Member Spotlight: Lois Harris

Jan 15

Written By HK

Anyone who has played against Lois Harris knows about her deadly backhand swinging overhead/volley. Thanks to that fearsome stroke and the USTA’s decision to remove gold balls from Indoor competition, Lois, along with her doubles partner, have the distinction of winning the last gold ball presented at a Women’s National Category 1 Indoor Tournament in September of 2019.

Lois surrounded by Harpers prints from the 1890s and wearing a rare tennis cameo from the 1920s. — Lois surrounded by Harpers prints from the 1890s and wearing a rare tennis cameo from the 1920s.

Anyone who doesn’t know Lois Harris has missed out on hearing many entertaining tales from this natural-born storyteller. But, like many of our fellow NWTO members, Lois has a compelling interest off the court. She collects tennis memorabilia and here she describes this passion in her own words:

I have been collecting for almost as long as I have been playing tennis. One Saturday morning about 40 years ago, we were walking around the farmer's market in Old Town Alexandria (Va) and I came across an old prints cart and found a tennis magazine cover from about 1912. The rest as they say is history, but I am sure most people would say it is more of a mystery that I want to clutter up my house with all of this stuff. I like to say on the tennis court that there is a very fine line between warmed up and worn out. There is also a fine line between collecting and hoarding and between clutter and mess. I am sorry to say that I cross all those lines all too frequently. Once you start to collect something, it takes on a life of its own. Not only are there the things you buy yourself, but there are all the things you are given!

The best thing about a hobby like this is the journey--how many times have I met up with a friend for a little antiquing or flea market-ing. Business travel was improved by the opportunity to browse in a new location. Plus, you learn about many related fields.

I am mostly interested in decorative items from the turn of the century when women played in flowing gowns and also loved the sport so much that they created things with a tennis motif. My favorite things are cardboard advertising fans. I have a cardboard fan from the US Open in 1907 from Newport, RI. Other favorites are porcelain figurines, tennis-themed jewelry, and old prints.