Wilson Daily Times, 3 May 1940.
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Harris
Benjamin A. Harris Sr., as imagined.
I am ambivalent about using artificial intelligence to restore photographs. Or, more specifically, I’m concerned about manipulated photographs supplanting original images and further blurring the line between reality and misinformation. However, the allure of AI-enhanced images is strong, as I often contend with blurry, poorly lit photographs in unnatural sepia or black-and-white tones. Photographs whose condition sometimes exacerbates the distance between us and our ancestors.
I have been experimenting with ChatGPT lately, feeding it queries and images to be restored and colorized. The results are somewhat haphazard, with many images weird and off-putting. Other times, the images are breathtakingly sharp and … alive. Black Wide-Awake exists to resurrect forgotten lives, and I believe these images are valuable to help us connect with the men and women we read about in these posts. From time to time, I’ll share the better ones here, clearly marked as AI-generated. Let me know what you think about them.
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Benjamin A. Harris Sr. (1894-1955), brickmason.
Pauline Harris wins radio contest.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 July 1948.
Pauline D. Harris was the daughter of Benjamin and Pauline Artis Harris. She transferred to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte her junior year, right after winning the WVOT contest.
The Golden Bull yearbook (1949), Johnson C. Smith University.
Harry B. Harris Sr., as imagined.
I am ambivalent about using artificial intelligence to restore photographs. Or, more specifically, I’m concerned about manipulated photographs supplanting original images and further blurring the line between reality and misinformation. However, the allure of AI-enhanced images is strong, as I often contend with blurry, poorly lit photographs in unnatural sepia or black-and-white tones. Photographs whose condition sometimes exacerbates the distance between us and our ancestors.
I have been experimenting with ChatGPT lately, feeding it queries and images to be restored and colorized. The results are somewhat haphazard, with many images weird and off-putting. Other times, the images are breathtakingly sharp and … alive. Black Wide-Awake exists to resurrect forgotten lives, and I believe these images are valuable to help us connect with the men and women we read about in these posts. From time to time, I’ll share the better ones here, clearly marked as AI-generated. Let me know what you think about them.
Harry B. Harris Sr. (1915-1960), brickmason.
Hilda G. Younger, Mary Potter ’49.
The Ram (1949), the annual of Mary Potter Academy.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 909 Washington Street, Sam Harris, 35, laborer; wife Edna, 27, tobacco factory stemmer; daughter Hilda Younger, 9; mother Maggie Younger, 48, cook; sister Sarah Speight, 24, cook; and brother James Younger, 22, odd jobs and tobacco factory laborer.
Plate sale!
Few traditions reinforce and preserve family history like regular reunions, and I love to see Wilson County families keep them going. The Harris, Lucas, Pope, and Barnes Family Reunion is holding a June 13 fundraiser for their 2025 gathering. Gon on and get you a plate!
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The Harris branch of the Harris, Lucas, Pope, and Barnes Family Reunion descends from James and Charity Harris, whose known children were Sarah, Joseph, Arch, Charles, Amanda, Jane, Lucy, Abraham, and Henry.
- James and Charity Harris
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer James Harris, 56; wife Charity, 40; and children Joseph, 18, Arch, 18, Charles, 15, Sarah, 19, Amanda, 15, Jane, 10, Lucy, 6, Abraham, 4, and Henry, 5 months.
Perhaps: on 2 October 1879, John Williams, 51, married Charity Harris, 51, at the Wilson County Court House in Wilson.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: James Harris, 28, Dora, 22, and Rosa, 1, with grandmother Cherady Harris, 80.
Charity Harris died 18 January 1915 in Taylor township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 100 years old; was “single”; and was buried in Wilson. George W. Harris was informant.
A Wilmington newspaper greatly exaggerated her age at death, as was common concerning elderly Black people. Charity was not 111 years old. She was not even 100. Her true age was closer to 90.
Wilmington Morning Star, 22 January 1915.
- Sarah Harris
Perhaps: on 2 January 1873, Alfred Stanton, 21, married Sarah Harris, 21, in Wilson County.
- Joseph Harris
- Arch Harris
On 19 October 1876, Rose Woodard, 19, married Arch Harris, 23, in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Arch Harris, ; wife Rosa, 51; and children James, 3, Martha, 1, and Morrison, 2 months.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Arch Harris, 53; wife Rosa, 45; and children James, 22, Arch, 20, Mary Jane, 18, Nancy, 16, Lucy, 12, Minnie, 11, Maggie, 8, Jessie, 6, and Annie, 3.
On 29 January 1902, Arch Harris, 19, of Wilson County, son of Arch and Rosa Harris, married Chaney Horne, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Simon and Nancy Horne, at Simon Horne’s residence in Wilson County.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Arch Harris, 56, Rosa, 51, and children Jessie, 15, Annie, 12, and James, 12.
In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer James Harris, 42; wife Dora, 38; father Arch, 70; mother Rose, 50 [sic]; and children Roscoe, 16, Helen, 14, Beulah, 7, and Eula May, 3.
Jesse Harris died 4 June 1875 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 November 1893 to Arc Harris and Rosetta Woodard; was married to Delphia Harris; lived at 919 Poplar Street; and worked as a farmer.
- Charles Harris
- Amanda Harris
- Jane Harris
- Lucy Harris
- Abraham Harris
On 5 July 1891, Abram Harriss, 21, of Stantonsburg, son of Charity Harriss, married Mattie Hilliard, 21, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Jack and Sarah Hilliard, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County.
- Henry Harris
Studio shots, no. 260: Oswald W. Harris.
Yearbooks can be a valuable source of photographs of community members whose images were infrequently captured or retained. The 1952 edition of Charles H. Darden High School’s yearbook, The Trojan, included this photograph of Oswald W. Harris, who briefly taught math at the school. A native of Warrenton, North Carolina, Harris went on to become a professor of mathematics at Union College-New Jersey and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He died in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 2001.
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In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 210 Powell Street, Oswald W. Harris, 40, math teacher at city high school; wife Johnnie, 37, home economics teacher at city high school; sons John M., 5, and Anthony W., 2; and cousin Lucy J. Oneill, 25, “caretaking of home.”
Studio shots, no. 249: Martha Newsome Harris Cotton.
Martha Newsome Harris Cotton (1890-1955).
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In the 1930 census of Bailey township, Nash County, N.C.: Martha Harris, 32, widow, farmer, and children [and stepchildren] James W., 14, Walter, 12, Mary, 10, Rosa, 8, and Leroy Harris, 7.
Walter Harris died 28 September 1936 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 19 years old; was born in Wilson County to William Harris and Martha Newsome; was married to Maggie Harris; worked in farming. Martha Cotton of Bailey, N.C., was informant; he was buried in Nash County.
In the 1940 census of Town of Bailey, Bailey township, Nash County: lumber mill laborer James Cotton, 38; wife Martha, 38, maid; and son Leroy Harris, 18, lumber mill laborer.
Martha Cotton died 28 January 1955 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 June 1900 in Wilson County to Walter Newsome; lived in Bailey, Nash County; was married; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Mary Peppers, 121 Ward Boulevard, Wilson, was informant.
Mamie Durham died 18 February 1980 in Newport News, Virginia. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 February 1913 in Wilson County, N.C., to William Harris and Martha Newsome; was married to John T. Durham; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson.
Photograph courtesy of Ancestry.com user Lawrence Brown.
Brooks School scholars.
This priceless photograph depicts the students of Black Creek township’s Brooks School in 1914. Ada Harris Sharpe Reid stands second from left on the front row. Teacher Louvenia Woodard clutches a large book or ledger at right.
Photo courtesy of Ada H. Reid via George K. Butterfield Jr.
Studio shots, no. 239: Harry B. Harris.
Harry Bryant Harris (1914-1950).
In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: on Stantonsburg Road, farmer Benjamin Harris, 25, and siblings Rhodie, 22, John, 20, Nanie, 18, Vicie and Nicie, 16, Edgar, 14, Oscar and Rosca, 11, Leland, 9, and Hamilton B., 7.
On 30 October 1937, Harry B. Harris, 24, of Wilson, son of Ed and Bettie Harris, married Sarah Lee Graham, 22, of Wilson, daughter of Rosa Graham, in Wilson. Luther Locus applied for the license, and Elder Isaac Williams performed the ceremony.
In 1940, Harry Bryant Harris registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 April 1914 in Wayne County, N.C.; lived at 206 South Reid Street; his contact was brother Ben Amos Harris, 701 Lane Street; and he worked for Ben A. Harris.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Manchester Street, bricklayer Harry B. Harris, 36, and wife Sarah, 34.
Harry Bryant Harris died 26 May 1960 at his home in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 April 1915 in Wayne County to Ed Harris and Bettie Daniel; was married to Sarah L. Harris; lived at 208 Manchester Street; and worked as a laborer. Vicy Scott, 813 Stantonsburg Street, was informant.
Photo courtesy of Harry B. Harris Jr.