Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 194. Scrapbooks (3) of manuscript music, chiefly gospel music, written and composed by Arlis Odell Harmon, of Allen County, Kentucky

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Western Kentucky UniversityTopSCHOLAR®MSS Finding Aids Manuscripts2-12-2008Harmon, Arlis Odell, 1905-1992 (MSS 194)Manuscripts & Folklife ArchivesWestern Kentucky University, mssfa@wku.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_mss_fin_aidPart of the Composition Commons, and the United States History CommonsThis Finding Aid is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in MSS Finding Aids by anauthorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact connie.foster@wku.edu.Recommended CitationFolklife Archives, Manuscripts &, "Harmon, Arlis Odell, 1905-1992 (MSS 194)" (2008). MSS Finding Aids. Paper 372.http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_mss_fin_aid/372 MSS 194 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Special Collections Library – Western Kentucky University  1 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Special Collections Library Department of Library Special Collections Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY  42101  Descriptive Inventory  MSS  194     HARMON, Arlis Odell, 1905-1992  ½ box.  4 folders.  66 items.  1866-1992.  Originals.  1992.149.2   BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE   Arlis Odell Harmon, son of Thomas M. (1870-1953) and Ivy (1880-1909) Harmon, was born on April 1, 1905, in Allen County, Kentucky.  The death of his mother, which occurred when he was only four, later inspired him to write several songs pertaining to maternal love and the loss he experienced.  In 1928, Harmon assumed the position of a private investigator in Birmingham, Alabama.  Then for almost thirty years, he worked chiefly as a railroad/street railroad engineer inspector in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo. He also served as a checker for the Louisville Railway Company and was associated briefly with the Tennessee Electric Power Company in Nashville. Later, Harmon found time to write a column regularly for the Scottsville, Kentucky Citizen-Times, using the pseudonym, "The Lone Traveler."  In 1959 Harmon returned to Allen County, Kentucky, and began concentrating on gospel music, which he had loved since boyhood.  After learning to read shape notes, he then learned to play the organ. Harmon wrote many poems, some of which he set to music.  Harmon’s first song Coming Home on a Promise and a Prayer, was published by James D. Vaughan Publishing Company in 1961. Some of the other notable companies, which published his works, were Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Convention Music Company, Tennessee Music and Printing Company, and Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company. Harmon claimed that his success in the composition of gospel music was because of divine inspiration, that is, the Lord guided him through each song until it was completed. Harmon describing his lifestyle, in a letter written to the readers of The Vaughan Family Visitor wrote, "I am a bachelor, do my own cooking, and believe it or not, my cooking hasn’t killed me yet, but sometimes I almost chicken-out on eating my cooking. I live alone out on Dogwood Ridge in Allen County, Kentucky, where it is quiet and peaceful and have the best neighbors anyone could wish for."  Harmon died on May 30, 1992, leaving behind a varied collection of published gospel music tunes, and a name that will remain in the hearts of those who know his music.  MSS 194 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Special Collections Library – Western Kentucky University  2 COLLECTION NOTE  This collection includes three scrapbooks of manuscript music on lined pages.  The pages were removed from acidic scrapbook; the contents of each scrapbook was placed in a separate folder.  A sequential list of titles is included in each folder.  Harmon’s collection of 45, 78, 33 ½ rpm phonograph records, gospel newsletters, books, and approximately 700 gospel song books are housed in the Kentucky Library.  A larger collection of Harmon material is found in Manuscript Collection 153.     SHELF LIST   BOX  1 HARMON, Arlis Odell 1866-1992 847 items     Folder  1 Descriptive Inventory and biographical  1 item  data  Folder 2 Scrapbook of manuscript  music written   29 items  and composed by Harmon  Folder 3 Scrapbook of manuscript music written  34 items  and composed by Harmon  Folder 4 Scrapbook of manuscript music written  2 items  and composed by Harmon   BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD  MSS HARMON, Arlis Odell,                          1866-1992 153  1905-1992     Scrapbooks of manuscript music, chiefly                 gospel music, written and composed by Harmon                 of Allen County, Kentucky.    ½ box.  4 folders.  66 items.    1992.149.2      SUBJECT ANALYTICS  Allen County – Relating to Gospel music Gospel musicians Lyricists   MSS 194 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Special Collections Library – Western Kentucky University  3 Music and musicians Songwriters       Jeffrey 02/12/2008 

Harmon, Arlis Odell, 1905-1992 (MSS 194)

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Harmon, Arlis Odell, 1905-1992 (MSS 194)

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