Skip to main content

Harper family photographs and maps

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.VIS366

Scope and Content

This collection contains photographs and maps that provide details about the Harper family. Most of the images depict Adelle Harper in her numerous roles as businesswoman and florist, author, genealogist, and mother. Also included are photographs of her husband, John, their children, and other family members at school settings, family gatherings, and in front of their various Atlanta residences. Of special note are images of Adelle and Auverne Harper at a Woman of the Year award reception.

Dates

  • 1905-1975

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.

Administrative/Biographical History

Adelle Barlett (1885-1974) was born in Dudleyville, Alabama, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of three. She taught school in Fulton County and married John Lampkin Harper (1886-1953) in 1905. Together they had four children: John Lampkin Jr. (1906-2004?), William Bartlett (1907-1998), Leila 'Auverne' (1908-2010), and Doyal Alexander (1919-2010). Adelle Harper opened her first flower shop, Hillcrest, on Virginia Avenue in 1921, becoming the first woman to own and operate a florist shop in Atlanta. Harper completed floriculture coursework and gave lectures to garden clubs and art classes. In 1928, the shop moved to 1094 Peachtree Street under the new name Colonial Flower Shop. In 1949, the family purchased Piper's Ice Cream Plant at 1201 West Peachtree Street for the new location of the shop. They remodeled the building, added greenhouses, and changed the name to Harper's Flowers. Eventually, the shop moved to 1300 Spring Street in 1978. Adelle Harper organized Harper's School of Floral Design in her shop and was named Atlanta's Woman of the Year in Business in 1951. Harper pursued other interests such as genealogical and historical research. She wrote a genealogy column for the Georgia Magazine and authored Adelle Bartlett Harper's Family Lines published in 1973. She served as president of the Atlanta Ladies Memorial Association, the Atlanta Quota Club, and the Magnolia Garden Club. Her memberships included the Atlanta Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the DeKalb Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Women's Division of the DeKalb County Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce. Harper was also active in the Atlanta Woman's Club and the Atlanta Branch of the Pen Women of America.

Administrative/Biographical History

John Harper Sr. owned Harper Realty Company and was a member of the Atlanta Historical Society. Auverne Harper attended Woodberry Hall School for Girls in Atlanta and Shorter College in Rome. William Bartlett attended Georgia School of Technology and worked as an architect for the Hentz-Adler-Shutze firm. John Jr. attended Emory University and operated the family dairy farm on 400 acres in DeKalb County near the South River. Auverne, William, Doyal, and John Sr. all helped run the flower shop in various roles.

Extent

49 item(s) (41 black and white photographic prints, five color maps, and three color photographic prints)

Language

English

System of Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically according to titles supplied by staff.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 2017

Related Archival Materials

Harper's Flowers photographs and color drawing, VIS 239, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center

Related Archival Materials

Adelle Bartlett Harper papers, MSS 1136, Cherokee Garden Library, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center

Description Control

This collection was processed in 2019.

Title
Harper family photographs and maps
Author
Jennie Oldfield
Date
November 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040