ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

PAUL HARRIS 1868 -1947

Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary International

Paul Harris was a lawyer, and founder of Rotary, the world’s first and most International Service Club. Born in Racine, Wisconsin, USA on 19 April 1868, Paul was the second of six children to George and Cornelia Harris. At the age of 3 he moved to Wallingford, Vermont, where he grew up in the care of his grandparents. Married to Jean Thomson Harris (1881–1963), they had no children. He received his LL.B from the University of Iowa and received an honorary LL.D the University of Vermont.

Paul Harris worked as a reporter, a business teacher, stocks company, actor, and cowboy and travelled extensively in the USA and Europe selling granite and marble. In 1896 he went to Chicago to practice law. One evening Paul visited the suburban home of a professional friend. After dinner, as they strolled through the neighbourhood, Paul's friend introduced him to various tradesmen in their stores. It was here that Paul conceived the idea of a club that could recapture some of the friendly spirit among businessmen in small communities. On the 23rd February 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other businessmen, Sylvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor.

Paul Harris named the new club "Rotary" because members met in rotation at their various places of business. Clubs membership grew rapidly. Soon Paul became convinced that the Rotary club could be developed into an important service movement and strove to extend Rotary to other cities.
Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional work. He served as the first Chairman of the Board of the National Easter Seal Society of Cripple Children and Adults in the USA and of the International Society of Cripple Children. He was a member of the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association and its representative at the International Congress of Law at The Hague, and a committee member of the America Bar Association. He received the Silver Buffalo award from the Boy Scouts of America for distinguished service to youth, and was decorated by the Governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France and Peru.

Paul maintained his law office for most of his life. He spent much of his time travelling and was invited to speak to Rotarians at annual conventions, District and Regional meetings. When President Emeritus Paul Harris passed away on the 27 January1947, his dream had grown from an informal meeting of four to some 600 Clubs. In the past five decades the organisation has grown to more than 30 149 Clubs with 1,202,000 members in 162 countries, brought together through Paul Harris's vision of Service and Fellowship.

‘To harness the great power of friendship to help do the world’s work”
Paul Harris: 1910-12

Hear Paul Harris speak (Media File(mp3) - 4451kb)

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1) Jean Harris, Paul Harris and Mrs JC du Plessis. This photo was taken after the District Conference in Cape Town 1934. 2) Paul Harris being hosted by General Smuts and Hertzog.

 

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3) Paul harris, Fouder of Rotary, was presented with a miniature spade on the occasion of his planting a tree in the Public Gardens during his visit to Cape Town for the District Rotary Conference 1934. 4) Tree planting ceremony in Cape Town Public Gardens May 1934.