Guide to Harris Masterson, Jr. Papers, 1894-1920, bulk 1898-1902
Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator: | Masterson, Harris, Jr., 1881-1935 | |
| Title: | Harris Masterson, Jr. Papers, | |
| Dates: | 1894-1920 | |
| Abstract: | These papers cover Houston born chaplain and educator Harris Masterson, Jr.'s life from his schooling through his career with the YMCA. Highlights include correspondence with family members, photographs, school materials and his career. | |
| Identification: | MS 469 | |
| Extent: | 3 linear ft. | |
| Language: | Materials are in English. | |
| Repository: | Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX | |
Biographical Note
Harris Masterson, Jr., born June 22, 1881, Brazoria, TX, was the son of Judge Harris Masterson and Sallie Stewart Turner. A graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN (1904) and the Episcopal Theological School of Cambridge [Harvard] (1907), Masterson began his career as chaplain of All Saint's, Austin, TX, 1908-11. He worked with the YMCA in China (Hankow and Wuchang, 1911-16) and the US (1916-17), and became a Red Cross chaplain in 1918. He came to Houston in 1919 to become the organizer, director and chaplain of a community house for Rice Institute students, later known as Autry House. Masterson was active in civic and educational affairs and served in various positions including chairman of the Building Committee of the Houston Public Library Board and as a Trustee for the University of the South. In 1925 he married Elizabeth Simpkins who shared his work with Rice students. The Mastersons moved to France to work with American students in Paris and returned to Austin, TX in 1926 for Masterson to become Rector of All Saint's Chapel. He resigned in Oct. 1935 and died in Austin in Nov. 1935.
Scope and Contents
The collection, totaling nine document boxes, covers Harris Masterson, Jr.'s life from his schooling through his career with the YMCA. Highlights include correspondence with family members, photographs, school materials and his career.
Arrangement | ||
| The Harris Masterson, Jr. Papers are arranged in four series: | ||
| Series I: Correspondence, 1898-1920. Arranged in two sub-series, the General sub-series includes business correspondence from 1898 to 1914; the Family sub-series includes correspondence from various family members from 1898-1920. | ||
| Series II: Personal, 1894-1920. This series includes materials from HMJr.'s schooling, essays, published works, bank records and genealogical records. | ||
| Series III: YMCA, 1908-1917. Arranged in two sub-series, China-International YMCA and Army YMCA, the materials include administrative records, correspondence and published YMCA materials. | ||
| Series IV: Visuals, n.d. This series includes postcards and photographs of the locations HMJr. visited and served during his career with the YMCA and his personal life. | ||
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
No access restrictions; this material is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the Harris Masterson, Jr. Papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.
Index Terms | ||
| Personal subject: | ||
| Masterson family - Correspondence. | ||
| Masterson family - Portraits. | ||
| Corporate subject: | ||
| Autry House (Houston, Tex.). | ||
| YMCA Army Educational Commission. | ||
| International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations of North America. | ||
| Young Men's Christian Association (Wuhan, China). | ||
| Subjects: | ||
| Episcopal Church|xClergy|vCorrespondence. | ||
| Young Men's Christian Associations of China. | ||
| FORMATS: | ||
| Correspondence. | ||
| Notes. | ||
| Postcards. | ||
| Photographs. | ||
Related Material
|
Judge Harris Masterson Papers MS#468 Harris Masterson, III Papers MS#470 James Lockhart Autry Papers addenda MS#412 Autry House; Carroll and Harris Masterson, III; Neill T. Masterson and Libbie J. Masterson information/vertical files, Woodson Research Center. |
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Harris Masterson, Jr. Papers, 1894-1920, MS 469, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
Acquisition Information
The papers originally were part of the deposit of the Masterson Family Collection given by Harris Masterson, III (HMJr.'s nephew) in 1966. They were separated from the original deposit in May, 1998.
Processing Information
The collection originally was placed in Hollinger boxes without any preservation or organizational efforts. Some of the collection had been wet and mildewed; concerns have been addressed. Since the papers were subdivided from a much larger collection, the Masterson Family Collection, information about the Masterson family and business, cultural and social life of Houston may also be found in complementary collections of the Judge Harris Masterson Papers MS#468 and Harris Masterson, III Papers MS#470.
Bibliography
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Fish, G. Stowe (ed.). Stowe's Clerical Directory of the American Church, 1932-33. Northfield: G. Stowe Fish, c. 1932. Masterson and Allied Families. A Genealogical Study with Biographical Notes. New York: The American Historical Company, Inc., 1965. Sewanee Alumni Directory, 1868-1909. Sewanee: The University Press at the University of the South, 1913. The Thresher. Houston, TX: Rice Institute, March 13, 1925. Ibid. Nov. 15, 1935 |
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Detailed Description of the Collection