)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Incoming Letters 1947-1948
1/2 Outgoing Letters 1947
1/3 General Correspondence 1947-1948
1/4 Writings 1947
1/5 Notebooks undated
1/6 Notes 1948
1/7 Lists 1948
1/8 Financial Records 1948
1/9 Bulletins 1947-1948
1/10 Clippings 1947

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • National parks and reserves--Protection--Washington (State)
  • National parks and reserves--Protection--Washington (State)--Olympic National Park
  • Naturalists--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Nature conservation--Washington (State)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Higman, Harry Wentworth, 1883---Archives

Corporate Names

  • Committee to Save Olympic National Park
  • Committee to Save Olympic National Park
  • Olympic National Park (Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Olympic National Park (Wash.)
  • Pilchuck, Mount (Wash.)

Titles within the Collection

  • Pilchuck--Sources

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Clark, Irving M., 1883-1960 (creator)