Nashville School with the whole school pictured, young Harris in the front row.
Co-60 gamma ray unit used in cobalt therapy, the use of gamma rays to treat medical issues such as tumors. The Physical Science Centre had a special "cave" built out under the basement with a Co-60 gamma ray unit for the initiation of radio chemical reactions. Slide found in box labeled AECL for the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Slide likely used in lecture or public talk.
National Research Universal, Atomic Energy of Canada United in Chalk River, Ontario. Harris spent one summer in Chalk River with R Betts on the isotopic separation of sodium-22 and sodium -24. Slide found in box labeled AECL for the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, likely used in lecture or public talk.
Agriculture and Forestry subseries contains seventeen files regarding the planning and teaching of a new course at the University of Alberta, AGFOR 300 & 400. This course, called "Man and Resources," was co-taught with WE Harris and several other lectures. Harris’ lecture topics focused on energy, the use of resources and population. Materials date from ca. 1970-1979 with course planning materials dating from as far back as 1961. Document types include notes, index cards, lecture outlines, correspondence, course content, course reviews, student essays, test questions, assignments, articles and research on energy and resources. As well there are two u-matic video tapes, and an audiotape of lectures. Significant material covered planning materials for the class, Harris lecture “Three Critical Resources” as well as course materials such as assignments, tests, essays and lectures.
The Bridge subseries is composed of five files regarding Harris’ serious hobby in the card game of bridge. The subseries was compiled ca 1990 to 2011 and the arrangement is based upon the original order in which the donor presented the items. WE Harris competed in many bridge competitions. He also taught and wrote about bridge lessons for beginners, typically with HB (Brian) Dunford. The document types include advertisements, correspondence, notes, and books. Specific topics include the books: “Bridge: Direct, Simple & Winning” and “Bridge”, as well as, supporting notes.
Harris being awarded the Government of Alberta's Achievement Award by Premier Peter Loughheed on November 2, 1974.
Order of Canada award documentation given to Harris with official seal, dated May 6, 1998.
Harris with Therese Gareau and another unknown woman at the Medical Research Council of Canada reception on October 22, 1998. It was held in the Fountain Room of the National Arts Centre.
Harris at the Medical Research Council of Canada reception with Dr Friesen the President of the MCR in the background.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction with steel beams in place, September 21, 1959.
Physical Science Center building under construction, November 1958. The foundation was contracted out to Poole Construction Co Ltd.
Chemistry building under construction, April 1959.
Site for new Chemistry building, December 1958.
Chemistry building at the University of Alberta, August 1980.
Harris accepting the University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award from the University of Alberta President Roderick Fraser on October 2, 2003.
Swan Hills Plant opening.
Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction, February 1959. The steel frame was erected by C.W. Carry Ltd and Calgary Structural Steel Ltd.
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on a field trip to Steep Rock Mine in Atikokan, September 1984. TAC went as part of their efforts to research the Canadian Shield. During WWII, the lake at this site had been drained and iron ore was recovered. It had since been refilling with water. Harris' job was to complete a risk assessment of the area. Slide found in the container labeled Hazardous Wastes.
Hume at the Detroit Convention, Fall 1962.
Walter Harris, John Devereau and their wives posing in front of a sign at a gas station near Swan Hills Treatment Centre.
Harry E Gunning posing with Harris at Gunning's appreciation event.
Physical Sciences Auditorium with 400 sloping seats full of students. The auditorium was housed in a seperate wing to the North of the Mathematics-Physics building and was used for large lecture classes, special lectures and public meetings. A projection booth is also located at the back of the room.
Undergraduate laboratory with private working areas for up to twenty students. The side benches and cabinets display equiptment and materials in general use.
The Metrpolitan-Vickers MS-2 model being operated by a technician in the Mass Spectrometer Laboratory.
Physics machine shop with wood and metal-working equipment to create materials for research and undergraduate laboratories. The machine shop was located in the basement of the physics-mathematics wing.
Harris standing in an active undergraduate chemistry laboratory.
Harris in the laboratory.
Unknown photograph owned by SG Davis. After Davis' passing, it was found among the files in his office and acquired by Harris.
Close up photograph of Harris. Note on the back reads "Planned Parenthood".
Image of Harris taken and sent to the Royal Society.
Image of Harris and Habgood. Harry Habgood co-authored Programmed Temperature Gas Chromatography with Harris, the first book published by anyone in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta.
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) photograph taken June 1989. Missing from the photo is John Convey. List of member credentials is attached to the original photo.
Harris appears sixth from the right in the back row.
Harris accepting award from Fred Cantwell, a fellow University of Alberta chemistry staff member and presenter at the conference. This happened during the "Symposium in Honour of W.E. Harris : Analytical Chemistry- its Role in Socio-Economic Development" .
Walter Harris was awarded this certificate as part of Alberta's centennial celebrations. The certificate reads: "The Alberta Centennial Medal is conferred upon Walter Edgar Harris. In recognition of outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta September 1, 2005".
Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Walter Harris on April 3, 2000. Harris and his wife, Phyllis, were founding members of Planned Parenthood Edmonton. They helped to change the Criminal Code so artificial contraception was no longer illegal.
Certificate recognizing Harris' fifty year membership to The Chemical Institute of Canada, presented May 29, 1995.
Certificate inducting Harris as a New Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada. The ceremony was held at Rideau Hall on November 22, 2002.
Head shot of Harris that was used in various articles.
Walter Harris' Achievement Award recognizing his excellence in the field of Analytical Chemistry.
Letter reflecting on Harris as a professor and congratulating him on becoming a Member of the Order of Canada from William B Carpenter, dated April 27, 1999.
Harris accepting a gift at the Symposium on Analytical Chemistry in honor of his retirement from the University of Alberta on August 15, 1980.
Harris's Certificate of Fitness from Fort Snelling Minnesota, dated June 4, 1945.
Harris standing on a hill in Trail, British Columbia. Caption reads "Trail and CMS". The image was likely taken the summer after Harris' third year at University when he worked at Consolidated Minning and Smelting as a general labourer in the phosphate fertilizer plant. Slide used in personal presentation.
Letter to Harris from HA Laitinen concerning revisions to the Chemical Analysis, dated May 1971.
National Research Universal reactor Atomic Energy of Canada United in Chalk River, Ontario. Harris spent one summer in Chalk River with R Betts on the isotopic separation of sodium-22 and sodium -24. Slide found in box labeled AECL for the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited likely used in lecture or public talk.
Full lecture notes on Walter Harris' talk "Risk Assessment" given to Sigma Xi at Corbett Hall on September 24 1997. See accession no. 2012-27-235.2 for corresponding lecture slides and accession no. 2012-27-235.1 for a poster that advertised the public talk.
Poster advertising the public lecture "Low Dose Risk Assessment" by Harris with opening remarks by Roger S Smith. The lecture was sponsored by the University of Alberta chapter Society of the Sigma XI- Research Society of North America and held on September 24, 1997. See accession no. 2012-27-235.2 for corresponding lecture slides and accession no. 2012-27-179.1 for respective lecture notes.
Harris’ Personal Correspondence is comprised of seven files. The files are arranged by subject and chronologically ordered. Document types include correspondence, notes and photographs ranging from 1983 to 2011. The content includes correspondence with professional colleagues, Charlie and Betty Carr, Bill, Margaret and Gretchen Harris as well as family members and various other friends. Most of the personal correspondence occurs after 1992, when Harris’ wife Phyllis died.
The records in this series present an overview of the life of Walter Edgar Harris. They contain highlights of his career and important contributions to the scientific community. The materials are arranged by subject with some of the media separated from their respective subjects. This series focuses on his time spent as a student, professor, scholar and committee member. A significant portion of the material includes recognition of his academic achievements in the form of awards, celebratory letters, and opening statements. There are also feature articles with brief summaries of Harris’s academic life, personal biographical writings and two of his yearbooks from university. The documents are primarily textual with a few photographs and a large number of 35mm slides. Other document types include examination questions and notes for various courses Harris had taken as a student, essays, lists of expenses, diplomas, birthday cards, newspaper clippings, biographical notes and correspondence regarding awards. These records were created between 1929 and 2011 with one slide from Harris’ public school from 1919. Harris collected and compiled the materials, complete with a personal history and extensive notes. Harris’s personal accounts include reflections on his early life, graduate school, career, committees and late life interest in the game of bridge. It also includes his personal thoughts on marriage, science, religion, his brother Raymond, uranium, and energy, among other subjects.
Harris standing as an honoree at the Medical Research Council of Canada reception.
Harris shaking hands with Chancellor J Wadsworth at the University of Waterloo's fifty-fourth Convocation, where Harris received his Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science.
Harris signing register with registar CT Boyle at the University of Waterloo's fifty-fourth Convocation, where Harris received his Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science.
New Chemistry Building under construction with bricks being laid, December 1959
Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta, August 1980.
Aerial view of the University of Alberta campus and surrounding area.
Chemistry building at the University of Alberta, August 1967.
Chemistry wing of the Physical Science Centre building.
President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review Members, steering committee.
Image of Ewing Galen, Walter and Phyllis Harris taken during the "Symposium in Honour of W.E. Harris [50 years of service to analytical chemistry] : Analytical Chemistry- its Role in Socio-Economic Development" that was organized by National Water Quality Laboratory and Research Applications Branch of National Water Research, Burlington, Ontario as well as Water Resources Branch and Ontario Ministry of Environment Toronto, Ontario. It was the third chemical congress of North America combining the meeting of the American Chemical Society, Canadian Chemical Conference and Sociedad Quimica de Mexico held June 5-10, 1988.
Karen Waldron presenting Harris with the Honorary Fellow plaque at the Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference held June 2005 in Saskatoon.
Certificate recognizing Harris' fifty year membership to the American Chemical Society.
The outstanding achievement award is given to former graduates of the University of Minnesota who have attained distinction in their area of study and demonstrated outstanding leadership. It was earned by Harris for his influential work in teaching analytical chemistry and research work in hot-atom chemistry, chromatography and polarography. This certificate was awarded at the 36th Annual meeting of the Institute of Technology Alumni Association on November 2, 1973.
Walter Harris' Alumni Honour Award which reads that it "recognizes the significant contributions made over a number of years by University of Alberta alumni in their local communities and beyond".
The University of Alberta's Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science presented to Harris on June 6, 1991 at 81st annual convocation.
Letter from Ron Kratochvil on the occasion of Harris's retirement, dated August 15, 1980.
Letter from IM Kolthoff on the occasion of Harris' retirement with comments on his work as a scholar, dated June 25, 1980.
Letter on the occasion of Walter's 90th Birthday celebrations from former Masters student Caurino C Bombardieri, dated April 25, 2005.
Postal Telegraph congratulating Harris from his family, dated May 9. Telegraph mentioned June 14, 1942, his wedding day to Phyllis Pangburn.
Harris's Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, dated June 10, 1944.
Harris's "Certified Instructor Gas and Bomb Defense" card. The University of Minnesota required that chemistry graduate students become certified instructors in gas and bomb defense in case the US was attacked.
The Chemistry subseries includes twenty-eight files connected to the teaching of analytical chemistry lectures and the development of Harris’ laboratories. The subseries is arranged by subject matter and ranges in date from 1951 to 1997. Although Harris taught a number of chemistry classes his most notable is his Chem 312 “Quantitative Analysis” course. This comprised a two-term introductory chemical analysis course with an extensive practical laboratory component. Document types include correspondence, notes, articles and reports on teaching and cost of running classes, as well as student evaluations with comments, thank you letters, greeting cards, course guide, lecture cards, class schedules, class tests, and class records. There are also 35mm lecture slides and lantern slides as well as transparencies. It also includes an audiotape of Harris’ last lecture to Chemistry 312 and some photographs. A large portion of the material contains early stages in the development of WE Harris' Chemistry 58 and 312 laboratory manuals, along with revisions written by Harris. Chem 58 was the forerunner to Chemistry 312. Other materials include the development of Chemistry 312 laboratory manual that was worked on with Dr Byron (Ron) Kratchovil from the Chemistry Department.
Slides for the public lecture "Low Dose Risk Assessment" by Harris and sponsored by the University of Alberta chapter Society of the Sigma XI. The lecture was held on September 24, 1997. See accession no. 2012-27-179.1 for corresponding lecture notes and accession no. 2012-27-235.1 for a poster that advertised the public talk.
President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review Members: Walter Harris, Fred Enns, Henry Kreisel and Bill Jopling.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction, April 1959. The steel frame was erected by C.W. Carry Ltd and Calgary Structural Steel Ltd.
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on a field trip to Steep Rock Mine in Atikokan, September 1984. TAC went as part of their efforts to research the Canadian Shield. During WWII, the lake at this site had been drained and iron ore was recovered. It had since been refilling with water. Harris' job was to complete a risk assessment of the area. Slide found in the container labeled Nuclear Waste.
Detroit Convention with: Kolthoff, Laitenen, M Bushey, O'Brein, Thomson, Luyive[?], Stenfers, Harris possibly on the far right with his hand on his chin, Fall 1962.
The President’s Advisory Committee on Campus Review (PACCR) subseries contains fifteen files connected to the committee. Materials are arranged by subjects and date predominantly from 1980 to 1990. It includes outlying data from 1973 and retrospective letters from 2008 and 2009. Subject matter highlighted include correspondence within PACCR, talks on Campus Reviews, an article titled “Systematic Reviews of University Programs and Units”, workload information and PACCR Reports. This subseries contains document types such as correspondence, index cards, reports, minutes of meetings, notes, articles, compiled data, and a binder of research data. Also see Archives accession 2012-27-6 “Submissions to the Millennium Project” and 2012-27-7 “Three Minicareers” for Harris’ personal reflections on his activities with PACCR.
The President’s Advisory Committee on Campus Review (PACCR), briefly named President’s Advisory Committee on Academic Review (PACAR), was a steering committee intended to organize reviews of academic and service units. President Horowitz appointed WE Harris as Chairman of the Committee in 1980, subsequent to his retirement from the Department of Chemistry. The steering committee members were: Dr F Enns, Dr H Kreisel, WH Jopling and Dr W Harris. The committee’s initial responsibility was to plan how to conduct reviews and determine the review process. PACCR’s goal was to find areas of improvement and create a plan that would implement bettering changes through the university. It was a committee with little authority but managed to review units through a process of volunteering, negotiations or arrangement. Each unit under review formed a Unit Review Committee (URC) to keep dialogue with PACCR and to perform the self study. Each URC was made up of four members; two external to the university from the discipline being reviewed, one internal member from a related discipline and one internal member from the university. The final review was composed of a self study report, nominations of reviewers and an on-site review by a review team, a confidential reviewers report, URC’s response to this report and follow up documentation. PACCR summarized the findings and proposed changes and subsequently met with the head of the unit and Dean of the department for discussion. After the follow up, the committee would meet and provide the President with its confidential report. Overall, the PACCR performed reviews on 127 units, ending in 1990 with the tenth annual review.
Harris and friends standing in front of a lake in the Rockies. Image found inside card from Audrey and Willard F Allen. Willard Allen was a friend and fellow chemistry teacher at the University of Alberta.
Image of a graduate Inorganic Research Laboratory in the Physical Science Center.
Staff office laboratory in the Physical Science Center, with a Fisher zone refiner in the center of the image. Each staff room was accompanied by a private laboratory.
Liquid nitrogen generator located in the main supply room.
Two technicians at work in the Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory. Machines shown are the Perkin-Elmer 221-G high resolution infrared spectrophotometer to the right and a Cary Model 14 automatic recording spectrometer.
Three Machinists operating tools in the machine shop. The shop was complete with wood and metal-working equipment to create materials for research and undergraduate laboratories. Included in the photograph is a lathes, jig saw, sheet metal bender, grinder, two drill presses, and a welding area. The machine shop was located in the basement of the physics-mathematics wing.
Harris standing in an active undergraduate chemistry lab.
Master of Science graduating photograph of Harris.
The Correspondence series consists of correspondence of Walter E Harris. This series is divided into two subseries; professional and personal correspondence. The materials were created between 1943 and 2011. They are arranged by subject matter or grouped by
significant correspondent. Document types include letters, notes, newspaper clippings, reference letters, photographs, and reports.
The Committees series covered Walter Harris’ years spent as a member of three significant committees. The series was divided into three subseries according to these committees: the Technical Advisory Committee, Alberta Environment Hazardous Waste Management Committee and President’s Advisory Committee on Campus Review. Materials date from 1973 to 2009 and were arranged by subject matter. Large topics are chronologically arranged with most media separated from textual materials. This series has a number of document types including correspondence, minutes of meetings, notes, index cards, reviews, articles, reports, research, letters, claims, expenses, photographs, brochures, thoughts and interviews by Harris. It further includes an array of slides, a 16mm film and a VHS videocassette . Harris mentioned that each committee involved “working with new people, travelling and tackling interesting problems”.
The records in this series document the publications and reports written or co-written by Harris. Materials date from 1939 to 2011 and are arranged by subject. The document types include correspondence, photographs, articles, revisions, and notes regarding published materials or reports. There is a considerable amount of materials on “Chemical Analysis 2nd edition” by HA Laitenen and WE Harris; HA (Herb) Laitenen had written the first edition and asked WE Harris to help with the second edition. This book helped to give wide-spread recognition of the Chemistry Department at the University of Alberta. Another significant portion of the materials is devoted to the evolution of a laboratory manual culminating with the publication "Chemical Analysis: An Intensive Introduction to Modern Analysis" by WE Harris and B. Kratchovil. To accompany this book, the authors produced "Teaching Introductory Analytical Chemistry" as the teaching assistant's manual for Chemistry 312. This included information like teaching philosophy, laboratory organization, details of common student problems with individual experiments and grading. Notable early work includes Harris’ M.Sc. Thesis "The Distribution of Selenium in Alberta” and his PhD thesis “The Polarography of Uranium”. This series also includes the report “The Determination of Mercaptan in Latex by Amperometric Titration with Silver Nitrate in Ammoniacal Alcoholic Medium” written in conjunction with IM Kolthoff for the wartime rubber project. As well, the series includes the first book published in the department of chemistry at University of Alberta entitled “Programmed Temperature Gas Chromatography” co-written with HW Habgood. Other notable publications relate to Harris’s committee work such as “Low Dose Risk Assessment”, articles on PCB and dioxins, as well as, bioethanol. The materials were all collected by Harris except for a volume that was compiled and bound by the secretaries of the Chemistry Department as a gift to WE Harris.
This series contains fourteen files on the history of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta and of Analytical Chemistry in Canada. The materials range in date from 1931 to 2009, and predominantly after 1996. It covers information about key individuals at the University of Alberta such as Osmand James Walker, SG Davis, Harry Gunning and HB (Brian) Dunford. A significant portion of the material is related to Harris’ book entitled “Department of Chemistry History and a Memoir”. Other materials include graduands and staff listings, as well as information on the new Chemistry building and teaching loads. It also includes University of Alberta “Evergreen & Gold” yearbooks that predate WE Harris’ time at the University. Document types include photographs, slides, notes, lists, books, correspondence, memos, memoirs, booklets and articles. Also see Archives Accession 2012-27-236 for a few slides featuring the Chemistry building under construction and newly built.
Image of the University of Alberta's analytical chemists. Photograph taken for University of Alberta New Trail article "Chain reaction: One man's longtime dedication to the study of analytical chemistry continues to reap awards", regarding the three men from the same faculty each receiving major international scientific awards within seven days. These three men: Harrison, Dovichi and Horlick, all gave credit to Harris' work in Analytical Chemistry education.
Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta construction completed to house three departments: Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, October 1960.
Chemistry building under construction, November 1958. The foundation was contracted out to Poole Construction Co Ltd.
Midwestern Universities Analytical Chemistry Conference held at the University of Alberta, August 3-4, 1976. Picture was sent from Jean Cooley to Margaret Harris.
Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta.
Harris accepting the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from CT Boyle, May 29, 1987.
Harris wearing his Order of Canada medal surrounded by family and friends on November 7, 1988. The "family show and tell" celebration was organized by Harris' daughter Margaret in honour of him becoming a member of the Order of Canada.
Harris shaking hands with Sargent Christian Coulombe at the Investiture of the Order of Canada.
