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James Taylor Harwood papers, 1880-2001

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Harwood, James Taylor, 1860-1940
Title
James Taylor Harwood papers
Dates
1880-2001 (inclusive)
Quantity
18.25 linear feet, (36 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, and 2 microfilm reels)
Collection Number
MS 0507
Summary
The James Taylor Harwood papers (1880-2001) consist of original and photocopied materials pertaining to Harwood (1960-1940), his artistic profession, and his personal life. Included in the collection are works of art, correspondence, biographical information, poetry, exhibition catalogs, diaries, notebooks, news articles, and other materials.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English, French
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Historical Note

James Taylor Harwood was born in Lehi, Utah, in 1860. His father was a saddle and harness maker. James began drawing as a child, making pictures of animals and portraits of his schoolmates. In his boyhood, he formed lifelong friendships with artists John Hafen and Cyrus E. Dallin. In his teens, Harwood carried mail and worked in his father's shop to earn enough money to go to art school. At the age of 25, he entered the San Francisco School of Design. At the end of one year, he won a gold medal for the best painting of the year. In 1886, he returned to Utah, opened a studio, and taught art. Two years later he had saved enough money to go to France and enter the Ecole des Beaux Arts. From 1891 to 1893 he studied at the Academie Julian in Paris where he won a medal for painting. In 1891, Harwood married one of his art students, Harriet Richards. They settled in Salt Lake City, after their sojourn in France, where he taught at East and West high schools. They had five children. During the next twenty-five years, the Harwoods divided their time between France and Utah. In 1920, the family moved to California due to Harriet's poor health. She died in 1922 and the family returned to Salt Lake City. Harwood became head of the art department at the University of Utah in 1922. He held that position until 1931, when he resigned in order to devote more time to his painting. At the university, he taught the first class in color etching ever given in the United States. In 1929, Harwood married Ione Godwin. They traveled to Europe for two years where Harwood developed his impressionist painting technique. He became famous in Europe as well as in the United States and won many honors for his works. The Harwoods returned to California in 1939 with their two children. In 1940, the University of Utah assembled the James Taylor Harwood art exhibition. This exhibit was in honor of his 80th birthday and represented his life's work. He died in Salt Lake City on 16 October 1940.

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Content Description

The James Taylor Harwood papers (1880-2001) consist of original and photocopied materials pertaining to Harwood (1860-1940), his artistic profession, and his personal life. Included in the collection are works of art, correspondence, biographical information, poetry, exhibition catalogs, diaries, notebooks, news articles, and other materials. The collection has been organized with the original donated materials placed first, then subsequent donations placed after, in chronological order according to donation date.

The first group of donated materials (boxes 1-3) consists of photocopied correspondence between Harwood and Ione Godwin, his second wife; typescripts and a photocopy of Harwood's autobiography, A Basket of Chips; an autobiography of his father, James Harwood; art-related materials; and poetry, news articles, and miscellaneous items.

The second donation (box 4) only has one item. It is a scrapbook put together for Lark Harwood by her mother, Ione. It is a combination journal and photo album describing the life of Lark and her parents, Ione and James Taylor Harwood. Ione writes of sights, her feelings, the family's activities, of their homes, and of the extended family. Where possible, photographs were removed and transferred to the Multimedia Section of Special Collections.

The third and fourth donations (boxes 5-6) consist mostly of correspondence. The first box holds correspondence entirely between Ione and James Taylor Harwood, much of it while they were first dating. The rest of the correspondence is between various individuals and is arranged alphabetically by the person associated with it. Some poetry, a diary, and other materials are also included in these boxes.

The fifth donation (boxes 7-12) includes a variety of items, including original works of art and sketches by Harwood. The artwork, located in boxes 10-11, is representative of most of Harwood's artistic career. Other materials found with this donation are diaries, notebooks, correspondence, exhibition catalogs, artwork and poetry by Ruth Harwood, and a descriptive commentary by James V. Harwood of this donation's contents, among other things.

The sixth donation (boxes 13-21) is almost entirely made up of correspondence. Some poetry, news clippings, and other items are also included in some of the folders. Original groupings for this last donation were kept as much as possible. It is organized alphabetically, generally by the correspondent's last name. Some correspondence may fit with other groupings, though.

The seventh (box 22) includes correspondence to a Mr. D. Brown, a scrapbook which consists mainly of news clippings, and a sketchbook of human anatomy.

The Will South Collection on the Harwood Family series (boxes 24-38) contains materials received by South from the Harwood family. Sub-series 1 consists of artwork from Harriett "Hattie" Richards Harwood; James Taylor Harwood, 1860-1940; and Ruth Harwood, 1896-1959. Sub-series 2 consists of over 800 original letters primarily between J. T. and Hattie Harwood; and Hattie's mother, Mary Julia Johnson Richards from 1888-1891. The letters become more sporadic in the later years, but there are quite a few from Hattie's children when she was hospitalized in Oakland, California from 1921-1922. Some of the envelopes include multiple letters written on different days. Sub-series 3 contains legal materials primarily related to J. T. Harwood's estate;. Most of the manuscripts in sub-series 4 are unidentified and undated. Sub-series 5 includes miscellaneous notebooks and ledgers and appears to be written by J. T. and Hattie Harwood. The writings are miscellaneous and includes quotes; lists; financial expenses; and a few daily observations. The titles were obtained, if supplied or printed, on the front cover. Sub-series 5 is organized alphabetically by Harwood family. Sub-series 6 includes J. T. Harwood's glasses; and a scrapbook primarily containing clippings related to Harwood.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in the following series: 1. Correspondence and Biographical Materials; 2. Personal and Family Materials; 3. Artwork Materials; 4. People Files; 5. General Materials; and 6. Will South Collection on the Harwood Family.

Series 6 is further divided into the following sub-series: 1. Artwork; 2. Correspondence; 3. Legal materials; 4. Notebooks and ledgers; 5. Printed materials; and 6. Oversize.

Acquisition Information

Boxes 1-3 were donated by Willard R. Harwood in 1973.

Box 4 was donated in 1989.

Boxes 5-6 were donated in 1991.

Box 6, folder 19, and boxes 7-12 were donated in 2001.

Boxes 13-21 were donated in 2002.

Box 22, folders 1-2 were donated by David Carroll of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts in 2013.

Box 22, folder 3 was donated by Rose Petersen (on behals of her brother James T. Harwood) in 2013.

Box 2, folder 3, box 11, folder 8, and box 23 donated by James T. Harwood in 2015.

Boxes 24-38 were donated by Will South in 2019.

Processing Note

Processed by Jennifer Braeden and Lisa DeMille in 1989-2002.

Addenda (box 22) processed by Betsey Welland in 2013.

Box 2, folder 3; box 11, folder 8; addenda (box 23); and Will South Collection on the Harwood Family (boxes 24-38) by Gina C Giang in 2026.

Related Materials

See also the June Rose Harwood papers (MS 0543), the Ruth Harwood papers (MS 0375), and the Madge Tomsic papers (MS 0672).

Separated Materials

See also the James T. Harwood photograph collection (P0117) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms

  • Artists--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Painters--Utah--Biography

Personal Names

  • Godwin, Ione
  • Harwood, James Taylor, 1860-1940--Archives
  • Harwood, James Taylor, 1860-1940--Family--Archives
  • Harwood, Ruth, 1896-1959

Form or Genre Terms

  • Autobiographies (literary works)
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Diaries
  • Illustrated works
  • Manuscripts
  • Oil paintings (visual works)
  • Personal correspondence
  • Sketches
  • Watercolors

Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Braeden.
2013 (last modified: 2018 and 2026)

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