A single page hand written and signed letter. The Diocese of Dallas Letter Signed by Suffragan Bishop Joseph H Harte . Written to Banks McLaurin Jr. Circa 1950's

Banks McLaurin, Jr. was born in Austin, Texas, on February 21, 1924, the son of Banks McLaurin, Sr. and Evelyn Davidson McLaurin. Mr. McLaurin fondly remembered looking through the family stereoscope at views as a boy in the same way children of later generations watched TV. He kept the viewer and about 135 views throughout his life. He graduated salutatorian from Austin High School in 1941. While at the University of Texas majoring in civil engineering, he joined the Navy ROTC. After he graduated in 1944, during World War II, he served aboard the USS Portland at Okinawa. He married Louise Cromwell Morrison and had three children, Candace Morrison McLaurin Volz, Thomas Banks McLaurin and Marion Glover McLaurin Forbes. Mr. McLaurin was a member of the Episcopal Church and an avid genealogist. With a degree in engineering, McLaurin pursued a career in the field of petroleum first with Humble Oil Company, followed by thirty years with the Atlantic-Richfield Company. His father-in-law, who had one of the first home movie cameras in the 1920s, sparked his long-time interest in photography. McLaurin’s involvement in the medium evolved from making movies and slides to still photographs. After he retired, while he accompanied his wife to antique shops and shows, he thought he needed to collect something, too, and stereographs fit in with his photography interests and fondness for travel. McLaurin loved the stereoscopic medium and collected from seemingly every category and time period. Although he enjoyed stereo’s virtual armchair travel, he and his wife frequently traveled abroad, where he also bought views for his collection. Banks McLaurin, Jr. died in Austin at the age of 79, November 17, 2003.


The Right Reverend John Joseph Meakin Harte, second bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona was born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 28, 1914. He was graduated from Springfield High School in 1932. In 1936, with the help of a football scholarship, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Jefferson College, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity. He not only excelled in football (with a very brief professional football career with the Green Bay Packer organization), Bishop Harte was also a Golden Gloves Boxing champion and president of his fraternity. Following his 1939 graduation from the General Theological Seminary, and subsequent ordination at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, he served congregations in Miami, Oklahoma, and Tulsa. It was at Trinity Church, Tulsa, that he met Alice Taylor on Easter Sunday, 1941. He proposed that day, on their first date. She returned to her native Pennsylvania the following day, having neither accepted nor refused his proposal. A week later she telephoned to accept his proposal and they were married on October 14, 1941. The Hartes moved to Rochester, New York; Austin, Texas; and Erie, Pennsylvania to serve congregations. It was while he was Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in Erie that he was elected Bishop Suffragan of Dallas in 1954. Dean Harte was consecrated Bishop on the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul at St. Matthew's Cathedral, Dallas. He served there until his election as the second diocesan Bishop of Arizona in 1962. His Episcopate was distinguished by the extraordinary growth of the Church in Arizona. He was devoted to mission, and he worked to establish many new congregations during his sixteen-year tenure. In the late 1960's and early 1970's, as the nation was being torn by rioting, he worked with ecumenical colleagues to successfully prevent rioting in Phoenix. He was subsequently honored with the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. The Book of Common Prayer was one of Bishop Harte's great loves. He was the author of several tracts on the development of the Prayer Book and rejoiced in the opportunity to serve the Standing Liturgical Commission, 1968-1972, during the revision process. Of the numerous organizations he joined, his association with the Society of St. John the Evangelist, with his fraternity, and with Rotary International were primary. Perhaps most of all, Joseph Harte will be remembered as an extraordinary lover of people. His ability to recall names was renowned, and simply an indication of his love for each and every person he met. He had the ability to make anyone feel special because he actually thought they were special. Following his retirement in 1978, he spent the next twenty years as Bishop in Residence at All Saints Church, Phoenix, enjoying participation in the services of the Day School most of all. Bishop and Alice Harte enjoyed fifty-eight years of marriage and their devotion to one another was apparent to all. Not only did they grow old together, but Alice preceded Joe in death by just ten days. Funeral services were held for John Joseph Meakin Harte on December 22, 1999, at Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix. The Right Reverend Robert Reed Shahan was the celebrant and preacher for the service. The internment following in Trinity Cathedral. Bishop Harte is survived by three children: Victoria Harte Money of Eugene, Oregon; The Reverend Joseph M. Harte, Jr. of Flagstaff, Arizona; Dr. Judith Harte of Albany, California; and five grandchildren.