Robert Harris

An avid collector of books, letters, and other literary memorabilia, Harris is an avid fan of Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Theodore Roethke, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Tennessee Williams, Langston Hughes, and William Jay Smith. Part of his Library has been exhibited at the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University and the Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Harris has written extensively. His essay, “Charles and Robert, A Literary Friendship”, was published by the DeGolyer Library at SMU. In addition, the Southwest Review published a previously unknown poem, “How Lovely Wetness Makes the Flesh” by Tennessee Williams, from his library. Another unpublished poem by Williams, “Advice to a Poet,” was also published in the Southwest Review. He is currently working on a new book, The Poet and the Collector: Selected Letters of John Ciardi and Charles Feinberg. A new Harris poem, “The Performance,” was recently published in Space and Time. Another new poem, “Louis” was published in Jerry Jazz Musician. A favorite poem, “Daddy Got Paid” was published in a special Mothers and Fathers section of Jerry Jazz Musician. Other new published poems include “America The?” and “Old Hands.” In addition, “New Road” was recently published in London by Pulsar.

Harris was the curator and the catalog author of the national exhibition “All Goes onward and outward,” "Walt Whitman at 200.”