Henry Harris (1832-1913) of Mercer, Maine, worked as a cobbler, farmer, and violin maker. Harris showed remarkable musical talent from a young age and made his first violin when he was 14. Throughout his lifetime, Harris made roughly 40 violins, earning a reputation for producing some of the finest-quality examples in Maine.

Harris was married three times: Abbie Maria Hatch, Ruth Works, and Rose Pickens (1840-1930), who posed with her husband in this stereograph.

This photograph is part of Coll. 2978, a research collection related to amateur and professional violin makers from Maine. James R. Kane, who taught music in California for 36 years and was born and spent summers in Maine, researched and compiled this exhaustive collection.

This collection includes correspondence with the family members of the violin makers, research notes, photographs, and newspaper clippings.