Materials relating to the personal and professional life of Walter E. Harris, noteworthy Canadian chemist and recipient of the Order of Canada. Including original transcripts in various states, research materials, teaching materials board and conference materials, reports, correspondence, maps, monographs/publications awards/ certificates and diplomas.

This fonds contains the records of the University of Alberta chemistry professor Dr. Walter Harris. He was instrumental in the modernization of the University’s successful Analytical Chemistry program. Dr Harris was acclaimed for his work in chemistry education, scientific research, and committee service.

The materials date from 1915 to 2011. The records predominately date after Harris began his career at the University of Alberta in 1946. The collection is rich in teaching materials, including a number of lectures written verbatim, an abundance of lecture slides and audio visual recordings of Walter Harris lecturing, as well as a significant amount of Dr. Harris’ research papers and supporting information. The fonds also incorporates materials related to the history of the Chemistry Department at the University of Alberta. In addition, it provides insight into Harris’ book publications with related correspondence, revisions and notes. The fonds is abundant in records relating to Harris’ work as a committee member including meeting minutes, agendas, committee reports, and correspondence.

This fonds contains an array of document types including such textual materials as notes, correspondence, talks, programs, pamphlets, articles, cards, course materials, announcements, books, and personal history information. It also contains yearbooks, plaques, certificates and newspaper clippings, as well as a variety of media types including photographs, slides, negatives, lantern slides, a 16mm film, reel-to-reel audiotapes, a VHS videocassette, a u-matic video tape, and a CD-ROM disk. The fonds geographically pertains predominantly to Canada with some materials created in the United States, and a few materials generated in countries abroad. The materials related to Europe are from international conferences or committee travels taken by Harris.

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 inducting Harris as a New Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada. The ceremony was held at Rideau Hall on November 22, 2002.

Harris appears sixth from the right in the back row.

Walter Harris' Achievement Award recognizing his excellence in the field of Analytical Chemistry.

The Fisher Scientific Lecture Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada is awarded for commendable achievement and scholarship in statistical science praising the impact of statistical methods of scientific investigation. Harris won this high esteemed for his outstanding leadership in analytical chemistry and contributions in Gas Chromatography. His award lecture "Gas Chromatography- Developments in Temperature Programming and Pyrolysis GC" was presented during the 52nd Canadian Chemical Conference and Exhibition in Montreal on May 28, 1969. This is the second year that the award had been given out.

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.

Harris at the Medical Research Council of Canada reception with Dr Friesen the President of the MCR in the background.

Harris shaking hands with Sargent Christian Coulombe at the Investiture of the Order of Canada.

Harris standing as an honoree at the Medical Research Council of Canada reception.

Order of Canada award documentation given to Harris with official seal, dated May 6, 1998.

Letter with official seal on the occasion of Walter's 90th Birthday from Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin.

Letter from Ron Kratochvil on the occasion of Harris's retirement, dated August 15, 1980.

Letter on the occasion of Walter's 90th Birthday celebrations from former student Misae Masuda, dated April 29, 2005.

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.

Letter congratulating Harris on becoming a Member of the Order of Canada from the Prime Minister Jean Chretien, dated October 13, 1998.

Letter on the occasion of Walter's 90th Birthday celebrations from former Masters student Caurino C Bombardieri, dated April 25, 2005.

Harris's University of Alberta B.Sc. Diploma with official seal.

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.

Harris's Certificate of Fitness from Fort Snelling Minnesota, dated June 4, 1945.

Response letter to HA Laitinen from Harris concerning a second addition to Chemical Analysis, dated May 28, 1971.

Letter from IM Kolthoff on the occasion of Harris' retirement with comments on his work as a scholar, dated June 25, 1980.

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.

Letter to Harris from HA Laitinen concerning revisions to the Chemical Analysis, dated May 1971.

President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review Members: Walter Harris, Fred Enns, Henry Kreisel and Bill Jopling.

Opening of the President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review office at the University of Alberta, likely in the Department of Chemistry.

Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta, August 1980.

Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta.

Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction, April 1959. The steel frame was erected by C.W. Carry Ltd and Calgary Structural Steel Ltd.

Swan Hills Treatment Centre opening: Anka S; Walter Harris; Murdo McKenzie; John Devereau; Al Schoening; Frank Belyea; Joe Molho, Former Mayor of Swan Hills.

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 Nuclear Waste.

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.

Midwestern Universities Analytical Chemistry Conference held at the University of Alberta, August 3-4, 1976. Picture was sent from Jean Cooley to Margaret Harris.

Harris accepting the University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award from the University of Alberta President Roderick Fraser on October 2, 2003.

Site for new Chemistry building, December 1958.

Letter to Harris from President Harry E Gunning commemorating him on five years as the Chairman of the Chemistry Department, dated July 4, 1979.

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.

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.

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" .

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.

Photograph of Harris and John Taylor, from the National Bureau of Standards in Washington DC. Taylor was a presenter at the June 1988 Chemical Institute of Canada's conference , held in Toronto.

Karen Waldron presenting Harris with the Honorary Fellow plaque at the Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference held June 2005 in Saskatoon.

Harris being awarded the Government of Alberta's Achievement Award by Premier Peter Loughheed on November 2, 1974.

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 after the University of Waterloo's fifty-fourth Convocation wearing academic hood and gown. Pictured here with Chancellor James Hadsworth; [?]; WAE (Pete) McBryde, former Dean of Science; and Douglas Wright, President of Waterloo.

Harris accepting the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from CT Boyle, May 29, 1987.

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.

Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta built to house three departments of Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry. The building officially opened May 24, 1961 and was designed by the Department of Public Works.

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.

Chemistry wing of the Physical Science Centre building.

Harris standing in an active undergraduate chemistry lab.

Swan Hills Treatment Centre opening: John Devereau; Jennifer McJuade[?]; Bert Huffman; Al Schoening; and Phyllis Harris seated.

The future site of the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Facility, Swan Hills Treatment Centre: [?]; Bert Huffman; Walter Harris; Jacquie Champion; and Brenda Nelson.

Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta construction completed to house three departments: Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, October 1960.

Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction with steel beams in place, September 21, 1959.

Swan Hills Plant opening.

Aerial view of the University of Alberta campus and surrounding area.

Physical Science Center building under construction, November 1958. The foundation was contracted out to Poole Construction Co Ltd.

Chemistry building at the University of Alberta, August 1980.

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.

Detroit Convention with: Sandell, Hume, Marion and Joe Bushey, as well as Stenfers, Fall 1962.

Hume at the Detroit Convention, Fall 1962.

Chemistry building under construction, April 1959.

Site for new Chemistry building, December 1958.

Chemistry building at the University of Alberta, August 1967.

Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta.

Chemistry building under construction, November 1958. The foundation was contracted out to Poole Construction Co Ltd.

Chemistry 312 practical test.

New Chemistry Building under construction with steel beams in place.

New Chemistry Building under construction with bricks being laid, December 1959

New Chemistry Building under construction with bricks being laid.

Walter Harris, John Devereau and their wives posing in front of a sign at a gas station near Swan Hills Treatment Centre.

Nashville School with the whole school pictured, young Harris in the front row.

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.

Harris standing at the base of a mountain. Image found inside card from Audrey and Willard F Allen. Willard Allen was a friend and fellow chemistry teacher at the University of Alberta.

Harris leaning on his Pontiac car, with his friends taking pictures at a mountain viewpoint. Image found inside card from Audrey and Willard F Allen. Willard Allen was a friend and fellow chemistry teacher at the University of Alberta.

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 taken inside chemistry lab of: Donaldo Oliveria, Trevor Higgins, George Scheil, Walter Harris, and Boris Rudenko, dated February 1971.

Chemical Analysis "Crew": R Kratochvil, J Plambeck, D Rabenstein, P Harris, L Ziola, B Burrows, G Horlick, G Johanson, WE Harris. Dated August 1973. Photograph taken outside of the Chemistry Building.

President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review Steering Committee: Henry Kreisel, Fred Enns, Bill Jopling, Walter E Harris. For coloured version see accession no. 2012-27-3.5.

Master of Science graduating photograph of Harris.

Close up photograph of Harris. Note on the back reads "Planned Parenthood".

Chemistry Department Staff at the University of Alberta: HE Gunning, HB Dunford, P Kebarle, D Darwish, C Bigelow, F Birss, HS Frank (Physical Chemistry visiting speaker), WE Harris, RN O'Brien, GR Freeman, RU Lemieux, RK Brown.

Harris in the laboratory.

Harris in his lab coat talking to others.

Harris standing in an active undergraduate chemistry laboratory.

Main supply room for the storage and retrieval of chemicals, glassware and other equipment needed for teaching and research. The supply room was located in the basement of the Physical Science Centre.

Electronics Shop featuring a Type 536 Oscilloscope with type B plug-in being used.

Philips Electronics Inc. x-ray diffraction equipment for the analysis of crystalline compounds.

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.

The Metrpolitan-Vickers MS-2 model being operated by a technician in the Mass Spectrometer Laboratory.

Physical Chemical Research laboratory with two people at work on high vacuum lines.