Inventory of the Ellwood S. Harrar Papers, 1928 - 1975
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleEllwood
S. Harrar Papers,
1928 - 1975.
Creator
Harrar, Ellwood S.
(Ellwood Scott)
Extent
2 Linear Feet,
2000 Items
Repository
2000 Items
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
Ellwood S. Harrar served as a Professor of
Wood Technology at Duke University from 1936 to 1974, and
as Dean of the Duke University School of Forestry from 1957
to 1967. He researched and published extensively on
forestry and dendrology. The Ellwood S. Harrar Papers
contain documents related to his interests in the lumber
industry and wood production. As a Dean, he participated in
the planning for the new Biological Sciences Building and
frequently corresponded with contractors and vendors
regarding its construction. The materials in the collection
are primarily correspondence, but it also includes academic
papers, biographical sketches, and photographs, among other
materials. Major subjects include the U.S. wood industry,
wood technology, and forest research. Major correspondents
include the Navy Bureau of Ships, Swift and Company, J.P.
Perry, J. George Harrar, and the Brunswick Pulp Research
Fund.
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsPatrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is
required for use.
No restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is
held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by
the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants,
as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ellwood S. Harrar
Papers, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Ellwood S. Harrar Papers was received by the
University Archives as a gift in 1969 and 1974.
Processing Information
Processed by Valerie Gillispie
Completed May 27, 2003
Although original folder names were preserved,
they have been alphabetized within each series for easier
access. Date ranges were added to folders where no dates
were provided originally.
Personnel information was discarded for reasons
of privacy.
Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, May 27, 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
Ellwood Scott "Scotty" Harrar was born on January 18, 1905 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Oberlin College for two years, but received his bachelor's degree from the New York College of Forestry at Syracuse University. Syracuse also awarded Harrar his master's and doctoral degrees, in 1928 and 1936, respectively. Harrar taught at the College of Forestry at the University of Washington in Seattle from 1928 until 1936, when he joined the faculty of Duke University.
At Duke, Harrar began as an Associate Professor of Wood Technology, and in 1945 became a full Professor of Wood Technology. In 1957, he was named Dean of the Duke University Graduate School of Forestry. He served in this capacity until 1967, and in 1974 Harrar retired from teaching. In his 38-year career at Duke, Harrar left only once: during World War II, he served as Chief Administrative Engineer of the Airplane Division of the Curtiss Wright Corporation.
During his tenure at Duke, Harrar participated in a number of professional organizations, including the Society of American Foresters, of which he was elected Fellow in 1965. He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the International Society of Wood Anatomists from 1938-1948, President of the North Carolina Forestry Council in 1958, and President of the Forest Products Research Society in 1959. Harrar published extensively, and his Textbook of Dendrology became a staple of forestry programs across the country. Other popular publications included his Guide to Southern Trees and his numerous articles on forestry and dendrology topics for the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Harrar was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from his alma mater, Syracuse in 1961. In 1967, he was named a James B. Duke Professor, the highest honor awarded to faculty at Duke University. In 1974, Harrar donated his collection of over 5,000 wood samples to the Winterthur Museum in Winterthur, Delaware, for future researchers. Harrar died on February 5, 1975, at the age of seventy.
[top]Collection Overview
Collection includes correspondence, papers,
photographs, and other documents related to Ellwood S.
Harrar's career as a professor of forestry and Dean of the
School of Forestry at Duke University. It is organized into
the following series: Series 1, Personal, 1928-1975; Series
2, Duke University, 1951-1974; and Series 3,
Correspondence, 1946-1974.
[top]
Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
- Brunswick Pulp and Paper Company, Brunswick, Ga.
- Duke University--Buildings--History--20th century.
- Duke University--Faculty.
- Duke University. School of Forestry.
- Forest products industry--Research--United States.
- Forest products industry--United States.
- Forests and forestry--Research--United States.
- Harrar, Ellwood S. (Ellwood Scott).
- Harrar, J. George (Jacob George), 1906-
- Perry, Jesse P.
- Photographs.
- Swift & Company.
- United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ships.
- Wood technology.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Personal, 1928 - 1975 | ||||||
| | Duke University, 1951-1974 | ||||||
 | | Correspondence, 1946-1974 | ||||||
Detailed Description of the Collection
Personal, 1928 - 1975
This series features biographical information
about Harrar. Included are biographical sketches, letters
of congratulation, and Harrar's Ph.D. Thesis. The Personal
series also includes administrative correspondence with
Duke officials regarding sabbaticals, committee
appointments, and retirement.
Folder 1
Biographical,
1967-1975 and
undated
Folder 2
Clippings,
1957-1975 and
undated
Correspondence
Administrative
Personal,
1957-1975
Folder 4
James B. Duke Professorship
Nomination,
1962-1967
Congratulatory
Appointment to Dean of Forestry,
1957-1958
Folder 6
Election to Presidency of Forest
Products Research Society,
1958
Folder 7
Honorary Doctorate of Science,
1961
Folder 8
Personal,
1932-1967
Publications
Textbook of
Dendrology,
1937-1941
Folder 10
Southern
Trees,
1961
Folder 11
Retirement,
1974-1975
Folder 12
Masters or Doctoral Thesis,
1928-1935
Folder 13
Panels and Committees,
1961-1966
Folder 14
Publications,
1943-1968
Duke University, 1951-1974
The Duke University series includes
correspondence, photographs, and other papers that document
Harrar's interactions with Duke University as a faculty
member and Dean. Among the documents are extensive
correspondence and several photographs related to the
construction of and furnishings for the Biological Sciences
Building. Also included are materials, mainly
correspondence, about the School of Forestry, and its
educational philosophy, curriculum, and funding. In 1965,
the Duke School of Forestry hosted the International
Symposium on Tropical Forestry, and this series includes
papers, summaries of proceedings, and biographical sketches
of the participants of this symposium.
Allen, George V.,
1961-1966
Folder 16
Biographies, Paper Summaries, Travel
Plans, etc.,
1963-1965
Folder 17
Biology - Forestry Building,
1962-1963
Folder 18
Bradley Plywood Corporation,
1959-1962
Folder 19
Broce, Thomas E., [University
Development,
1961-1966]
Building [Biological Sciences Building] - Miscellaneous
1958
Folder 21
1959-1960
Folder 22
1961
Folder 23
1962
Folder 24
Cherokee Flooring Corporation,
1958-1962
Folder 25
Darlington Veneer Company, Inc.,
1958-1962
Folder 26
Duke University Staff and Faculty,
Non-Forestry,
1956-1968
Folder 27
E. L. Bruce Company,
1958-1962
Folder 28
Frank, William O., Architect,
1958-1960
Folder 29
Georgia-Pacific Corporation,
1958-1962
Folder 30
Georgia Plywood Corporation,
1959-1962
Folder 31
Gross-Edens Controversy,
1963-1974
Folder 32
Haig, I. T.,
1965
Folder 33
Hardwood Corporation of America,
1958-1961
Folder 34
Higgins Industries, Inc.,
1958-1961
Folder 35
Korstian, Clarence F.,
1968-1969
Folder 36
Lilly Company,
1958
Folder 37
Masonite Corporation,
1958-1962
Folder 38
Miller Brothers, Inc.,
1958
Folder 39
Moseman, A. H.,
1964
Folder 40
Nickey Brothers, Inc.
1958-1962
Folder 41
Papers,
1965
Folder 42
Potlatch Forests, Inc.,
1958-1962
Folder 43
Roddis-Plywood Corporation,
1958-1961
School of Forestry
1951-1958
Folder 45
1959-1960
Folder 46
1961-1962
Folder 47
1963-1964
Folder 48
1966-1971 and
undated
Folder 49
Setter Brothers, Inc.,
1958-1960
Folder 50
Southern Plywoods, Inc.,
1959-1962
Folder 51
Standard Plywoods, Inc.,
1958-1962
Folder 52
Statesville Plywood and Veneer Co.,
1958-1962
Folder 53
Summaries of Proceedings,
1965
Folder 54
Thomason Plywood Corporation,
1958-1962
Folder 55
Tropical Forestry Symposium -
Miscellaneous,
1963-1965
Folder 56
U.S. Plywood Corporation,
1958-1962
Folder 57
Virginia Plywood Corporation,
1958-1962
Folder 58
Vogt, William,
1964-1966
Folder 59
Von Canon, Fred,
1960-1965
Folder 60
Wallace, William, Engineer,
1958-1961
Folder 61
Wood-Mosaic Corporation,
1958-1962
Correspondence, 1946-1974
The correspondence series contains letters to
and from Harrar regarding his professional career as a
researcher and forestry expert. Among Harrar's
correspondents were those associated with the lumber
industry, in regard to marketing, foreign resources, and
technical problems related to wood. The series documents
Harrar's work as a consultant to the Navy Bureau of Ships,
Army Corps of Engineers, and the Army Engineer Research and
Development Laboratories. The series also contains
information about Harrar's participation with North
Carolina's Governor's Advisory Committee on Forestry and
the Presidential Commission on Increased Use of
Agricultural Products.
Active Investments, Inc.,
1962-1964
Folder 63
American Institute of Biological
Science,
1964-1967
Folder 64
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Company,
1948-1955
Folder 65
Bennett Place (Committee on
Restoration),
1961-1962
Folder 66
Brevard College,
1965-1966
Folder 67
Brunswick Pulp Research Fund,
1953-1966
Folder 68
Bureau of Ships,
1952-1958
Folder 69
Charles Lathrop Pack Forestry
Foundation,
1957-1959
Folder 70
Commonwealth Fund,
1950-1958
Folder 71
Coman Lumber Company,
1961-1962
Folder 72
Congressional Correspondence,
1958-1964
Folder 73
Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Co. -
Employment as Engineering Manager,
1944-1945
Folder 74
Dunn, Paul M.,
1953-1958
Folder 75
Fifth World Forestry Congress,
1959-1960
Folder 76
Forest History Foundation, Inc.,
1957-1965
Box 2
Folder 77
S. M. Frank and Company,
1960-1968
Folder 78
Governor's Advisory Committee on
Forestry,
1961-1964
Folder 79
International Association of Wood
Anatomists,
1936-1947
Folder 80
Harrar, J. George,
1962-1964
Folder 81
The Lane Company, Inc.,
1961-1965
Folder 82
Lester Case,
1949-1958
Folder 83
[Folder removed]
Folder 84
Mulford, Walter,
1946-1955
Navy, Bureau of Ships
1950-1952
Folder 86
1953
Folder 87
1954-1955
Folder 88
1957-1958
Folder 89
Perry, J. P.,
1947-1971
Folder 90
Presidential Commission,
1957
Folder 91
President's Commission,
1956-1958
Folder 92
Research Triangle Committee,
1958-1965
Folder 93
Rockefeller Foundation - General,
1958-1966
Folder 94
Scott Lumber Company,
1961-1962
Folder 95
Southeastern Forest Experiment
Station,
1952-1954
Folder 96
Southern Railway System, Washington,
D.C.,
1950-1951
Folder 97
Standard Fruit and Steamship
Company,
1953-1954
Folder 98
State of North Carolina, Department
of Conservation and Development,
1945
Swift and Company
1949
Folder 100
1950
Folder 101
1951-68
Folder 102
Technical Problems - Examples,
1953-1968
Folder 103
U.S. Army Biological Laboratories,
1962-1963
Folder 104
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
1960
Folder 105
U.S. Army Engineer Research and
Development Laboratories,
1964
Folder 106
Wellwood, Dr. R. W.,
1945-1955
Folder 107
Winterthur [The H. F. duPont
Winterthur Museum,
1973 -
1974]
Folder 108
[General] Correspondence -
Miscellaneous,
1947-1968
