Harvey J. Hess Collection

Manuscript collection:  MsC-69

Harvey J. Hess collection, 1958-2005.  4 linear feet

Biography

Harvey J. Hess attended the University of Northern Iowa in the late 1950s.  He taught in the Department of English Language and Literature at the university from about 1995 through 2008.  He was a poet, critic, and librettist.  Mr. Hess spent many years in Hawaii, where he worked with Jerré Tanner and John Thomas to write and produce operas with Hawaiian mythic themes.

Papers

This collection includes correspondence, publications, journals, worksheets, and newsclippings by and about Mr. Hess. 

Mr. Hess donated material to the University Archives in increments from about 2000 through 2010.  The use of some of this collection is restricted to Hess family members until September 2020.  See agreement document in Box 3.

On August 31, 2012, after the death of Mr. Hess, his sister Lucy donated a large quantity of material to the University Archives.  This material is unprocessed.

Box Inventory

Box 1

Emma L. Goughnour, autograph book, 1881

Box 3--Portions restricted

Agreement on use of Hess collection

Letter, Professor Norman Stageberg to Harvey Hess, 1958

Harvey Hess, journal, undated--Restricted use

Newsclippings

Correspondence--Restricted use

Composition drafts

Harvey Hess, Ruth Suckow essay

The coffee cantata, Malama Arts, 1985; libretto by Harvey Hess

Invitation to musical evening at Hess home, 1998

Modern haiku, volume X, number 3 (includes Hess poem)

Draftings in, volume 6, number 1 (includes Hess essay "The physiology of art in Bach and Milton"

Arkenstone, volume 2, issue 3 (includes Hess poem "Beck the rainbow")

Cedar Arts cultivator, volume 2, number 1 (includes Hess essay "An invitation to give ourselves a chance")

Newsclippings relating to artist John Thomas; reproductions of paintings of John Thomas

The oil paintings of John (Paul) Thomas, Malama Arts, 1999

Box 4

Living in Iowa, #603, Harvey Hess (VHS videocassette)

Champagne Toast (VHS videocassette)

Reading of Hawaiian opera Esekela (Esther) (VHS videocassette)

Unlabeled VHS videocassette

Boxes 5-7--Restricted use

Box 8

Articles, programs, and other published material by and about Harvey Hess, 1977-2003; most have dates and publication information, but many do not

Photograph of Harvey Hess

"This land planted; seeds of the prairie, farm, and education."  2004

Ars Oceania Incorporated prospectus and plans

Ha 'Ilono Mele, vol. 5, no. 2 (February 1979

Kani Lehua

Collection processed and described by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, November 2010; updated August 31, 2012 (GP).