Harry Harris Obituary
and
Some Notes Toward a Biography

by
Robert Jan 'Roy' van de Hoek
2007
Ballona Institute
322 Culver Boulevard, Suite 317
Playa del Rey, California 90293
INTRODUCTION
When Harry Harris passed away in Los Angeles County, California, in 1954, he left birders and historians with a wealthy knowledge of writings and with his philosophy for those who are willing to learn. This history, or biography, if you will, is shared with all of you for some reason, as yet unknown completely, but certainly, at least minimally, to show what one man can do in a lifetime dedicated to birds and to art and to nature.

The obituary that is reprinted below was extracted and excerpted from "Auk" solely for educational, scientific, and research purposes. I hope that it helps those interested in the history of birding and ornithology and conservation of California and Missouri, particularly the areas of southern California and Kansas City.

RESULTS

Auk
Volume 72, Number 3, Pages 321-324
1955 (July to September)

HARRY HARRIS, a Life Member of the American Ornithologists' Union, died at Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, June 11, 1954, at the age of 76. He was born in Moberly, Missouri, April 17, 1878, and was educated at the University of Michigan and Washington College, St. Louis, Mo.

From 1897 to 1902, he was occupied with his work as a commercial artist, and from 1902 to 1921, he served as cashier in the Kansas City Post Office during which time his father was City Post- master.

Later he moved to California and was curator of the library of vertebrate zoology in the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena.

Harris was interested in birds from an early age. He was elected an Associate of the Union in 1911 and a full Member in 1919. He was also a member of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the St. Louis Academy of Science; and after he moved to California, he became active in the Cooper Ornithological Society, serving as President of the Southern Division and as Business Manager. He was energetic, blessed with unbounded enthusiasm, and never afraid of work. Having acquired a set of 'The Ibis,' he made a complete index of the biographical material in the various volumes, a careful but laborious work, which unfortunately is still only in manuscript. He was a careful, accurate, and interesting writer.

His best-known publications are his 'Birds of the Kansas City Region,' 1919, his Memorial of Robert Ridgway, with a bibliography, published in 'The Condor' in 1928, and 'The Annals of Gymnogyps to 1900' published in 'The Condor' in 1941.--T. S.

CONCLUSION
The significance of Harry Harris for natural history of Los Angeles County resides in several linkages. One example was his association with the Cooper Ornithological Club. Another example was his friendship with Ralph Hoffmann, who also moved from Missouri to California. Harry Harris associated with Ralph Hoffmann in many ways that are linked to birding and birds. For example, both men were fascinated with the California Condor. Harry Harris studied the California Condor. He also visited Catalina Island, where recorded his bird observations for the Condor. He was a bibliophile on the history of birding and ornithology.

Harry Harris lived at Eagle Rock in the Ballona Creek watershed, which is mistakenly known simply as the Los Angeles River watershed. He studied birds and one wonders if he was a member of the Los Angeles Audubon Society? More study is needed of Harry Harris and his contribution to birds and birding not only in southern California, but across the state, and across our United States and Canada. To learn more about Harry Harris, as well as his friendship with Ralph Hoffmann, please click on the following link to a web page that was also assembled by this writer: Harry Harris and Ralph Hoffmann: Birding Friendship


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Harris, Harry. 1919. The Birds of the Kansas City Region. St. Louis Academy of Sciences.
Hoffmann, Ralph. 1916. The Pomarine Jaeger and Purple Gallinule. Auk 33 (2): 196.