This collection consists of the papers of Harry Engel, a well-known painter and member of the faculty of the Indiana University Fine Arts Department between 1928 and 1968. It covers 1903 through 1990 with the bulk of the materials ranging from 1929 to 1975. The collection is arranged into four series: Personal materials, Professional materials, Correspondence and Photographs.

PERSONAL MATERIALS: Folders containing papers and information Engel collected about his family history and various documents of his personal life including passports (with photographs), divorce decree, will, and US Certificate of Citizenship. One folder contains documents relating to the purchase of Engel's house in Provincetown; another folder holds the blueprints for that house and studio.

PROFESSIONAL MATERIALS: One folder contains several versions of his curriculum vitae and academic performance reports as well as progress reports on some of his art projects with comments on his teaching, university service and art exhibits. Other folders contain art inventories, transmittal and consignment forms and other documents relating to the exhibition and sale of Engel's artwork. Another folder contains a few sketches done in ballpoint pen on Barbizon-Plaza hotel stationary, plus one small sketch or print done as a holiday greeting card. This series also includes a scrapbook which includes numerous newspapers clippings and reviews relating to Engel's work.

CORRESPONDENCE: This series is further organized into two subseries: Personal business correspondence and Personal correspondence.

The first sub-series, Personal business correspondence, includes folders about Engel's attempts to obtain a military appointment during World War II; his efforts in the early 1950s to locate family records in order to obtain a US Certificate of Citizenship; a letter he wrote to his father shortly before his father died; correspondence regarding the settlement of Engel's estate and his bequests of art and art supplies to Indiana University; and correspondence regarding exhibition logistics, finances, and publicity, primarily with the Associated American Artist Galleries in New York City in the early to mid-1950s.

The second subseries, Personal correspondence, consists of letters sent to Engel by acquaintances and colleagues, many living on the east coast and connected with the artists' colony in Provincetown. These are arranged alphabetically by name. Separate folders include the correspondence of writers Sue Kaufman and Edith Begner, sculptor Robert Laurent, and painter Leon Golub.

PHOTOGRAPHS: This series includes personal photographs of Engel with his friends and their families. Most of these photographs are not described. The series also includes photographs of Engel's artwork from the early 1930's to 1960's. Negatives of some of these photographs are included. Note that all photographs in this series are in the University Archives Photographs Collection.