Richard Harrity papers, 1870-1972

Born in Virginia in 1907, Richard Harrity was a playwright and author. As a youth, Harrity was part of a family vaudeville act whose history he described in his book, "The World Famous Harrity Family." Harrity enlisted in the army where he served as a G.I. journalist writing and editing for several military publications through WWII. In the 1950s, Harrity worked for a few gubernatorial campaigns. In 1955, Harrity was hired by Cosmopolitan to write travel articles, and traveled to over 90 countries. He also wrote plays during the 1940s, such as "Hope Is a Thing with Feathers" and “A Shovelful of Stars.” In the 1950s and 1960s, Harrity was known for his pictorial biographies, such as "Eleanor Roosevelt: Her Life in Pictures," "The Human Side of F.D.R.," and "Man of the Century: Churchill," written with Ralph G. Martin. He was a featured writer for "Cosmopolitan," "Look," and other magazines. He died in New Hampshire in 1973.