Administrative/Biographical History
Stanley Harkness, an educator and a specialist in the life and writings of Samuel Butler, was born on January 17, 1880 in Chicago Illinois, the son of Edson Jesse Harkness (n.d.) and Marianna Bates (n.d.). He attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago before attending Oberlin College, graduating in 1904.
Harkness began his teaching career as a principal of Jericho Vermont High School, 1906-08, followed by several years as an instructor at Brown University, 1908-10; University of Wisconsin, 1913-27; and University of Chicago, 1910-13, 1927-33. He completed a M.A. degree at the University of Chicago in 1925. He taught English Composition and Literature and tutored private students in Latin, English, algebra, and geometry.
Throughout his teaching career, he pursued a growing interest in the writings of Samuel Butler, a 19th century author. He compiled an unpublished bibliography of Butler’s works, as well as a published bibliography of Butler’s writings, notebooks, and treatises which was well reviewed by the London Times Literary Review Supplement. Harkness published two books: The Prose Style of Sir Philip Sydney (1917) and The Career of Samuel Butler (1835-1902): A Bibliography (1955).
In retirement, he and sister Edith moved permanently to their summer home in Wolance, New Hampshire in 1939 where he continued his consuming interest in Samuel Butler. In 1958, he donated his large personal collection of Butler’s works, including first editions and numerous critical works, to the Oberlin College Library.
At the time of his death, June 17, 1961, one third of his residual estate was left to Oberlin College, when combined with a Class of 1904 Class gift, that bequest enabled the construction of Kettering Science Library.
Stanley Harkness never married. He was buried in Westwood Cemetery in Oberlin in a family plot.
Sources Consulted
Alumni file of Stanley Harkness (RG 28).
Administrative InformationThe papers of Stanley Harkness deal mainly with the works of Samuel Butler and consist of manuscripts written by Harkness, reviews of Butler’s works and writings about him, and other types of criticism. Aside from a short obituary, the collection gives no information about the life of Stanley Harkness, save his overwhelming interest in Samuel Butler.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Biographical File, 1961 (1f)
This series consists of one item, an obituary for Harkness from the December 1961 issue of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine.
Series 2. Writings by Stanley B. Harkness, 1901, 1913-14, 1917, n.d. (14f)
This series contains a reprint of Harkness’s book The Prose Style of Sir Philip Sydney, as well as several of his manuscripts dealing with Butler’s works Erewhon and The Way of All Flesh. The other writings included in this series are symposium talks and other manuscripts regarding Butler.
Series 3. Reviews, 1901, 1915, 1919-32, 1934-37, 1940, 1944-55, n.d. (2f)
This series includes various critical reviews of Butler’s works by Harkness and others. Some are clippings of the original articles, but others appear to be typewritten copies. Other reviews are scattered among the other folders in this collection and were used as supporting material for Harkness’s manuscripts.
Series 4. Topical Files, 1917, n.d. (7f)
The final series is a collection of topical files. Included are files on Mrs. R.S. Garnett, a strong critic of Butler’s; Harkness’s unpublished bibliography on Butler’s writings and writings about Butler; notes on Butler taken from the Wilson Collection at Williams College; and various topics of Butler’s interest including the style and form of the essay, his challenge to 19th century science, and several musical minds. The final folder contains a typescript manuscript reviewing Norman Douglass’s South Wind, 1917.
INVENTORY
Series 1. Biographical File, 1961 (1f)
Box 1
Obituary, Oberlin Alumni Magazine,
December 1961
Series 2. Writings by Stanley B. Harkness, 1901, 1913-14, 1917, n.d. (14f)
Box 1 (cont.)
The Prose Style of Sir Philip Sydney
(reprint), 1917
Outline of chapters for untitled book
regarding Samuel Baker, n.d.
Manuscripts
Erewhon, n.d. (3f)
Samuel Butler: Satirist (Ch. 1)
The Satire of Samuel Butler (Ch. 2)
Machines, etc.
The Way of All Flesh, A Genealogical
Novel, n.d. (4f)
Parts of old manuscript and notes (2f)
Complete chapter: The Genesis and
Technique of Butler’s novel
Miscellaneous notes
Defoe and Samuel Butler, 1901, 1913-14, n.d.
Butler Symposium, part 1: 1872-1902, n.d.
Butler Symposium, part 2: 1902-1925, n.d.
Romantic Revival, 18th century, n.d.
The Career of Samuel Butler: A Symposium, n.d.
Series 3. Reviews, 1901, 1915, 1919-32, 1934-37, 1940, 1944-55, n.d. (2f)
Box 2
Critical Reviews of writings re: Samuel Butler by
Harkness and others, 1915, 1919-29,
1934-37, 1944-55, n.d.
Clippings and reviews re: Samuel Butler, 1901, 1915,
1919-32, 1940, n.d.
Series 4. Topical Files, 1917, n.d. (7f)
Box 2 (cont.)
Mrs. Garnett, n.d.
Butler bibliography, n.d.
Wilson Collection, Chapin Library, Williams
College, n.d.
The Essay (style, etc.) notes, n.d.
Challenges to 19th century science, notes, partial
chapters of future books, n.d.
Notes on Music, Butler, Bach, and Handel, n.d.
Norman Douglass on Samuel Butler, 1917
