Collection Overview
Harms, Valerie
Valerie Harms Papers1958-1994 (ongoing)
MS 288
11 boxes
(13.75 linear ft.)
English
Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Publisher, Magic Circle Press; Editor; Consultant; Instructor; Therapist. The Papers include personal and professional correspondence; articles; proposals; unpublished manuscripts, notes, and research files for Harms' writings, including Voices From Within: Women Prisoner's Poetry, and her unpublished novels; copies of her books; Magic Circle Press material; conference and workshop material on the "Intensive Journal method"; and audio tapes from "Celebration with Nin" and the "Myth I" and II conferences.
Biographical Note
Valerie Harms (1940-) was born in Chicago, later moved to Texas as a teen. She earned A.B. from Smith College in English in 1962; married Laurence F. Sheehan (divorced 1981), and had 2 children. In 1955 she started one of the first Elvis Presley fan clubs in west Texas. She lived in France for 3 years; co-founded a Montessori School in Connecticut. Her 1st book,
Unmasking: Ten Women in Metamorphosis (1973) grew out of involvement with group of feminists in the arts. Later she co-founded Magic Circle Press, a publication company for books by women. She also edited the journal Celebration in 1973 with Anais Nin, her friend and mentor. Harms has studied and practiced Depth Psychology, Jungian analysis and Intensive Journal Method since the 1970s. Other books she's written include Stars in my Sky: Nin/ Montessori/ Skloff (1976); a biography of Elvis Presley (1977); and Inner Lover: Using Passion as a Way to Self-Empowerment (1992). Recently she's been involved in environmental science, editing the journal of the National Audobon Society, (1987- ). She also wrote the National Audobon Society Almanac of the Environment/Ecology of Everyday Life (1994). Harms organized first Women Writers Conference. She consults, gives workshops and private counseling since 1980.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Valerie Harms Papers include personal and professional correspondence; articles; proposals; unpublished manuscripts, notes, and research files for writings, including
Voices From Within: Women Prisoner's Poetry, as well as unpublished novels; copies of her books; Magic Circle Press material; conference and workshop material on the "Intensive Journal method"; and audio tapes from "Celebration with Nin" and the "Myth I" and II conferences.
[NOTE: The contents list for this collection is not online. Contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you would like one sent to you.]
The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.
This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.
The material in this collection may be protected by copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights for permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Permission must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Preferred Citation
Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Valerie Harms Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.
The papers were donated to the Sophia Smith Collection by Valerie Harms in 1995.
Processed by Margaret Jessup in 1995.
Diaries--authorship
Creative writing--Study and teaching
Group relations training-United States--History--Sources
Harms, Valerie
Magic Circle Press--History--Sources
Publishers and publishing--United States--History--Sources
Small presses--United States
Smith College--Students--History--Sources
Steloff, Frances, 1887-
Women--Psychology
Women publishers--United States--Biography--Sources
Montessori, Maria, 1870-1952
Nin, Anais, 1903-1977
Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977
Feminists--United States--Biography--Sources
Progoff, Ira
Authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources
Environmental protection--United States-History--20th century--Sources
Feminism and art--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Feminism--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Women authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources