Robert Steven Harding

It has been a year since you left us, Rob. I think of you often and how our mutual love of poetry, photography, and music enriched our friendship. The beautiful memorial service program has been on my office book shelf ever since September 16, 2024, and your book of poetry, Edge of Memory, rests in its place on our living room cocktail table. Please keep a loving eye on Powel as she travels to Europe.

Dear Powel and family, I'm so sorry to hear of Rob's passing. We were close colleagues in the Archives Center and lunch buddies for many years. I deeply regret not keeping in touch and seeing him in the years since his retirement. I wish I had visited you all at some point. I wish you the best in this difficult time.

Rob and I were friends and schoolmates at American University, back in the Swingin' Sixties. We subsequently lost touch, and it was only by a chance coffeeshop encounter between his dear wife Powel and me, that we were able to reconnect and discover that we were practically neighbors. I am so glad that we did, and will treasure my friendship with Rob always. He was a true gentleman.

I extend my sympathies to Powel and all of Rob's family and friends. Rob and I worked together for many years at the National Museum of American History and he was a valued colleague and friend. Rob helped me to understand the Museum when I first arrived from Wisconsin in 1982 and together we built the Archives Center largely from scratch. I know that all of Rob's former colleagues at the Archives Center join me in remembering a treasured friend.

On his his birthday at the Inn at Little Washington in 2022. He was a brother to me and one of the kindest friends I ever had.

Rob’s sincerity, kindness, and easy going manner immediately drew many of us to him. I felt a kinship with Rob because of our mutual love of music, poetry, and photography. During my visit with Rob a few months ago, we discussed some songs that I had discovered and some blues songs that Rob thought I would like. Compared to Rob’s love of music, mine was confined to fewer genres, but we both agreed about our love of the classics. I will miss my friend, and I will read his signed book of...

Rob was as customer of mine at Rite Aid pharmacy he had a wonderful smile and always so upbeat . Condolence to his family at this time RIP