I am looking for some history on the following: In Praise of Eponymous
Iahu, by James Harmon. It was published by Bern Porter in(1945?), is
bound in soft wraps, sewn. Also illustrated. I don't know where to
look anymore!

Hi

It seems to be extremely uncommon. There is no record at the Library
of Congress or the British Library. Google yields nothing for the
title. There is a copy in the New York Public Library which yields the
following:
Call # D-10 3348  
Author Harmon, James.  
Title In praise of eponymous Iahu. 
Drawings by Donald Bladen; foreword by Cuy Wernham.  
Imprint [San Francisco] Bern Porter, 1956. 
http://catnyp.nypl.org/search/aHarmon%2C+James%2C/aharmon+james/-2%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=aharmon+james&2%2C%2C2
The only other reference they have for Harmon is as editor of Ark III,
one of the 2 copies they have is from Jack Kerouac's private
collection.

The Beat Page for the events of 1956 lists:
"Michael McClure and James Harmon edit Ark II-Moby I which blends work
of Beats and Black Mountain poets with Buddhist thought"
http://www.rooknet.com/beatpage/info/info_chronology.html

nothing for the illustrator

some info on the publisher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bern_Porter

Hello, hardtofindbooks-ga, and truckloads of 'thank yous' for lifting
the lid of my box of book trials thus validating my instincts about
this title. I've been searching (off and on) for information for 5-6
years, as that is when it entered my life. It has both pleased and
plagued me; plagued me because I could not find 'the facts, mam, and
just the facts'. The pleasure comes from the book as a whole - both
what Mr. Harmon committed to paper and the drawings by Mr. Bladen are
- mystical? - no, ethereal. And on and on I go...

Judging by the associations you mentioned, clearly this is an uncommon
book in many ways. Thanks again.
minot-ga