Philips Electronics Inc. x-ray diffraction equipment for the analysis of crystalline compounds.
Binder contains: teaching load data; staff and workload data; teaching workload ratios, notes and correspondence.
Staff and workload data, used for PACCR discussions.
Correspondence, notes, etc on occasion of WE Harris' retirement; volume created by WE Harris. Includes photograph of WE Harris receiving Community Relations award (at back of book), and letter of appointment as PACAR Chairman.
Announcements, lecture notes, newspaper articles, etc for talks given by WE Harris.
Notes by WE Harris about the History/Memoirs
Harris standing in an active undergraduate chemistry lab.
This large volume was compiled and bound by the secretaries of the Chemistry Department as a gift to WE Harris.
Close up photograph of Harris. Note on the back reads "Planned Parenthood".
Image of Harris taken and sent to the Royal Society.
Head shot of Harris that was used in various articles.
Harris standing in an active undergraduate chemistry laboratory.
Harris in the laboratory.
Close up photograph of Harris. Cropped version of this photograph was used for the article "Chemists reflect on the legacy of Walter Harris, key builder of one of country's top analytical chemistry programs" appearing in Folio November 15, 1996.
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.
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 EdgarAudiotape of lectures given by visiting scholars A. Vlcek and Harrison Brown. Audiotape contains: A. Vlcek lecture 1, Polarographic background, Sept 8, 1961; A. Vlcek Lecture 2, Effect of Precoding(?) Reactions, Sept 11, 1961; A. Vlcek lecture, Science and Education in Czechoslovakia; Opening Ceremonies, May 25, 1961 - Future of Industrial Civilization - Brown; HS Brown - Chemistry of Planets; CKUA Interview, HS Brown; Science is an Irish Potato - Brown. A. Vlcek was a visiting chemist from Czechoslovakia; H. Brown is the author of "The Challenge of Man's Future" 1956 and "The Human Future Revisited" 1978.
Unknown photograph owned by SG Davis. After Davis' passing, it was found among the files in his office and acquired by Harris.
Award, photograph, correspondence, and other information regarding Honorary D.Sc.
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.
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.
Award, correspondence, and other information: Outstanding Achievement Award, 1973; Alumni Wall of Honor, 2005.
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.
Aerial view of the University of Alberta campus and surrounding area.
Harris's University of Alberta B.Sc. Diploma with official seal.
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".
Awards, photographs, correspondence, and other information: Thirty Year Service Award, 1976; President's Club, 1984; Honorary D.Sc., 1991; Recognition dinner, 1997; Alumni Honor Awards, 2003; Certificate of Appreciation, 2006
Undergraduate laboratory with private working areas for up to twenty students. The side benches and cabinets display equiptment and materials in general use.
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.
Harris, Walter EdgarCorrespondence between Professor Emeritus, W.E. Harris and W.G. Goward, a former graduate student in chemistry.
Harris, Walter EdgarDrafts of "Department of Chemistry - History and Memoir" by WE Harris
Supplemental information to drafts
WE Harris is Professor Emeritus - Dept of Chemistry
Harris, Walter EdgarTheses relating to CKUA and electrical engineering articles
Harris, Walter EdgarVarious correspondence, notes etc within the University of Alberta.
Various correspondence, notes etc within the University of Alberta. File includes a 1982-02-09 memo from Kevan Warner, University of Alberta Archives Assistant, listing an inventory for Accession No. 81-159, "Harris-Kratochvil Computer Manuscript Preliminary Inventory".
Reports and correspondence.
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.
Text of two talks given by WE Harris on the subject of Nuclear Fuel Wastes in 1986. File includes: "The Canadian Nuclear fuel Waste Management Program" by WE Harris and KJ McCallum; and "Management of Canada's High Level Nuclear Wastes" by WE Harris.
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.
Reference Photograph and graphics for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
In 2010 WE Harris wrote a personal summary of his activities on (1) Atomic Energy of Canada Technical Advisory Committee [TAC]; (2) University of Alberta President's Advisory Committee on Campus Reviews [PACCR]; (3) Alberta Environment Hazardous Waste Management Committee.
Correspondence, notes etc regarding article by WE Harris, "Three Critical Resources" which was published in New Trail, 1978.
Certificate inducting Harris as a New Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada. The ceremony was held at Rideau Hall on November 22, 2002.
Postal Telegraph congratulating Harris from his family, dated May 9. Telegraph mentioned June 14, 1942, his wedding day to Phyllis Pangburn.
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) subseries contains thirty-two files concerning the management of high level nuclear wastes and heavily involved with the committee on the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program for the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). The files are arranged chronologically by subject. Document types include meeting minutes, meeting agendas, reports, notes, talks, and correspondence. Specific topics focused on in the materials are nuclear fuel wastes, risk assessment, and hazardous wastes management. The materials are created between 1980 and 1994 with some follow up materials from 1996-2000.
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was formed in 1979 as an advisory board for the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Program. The committee consisted of independent scientists nominated by their professional societies. The role of the committee was to give advice on the extent and quality of technical research being conducted. It was to also provide counsel to the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) on scientific research going on at Whiteshell in Pinawa Manitoba, for the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program. TAC was to ensure that the appropriate conclusions about high level nuclear wastes were drawn. It was a precautionary body to recommend areas for further study. The committee generated annual reports to publicly share comments and recommendations on research being performed. TAC typically met in Toronto, ON or Pinawa, MB to discuss and share reports. However they also took regular trips to research sites on the Canadian Shield.
Harris became a member of the committee in 1983 and remained on the committee until 1997. He focused on the assessment of risks, and the adverse effects of radioactivity on human health in high, intermediate and low doses. He studied the relationship between dose and the risk of being affected. Harris gave multiple presentations about risk assessments at TAC Meetings and presented low dose risk assessment lectures to the Chalk River and Whiteshell groups. He also regularly submitted progress reports to the Chemical Institute of Canada.
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.
"Campus Kit" cardboard box, contains slides in 11 small plastic boxes. Four of the small boxes are labelled: AECL; Chem 312 (2 boxes); and Teaching. Seven boxes are unlabelled.
Notes on index cards for teaching of courses; includes: black binder "Manual of Operations, Chem 312"; "Unknowns preparation, Chem 511."
The records in this series highlight Harris’ lifelong role as an educator. Harris was described as being an organised and interesting lecturer with useful laboratories, who always encouraged students in their progress. The primary focus of the series is on scholarly and public lectures, talks, lessons, and conference presentations. This includes many verbatim transcripts of lectures given by Harris with accompanying slides. Mixed in with his teaching slides are also a variety of images capturing the construction of the chemistry building and committee outings. This series includes a variety of document types such as index cards, notes, lecture outlines, correspondence, course materials, course reviews, student essays, test questions, assignments, articles, reports, letters, cards, u-matic video tape, and lecture audiotapes. This series contains three subseries: Chemistry, Agriculture and Forestry, and Bridge. The subseries are divided according to subject matter and were created between ca. 1950 and 2011.
File contains: Report on Undergraduate Teaching Loads, 1974; Teaching Loads, 1979
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.
Correspondence, notes, articles and reports on teaching by WE Harris. File includes: "A Survey of Teaching Introductory Analytical Chemistry in Canada"; correspondence and notes for 1974 Symposium on Teaching Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis; and "Constant Load Balances - An Instructional Experiment."
Notes on index cards for talks given by WE Harris regarding campus reviews.
Notes on index cards for talks given by WE Harris regarding campus reviews.
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.
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 on the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program, Annual Reports, TAC 6-10.
Technical Advisory Committee on the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program, Annual Reports, TAC 1-5.
Technical Advisory Committee on the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program, Annual Reports, TAC 11-15.
Correspondence regarding "Systematic Reviews of University Programs and Units" by WE Harris and T. Holdaway, 1983.
Caption reads: "Symposium on Analytical Chemistry in honor of professor Walter E Harris on the occasion of his retirement from the University of Alberta August 15, 1980". The Symposium was organized by the analytical group at the University of Alberta. It consisted of eighteen presentations by Harris' fellow colleagues from across North America.
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.
Photographs and other information: Midwestern Universities Analytical Chemistry conference (MUACC), 1976; Symposium on Analytical Chemistry, 1980; American Chemical Society special Symposium in Honor of WE Harris, 1988; Canadian Society for Chemistry, Douglas Ryan / Walter Harris Award; Harris Workshops on Teaching of Undergraduate Chemistry.
Swan Hills Treatment Centre opening: Anka S; Walter Harris; Murdo McKenzie; John Devereau; Al Schoening; Frank Belyea; Joe Molho, Former Mayor of Swan Hills.
Swan Hills Treatment Centre opening: John Devereau; Jennifer McJuade[?]; Bert Huffman; Al Schoening; and Phyllis Harris seated.
Swan Hills Plant opening.
Reports and news articles, collected by WE Harris, about the opening of the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Centre at Swan Hills, and subsequent sale of plant.
Material prepared in 2006 by WE Harris for the University of Alberta Archives, and intended to accompany item #189. "This item is for submission to University Archives along with copies of the History/Memoir, the 2005 revision, samples of transmittal letters, several responses of special interest, letters and my report concerning the appointment of Dr. Gunning, and copies of relevant reports." Includes a CD-ROM: "Final Version, 8 Feb 2006."
Correspondence, notes etc regarding teaching at the Summer Short Course in Chromatography, Drew University, Madison, NJ. Includes notes for a lecture on programmed temperature gas chromatography.
WE Harris submitted three essays to the University of Alberta Association of Professors Emeriti for possible publication in their millennium project. The second essay was accepted and later published in "Echoes in the Halls." File contains "Submissions to the Millennium Project, 1999," with three essays: (1) Personal thoughts on religion and science; (2) President's Advisory Committee on Campus Reviews; (3) Aspects of the life of an analytical chemist. File also contains "Echoes in the Halls" by the Association of Professors Emeriti, 1999, which includes on p. 161 a chapter by WE Harris, "Looking at Ourselves: The President's Advisory Committee on Campus Reviews," along with correspondence, notes etc.
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).
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction with steel beams in place, September 21, 1959.
Chemistry-Physics-Mathematics building under construction, April 1959. The steel frame was erected by C.W. Carry Ltd and Calgary Structural Steel Ltd.
New Chemistry Building under construction with steel beams in place.
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.
The Society of the Sigma Xi Diploma certifying Harris was elected as a member of the Minnesota chapter on May 31, 1944.
Four trays of slides, used by WE Harris in his last lecture, given to Sigma Xi Society at the University of Alberta, 24 Sept 1997.
Presentations by WE Harris: (1) "Siting of a Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility," a special seminar to the University of Toronto, Institute for Environmental Studies, 1987; (2) "Siting a Hazardous Waste Facility," presented at the Society for Risk Analysis, Baltimore MO, 1991; (3) "Siting the Hazardous Waste Plant in Alberta" circa 1992, with appendices A1-A61. File also contains: "Toolkit" by Citizens Against Toxic Herbicides, 1979; and "Protest, Property Rights, and Hazardous Waste" by RC Mitchell and RT Carson, 1986.
Brochures about the Ryley Facility, by Laidlaw Environmental Services Ltd.
Notes for various other presentations about risk assessment given by WE Harris; includes lecture notes on index cards. File contains WE Harris' last lecture, given to Sigma Xi in 1997 (see Box 28 for slides used in the lecture).
Notes for presentations given by WE Harris to Chemistry 303 class about risk assessment; includes lecture notes on index cards.
Correspondence, notes etc relating to Risk Assessment Workshops given by WE Harris for Environmental Services Association of Alberta (ESAA).
Material for workshops given by WE Harris. File includes: (1) "Risk Assessment" by WE Harris, with notes [no date]; (2) "Risk Assessment" for Environmental Services Association of Alberta workshop June 11, 1993; "Risk Assessment Low Dose, Workshop and Reading Material" for 7th Annual Calgary Environmental Conference, Oct 31, 1994
Notes for workshops and background readings. File includes: notes from a draft of "Low Dose Risk Assessment;" Chemistry 303 (1997) notes and lectures; "Low Dose Risk Assessment" for Extension Department 1999.
"Kodak Photographic Paper" cardboard box, contains loose slides about Risk Assessment.
Instructor's notes and handout for students for February 1995 workshop, "Risk Assessment Low Dose, Workbook and Reading Material."
File Includes: Lang Armour Report, June 1984 with note to WE Harris, April 1985; AECL Publication "Risk, Fear and Public Safety" by E. Siddall, 1981; other background material sent to committee; TAC correspondence Aug 1984; letter April 1985; and loose notes by WE Harris.
Reports and correspondence.
"Report on Alberta and Ontario Waste Management Site Selection Process," by Public Affairs International Ltd, 1985; with correspondence dated Oct 1985.
Correspondence and letters of reference written by WE Harris.
A Study of the Reduction of Uranyl Salts, W.E. Harris, February 1942: "Ph. D. Thesis draft."
Correspondence, notes etc regarding publication of various scientific papers.
Correspondence concerning books published.
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.
Book, "Programmed Temperature Gas Chromatography" by WE Harris and HW (Harry) Habgood, 1966, and reviews of book. Copy contains handwritten thanks to Phyllis Harris by Harry Habood and Walter Harris (see first page inside cover). WE Harris: "This is the first book to be published in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta."
The Professional Correspondence subseries is composed of twenty-eight files relating to correspondence of a professional nature inside and outside the University of Alberta. The files are arranged by subject and ordered chronologically. Document types include correspondence, letters, notes, reports, memos, and programs. It also incorporates University of Alberta records from the time of his appointment on faculty in 1946, until his retirement from the Chemistry Department in 1980. It also includes correspondence related to his activities as Emeritus Professor up to the time of his death in 2011. Files with external professional colleagues run from 1960 to 2011 with a few items generated from 1943. Specific topics covered include travel and attendance at a number of symposiums or conferences related to Chemistry and a consulting job for analytical methods in oil drilling. Topics also relate to IM Kolthoff his colleague, the Chemistry Program at the University of Alberta, and various other professional correspondence.
Opening of the President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review office at the University of Alberta, likely in the Department of Chemistry.
President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review Members, steering committee.
President's Advisory Committee on Campus Review Members: Walter Harris, Fred Enns, Henry Kreisel and Bill Jopling.
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.
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.