"The Memoirs of Herbert August Laitenen, 1915 - 1991" with notes by WE Harris, p. 36-37. Herb Laitenen was a colleague of WE Harris at the University of Minnesota, and co-author of the textbook "Chemical Analysis" 2nd edition.
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.
Harris, Walter EdgarThree trays of slides to do with academic reviews; one tray of slides to do with WE Harris' personal history.
Nashville School with the whole school pictured, young Harris in the front row.
Diplomas for grade 8, 1929; high school, 1933 and 1934; University of Alberta B.Sc., 1938.
University of Alberta student yearbook: Evergreen & Gold, 1931, v. XI, Evergreen & Gold, 1932, v. XII and Evergreen & Gold, 1933, v.XIII. These yearbooks pre-date WE Harris' time at the University so must have been given to him by someone else.
File includes: (1) Listing of University of Alberta Department of Chemistry Graduands, "from the beginning to 2004," with dates, supervisors, and areas of study; (2) Mailing addresses from the Faculty of Science, with a sample letter; (3) "Chemistry graduates who have gone on for advanced training," a list compiled by SG Davis in 1958.
Listing of expenses incurred by WE Harris during his undergraduate years at the University of Alberta, 1934-5 and 1936-7.
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's University of Alberta B.Sc. Diploma with official seal.
Master of Science graduating photograph of Harris.
WE Harris became a Ph. D. student at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1939. File includes: Analytical Seminar, Fall 1939; Anal. Chem. Seminar, May 1940; Chemical Microscopy.
This large volume was compiled and bound by the secretaries of the Chemistry Department as a gift to WE Harris.
Various correspondence, notes, transcripts, etc to do with WE Harris' time at the University of Minnesota: Ration coupons; Alien Registration cards; Immigration and Naturalization Service; Two articles about student life; Society memberships; 1943 job offers; Transcripts; Ph.D. degree, 1944; Telegram of congratulation from parents.
Postal Telegraph congratulating Harris from his family, dated May 9. Telegraph mentioned June 14, 1942, his wedding day to Phyllis Pangburn.
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.
Correspondence, notes etc: includes correspondence with Kolthoff 1943 - 1972; newspaper clippings of Kolthoff's visit to Russia.
The Society of the Sigma Xi Diploma certifying Harris was elected as a member of the Minnesota chapter on May 31, 1944.
"The Polarography of Uranium" by WE Harris, Ph.D. Thesis submitted to the University of Minnesota, May 1944. Contains correspondence, including letters from Henry Heal, National Research Council of Canada, 1945.
Harris's Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, dated June 10, 1944.
Correspondence, notes, photographs. Memo addressed to University Archives (BARD) from WE Harris, October 11, 2006, indicates that the material is from the office of Dr. SG Davis. Contents include folders labelled "Gunning"; "Analytical"; "Chemistry Building"; "Chemistry Department"; and "Davis."
Harris's Certificate of Fitness from Fort Snelling Minnesota, dated June 4, 1945.
Correspondence, notes etc. File includes correspondence with Dr. OJ Walker regarding WE Harris' appointment at the University of Alberta; correspondence regarding a sabbatical position with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) at Chalk River ON in 1957, and correspondence with Dr. Willard Allen at the University of Alberta during the sabbatical.
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.
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.
Two M.Sc. Theses supervised by WE Harris in the 1950s: "Water Solubility of Some High Molecular Weight Mercaptans," M.Sc. Thesis of William G. Goward, 1951; "The Diffusion Coefficients of Mercaptans," M.Sc. Thesis of Caurino Cesar Bombardiere, 1952.
Awards and other information: Fellow of Chemical Institute of Canada, 1956; Fisher Scientific Lecture Award, 1969; Government of Alberta Achievement Award, 1974; Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) Chemical Education Award, 1975; Royal Society of Canada, 1977; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow, 1980; Planned Parenthood Certificate of Appreciation, 2000; Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) Honorary Fellow, 2001; Canadian Governors General Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002; Alberta Centennial Medal, 2005.
File contains: (1) 1956 Lab Manual for Instrumental Methods of Analysis, revision copy 1 dated 1957-60 by WE Harris; (2) 1956 Lab Manual for Instrumental Methods of Analysis, revision copy 2; (3) Instrumental Analysis Lab Manual, early 1960s version for Chem. 511 - 611, with annotations and inserts by WE Harris. Many of these experiments were later moved to Chemistry 58, the precursor to Chemistry 312 (Quantitative Analysis); others were moved to Chemistry 511 (Instrumental Analysis).
Site for new Chemistry building, December 1958.
Physical Science Center building under construction, November 1958. The foundation was contracted out to Poole Construction Co Ltd.
Site for new Chemistry building, December 1958.
Notes by WE Harris about the History/Memoirs
Class schedules, teaching notes, class tests, and class records.
Chemistry building under construction, November 1958. The foundation was contracted out to Poole Construction Co Ltd.
New Chemistry Building under construction with steel beams in place.
New Chemistry Building under construction with bricks being laid.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction with steel beams in place, September 21, 1959.
Chemistry building under construction, April 1959.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction, February 1959. The steel frame was erected by C.W. Carry Ltd and Calgary Structural Steel Ltd.
New Chemistry Building under construction with bricks being laid, December 1959
File contains: (1) Early lab manual for Chem 58, Quantative Analysis, dated by WE Harris as 1957-60, probably for 1959-60; (2) Chem 58 lab manual, revision copy, probably for 1960-61. Chemistry 58 was the forerunner to 312.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction, April 1959. The steel frame was erected by C.W. Carry Ltd and Calgary Structural Steel Ltd.
Notes for Chemistry 312 lab practical test. This test was held in the laboratory every fall for incoming students, to get an indication of where they needed to improve.
Correspondence, notes etc regarding publication of various scientific papers.
Correspondence, notes, and other information about the Chemistry Data Sheet that was organized and copyrighted by WE Harris and SG Davis. File includes negatives and prints of various periodic table designs. File also includes an envelope addressed to University Archives (BARD), containing a memo from WE Harris, October 2006, describing the history of the Chemistry Data Sheet by WE Harris and SG (Stuart) Davis, and copyright registrations.
Chemical Analysis, by HA Laitenen, published by McGraw-Hill. First edition of book, with notes throughout by WE Harris. Also contains enclosures: index cards with notes for a March 1971 meeting; two pages of comments by WE Harris; review of book by Pilipenko; and revision recommendations by Mc-Graw Hill 1960.
Professional correspondence, notes etc outside the University of Alberta.
Physical Science Center at the University of Alberta construction completed to house three departments: Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, October 1960.
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.
Two cold rooms one for storing volatile and unstable chemicals and the other is equipped as a laboratory.
Philips Electronics Inc. x-ray diffraction equipment for the analysis of crystalline compounds.
Electronics Shop featuring a Type 536 Oscilloscope with type B plug-in being used.
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.
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.
Photograph taken in the Inorganic and Analytical Research Laboratory. Image focuses on the Leeds & Northrup Electro Chemograph Type E with a built in Speedomax Recorder designed for polarography analysis. Machine commonly used in the study of kinetics and mechanism of inorganic reactions. Image also appears in "New Physical Sciences Centre" booklet advertising the newly built facility.
Two technicians working on glass lathes in the Glass Blowing Shop. This room was used for the building and design of new glass equipment for research. The shop was located in the basement of the physics-mathematics wing.
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.
Graduate Research Laboratory in the Physical Science Center.
Physical Chemical Research laboratory with two people at work on high vacuum lines.
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.
Chemistry wing of the Physical Science Centre building.
Gas Chromatography Abstracting Service: punch cards with abstracts; metal sorter; notes and thoughts.
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.
Detroit Convention with: Sandell, Hume, Marion and Joe Bushey, as well as Stenfers, Fall 1962.
File contains lab manuals for: 1962-63; 1963-64; and 1964-65. Two copies of the 1962-63 manual; one is a revision copy with extensive handwritten notes by WE Harris.
Hume at the Detroit Convention, Fall 1962.
Various articles written by WE Harris on the topics of teaching and academic reviews
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.
Correspondence, notes, etc regarding planning for the American Chemical Society's 1966 symposium to be held in Edmonton, Alberta.
Report "Costs Involved in an Analytical Laboratory Course, Chemistry 312" by D.R. Weir, prepared for WE Harris 1963-64.
Correspondence, notes etc regarding prepration for the 1966 ACS Symposium. Roy Keller was Program Chair and WE Harris was Local Arrangements Chair. File includes an overhead photograph showing the University of Alberta campus. Film strip with images of the University emblem.
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.
Reports and correspondence; includes thank-you letters from students and Course Guide published by the University of Alberta Students' Union, 1968 (p. 24 has comments on WE Harris' course).
Various newspaper clippings, articles and photographs about WE Harris, including: - Photo of Technical Advisory Committee members, 1989; Slide of Presidents' Advisory Council on Academic Reviews members, ca. 1985; B&W photo of WE Harris and Harry Habgood (co-author of Programmed Temperature Gas Chromatography), 1964; B&W photo of WE Harris in office, 1977; Color photo of WE Harris, Jed Harrison, Norm Dovichi, and Gary Horlick, Department of Chemistry, 1996; Closeup photo of WE Harris for Folio, 1996. Other Materials include: Brochure, "The Theory of Chromatography", 1968; Program, "19th Annual Summer Symposium Analytical Chemistry", 1966 held at the University of Alberta.
Correspondence, notes etc regarding a speaking tour for the Chemical Institute of Canada.
Revision copy of the manual with notes and corrections by WE Harris.
Revision copy of the manual with notes and corrections by WE Harris.
Curriculum Vitaes compiled by WE Harris
Aerial view of the University of Alberta campus and surrounding area.
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.
Revision copy of the manual with extensive handwritten notes and revisions by the authors.
Correspondence, notes etc to do with WE Harris' involvement in the card game, bridge. File includes: 1967 award to WE Harris and son for a Grand Slam Vulnerable; List of awards and trophies for bridge, golf, and curling; "Memoirs of Bridge at the University" by WE Harris 2008; Edmonton Marigold Seniors Games, duplicate bridge 2008; Last duplicate bridge game with partner Brian Dunford on 15 Oct 2011.
Chemistry building at the University of Alberta, August 1967.
Annotated copies of the teaching assistants' manual for Chemistry 312, with separate annotations by WE Harris and B. Kratochvil.
Revision copies of the teaching assistants' manual for Chemistry 312, with extensive handwritten revisions and additions by the authors, WE Harris and B. Kratochvil.
Revision copies of the manual with extensive handwritten notes and revisions by the authors.
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.
Correspondence, notes etc regarding publication of "Chemical Analysis: an Intensive Introduction to Modern Analysis." File also constains use and feedback on "Chemical Analysis".
File contains: (1) "Chemical Analysis: an Intensive Introduction to Modern Analysis" by WE Harris and B. Kratochvil, published by Barnes & Noble 1969, 1970, which became the Chemistry 312 student laboratory manual; (2) "Supplement to Chemical Analysis," 1972.
Reports and correspondence.
After 1970 the booklet "Teaching Introductory Analytical Chemistry" by WE Harris and B. Kratochvil was used as the teaching assistants' manual for Chemistry 312. File contains: (1) 1970-71 revision "with notes on experimental work in Chemical Analysis" - copy includes notes and corrections; (2) 1970 booklet "Teaching Introductory Analytical Chemistry" published by Barnes & Noble to accompany textbook "Chemical Analysis: an Intensive Introduction to Modern Analysis" - copy includes sheet of editorial comments by Phyllis Harris; (3) 1973 revised and updated version of "Teaching Introductory Analytical Chemistry" published by Saunders to accompany "Chemical Separations and Measurements: Background and Procedures for Modern Analysis" - copy includes notes of thanks to Phyllis Harris, see p. iv; and (4) 1981 renamed, revised and updated version, "Instructors Manual to Accompany An Introduction to Chemical Analysis," published by CBS College Publishing.