The Harris family had descendents in North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. James Coffee Harris (1858-1940) was an educator, author, scientist, and humanitarian. He was born in Magnolia, North Carolina on 28 April 1858, but grew up in Cedartown, Georgia. Harris received his M.A. from the University of Georgia and served as the superintendent for various Georgia school districts in Cedartown, Marietta, Rome, and the Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring, Georgia. Harris also was an avid writer, writing books and pamphlets on his family history, general history topics, and topics concerning natural science. Harris died in 1940. Agnes Ellen Harris (1883-1952) was raised in Cedartown, Georgia and enjoyed a successful career as an educator and a pioneer for programs for women. She attended the Georgia State College for Women and her interest in home economics and what it could do for women took her to Columbia University where she earned both her B.A. and M.A. degrees. From 1903 to 1908, Ms. Harris taught home economics in Georgia and then spent the following eleven years as director of home economics at the Florida State College for Women. In 1919, she became the director of home economics in Texas, followed by a two year period as a field agent in home economics for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. In 1927, she accepted a position at the University of Alabama as dean of women. While there, Ms. Harris organized the school of home economics and became its dean in 1929. She held the dual role of dean of home economics and dean of women until 1945 when she focused all of her attention on the school of home economics. Ms. Harris was also involved in various professional organizations including the following: Alabama Education Association, state Association of Advisors to Girls, State Parent Teachers Association, Home Economics Association, American Association of University Women, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Agnes Ellen Harris died in 1952.
From the description of Harris family papers, 1836-1950s. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 605095621
