Harry Hanks (2 of 2) Viola Muse Transcription Zariah Grant Encoding and edition Amelia Dixon

This document was produced as part of the Viola Muse Digital Edition (violamuse.unfdhi.org), based at the University of North Florida.

https://violamuse.unfdhi.org/items/show/60 USA Florida Jacksonville Jacksonville Historical Society Viola Muse Collection (1959-18) Folder 9, item 4 Notes on the early life of Hanks and his work as a furniture maker

A brief description of the physical object (for example: Handwritten on one side of a single sheet of unruled writing paper, with damage around edges)

Document transcribed and encoded following the criteria of the Viola Muse Digital Edition (violamuse.unfdhi.org), based at the University of North Florida.

Federal Writers' Projects

Viola B. Muse

Harry Hanks, 1322 ½ Davis St.Street, Jack–sonville, FlaFlorida, was born at Cameron, S. C.South Carolina, 1897. With only a second grade education, he came to Florida at age of eighteen, locating at Crescent City, then to St. Augus–tine, and finally, Jacksonville. He engaged in various kinds of work, such as boilermaker, truck driver, barrack building, and heat riveting.

In 1918, he enlisted in the United States armyArmy —. wasWas stationed at Camp JohnsonCamp Johnson is likely Camp Joseph E. Johnston, which acted as an Army training camp from October 15, 1917, to May 16, 1919. In 1940, it was reopened as Naval Air Station Jacksonville, the name by which it is still known today (Thomas G. Carpenter Library, Camp Joseph E. Johnston (Jacksonville, Fla.) Collection). under Lieutenant Gates, companyCompany No.Number 15.

After war ended, he worked at diversified vocations until 1921, when he began making small pieces of household furniture. His scope now includes artistically decorated card tables, end tables, book racks, book troughs, combination endtables and book troughs, talking machine cabinets, ladies' and children's desks, brick–a–brackbric–a–brac stands, wall shelves, and smoking cabinets and stands. The manner in which he blends the different shades of varnish gives his work the appearance of in–layinlay, and the hand -scalloped decoration used on racks and shelves give individuality to his work.

He can make and finish completely any articles ordered. His pieces are reasonable.