Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1851-1953 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
9 boxes, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Admitted to Clare in October 1903 to read mathematics (First class).
Elected into a Fellowship in 1907 and was awarded the Smith's prize in 1908.
1910 married Ethel Marienne Harvey piper. They had two sons who also attended Clare as did their grandson.
WWI - served as Captain in the Royal Garrison Artillery and as Assistant Proof and Experimental Officer at Woolwich Arsenal. His services were recognised with the award of an MBE.
After lecturing in maths at Liverpool and then back in Cambridge he was commissioned as a Scientific Officer at Woolwich Arsenal in 1914. From 1919-1924 he continued scientific work in Cambridge and then changed direction to deal with administration of Clare College. He became Bursar, Financial Tutor and Steward and also dealt with the College Archives. This was the period when the College was run mainly by three men, Sir Henry Thirkill, Dr. W. Telfer and William Harrison who were known as the "Holy Trinity". Harrison retired in 1949 but continued his research in the Archives publishing books on the history of the College.
1929 - 1949 served as Bursar.
Obituary: The Clare Association Annual 1969, pp. 56-57.
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers collected by William Harrison relating to the history of the College, estates, individuals; some memorabilia also drafts for his publication Clare College: Notes on the Masters, Fellows etc; also photographs and miscellaneous papers.
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
See CCHR/2/HARRISON for biographical material