Harper Lee Primary Sources

Historical documents. What clues can you gather about Harper Lee, the time, place, players, and culture?

"Love—In Other Words"

This April 1961 essay in Vogue is one of Lee's few published works besides To Kill A Mockingbird. The Shelfari page that archives her clips is a great resource, but the server is often busy—be patient if the link doesn't load at first or try again later.

"Christmas to Me"

An essay about Lee's life-changing Christmas. This piece appeared in McCall's in December 1961.

"When Children Discover America"

Harper Lee wrote this essay for McCall's in August 1965.

"Romance and High Adventure"

Lee wrote this for a 1983 Alabama Heritage Festival.

"A Letter From Harper Lee"

Lee's most recent published work is this July 2006 essay in O Magazine. If you click on the picture, it enlarges enough to read.

"About Life & Little Girls"

Time magazine's 1960 review of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Book Review in The Atlantic, 1960

Hopefully the first and last review to refer to the book as "sugar-water served with humor."

ACLU Report, Scottsboro Trials

In 1931, the ACLU sent an enterprising young female investigator to Scottsboro to write a report on the rape case unfolding there. Hollace Ransdall's excellent narrative gives insight into the minds of the white accusers and the conditions the black defendants faced.

"To Catch a Mockingbird"

A great National Geographic feature on Monroeville, Alabama.

Garrison Keillor on Harper Lee, "Good Scout"

A 2006 essay in The New York Times.