[1] The label was founded by Harvard history professor Tim Alborn in 1989.
The label was named for the children's book Harriet the Spy.
Harriet gave a number of notable artists their start.
John Darnielle, Wimp Factor 14, My Favorite, Crayon, Six Cents and Natalie, Tullycraft, and The Magnetic Fields all released early records on Harriet.
After forty-five singles and ten CDs Harriet shut its doors in 1998.