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Harriet Huntington was born on January 31, 1909 in Orlando, Florida to Harwood Huntington, a minister, and Grace Goodhue Huntington. She attended the Marlborough School for girls in Los Angeles, California and the Braircliff School in New York. Huntington studied music and dance, and toured with Michio Ito's dance company from 1929-1930.
Huntington's first book Let's Go Outdoors, published in 1939, was inspired by a child's question about insects and her inability to find age appropriate reading materials. She published 17 more books in subjects ranging from nature to technology. During her career she learned how to take the photographs that were an integral part of the books she wrote. Huntington died on June 12, 1985.
The Harriet Huntington Papers contain manuscripts and photographs (most mounted on poster board) for several of her published books, specifically California Harbors, Cargoes, Let's go to the Woods, Let's look at Flowers, Let's Look at Insects, and Balinese Dancing. Also included is a manuscript for the unpublished Ballet Primer, which Ms. Huntington collaborated on with Maria Bekefi, also mounted on poster board. In addition, the collection contains correspondence, personal photographs and several family scrapbooks.