Guide to the Papers of Hector Harrison, 1915-1978

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 6277
Creator:
Hector Harrison
Extent:
5.18 metres and (37 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Hector Harrison, National Library of Australia, MS 6277, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers consist of personal and business correspondence, circulars, journal articles, brochures, leaflets, newscuttings, newsletters, notes, pamphlets, sermons and service sheets. They record Harrison's long and distinguished career as a minister of the Presbyterian Church. He was minister and friend to men and women from all walks of life including Prime Ministers, Governors-General, ambassadors and his parishioners.

Correspondents include Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, Viscount and Viscountess Slim, Sir Robert and Dame Pattie Menzies and Elsie Curtin, wife of John Curtin.

Biographical Note:
Date Event
1902 Born 5 April, in Northam, WA, into a Salvation Army family. Harrison was educated at Northam State School.
1918-20 Enlisted in the Army at the age of 16 and served as a military bandsman.
1922-25 Moved to Melbourne where he served as a Salvation Army officer in Richmond, North Melbourne and Fitzroy. He resigned from the Salvation Army in 1925 in order to prepare for the ministry.
1927-33 In 1927 he entered Ormond College at the University of Melbourne. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1930, followed by a Master of Arts in 1932. He gained his Bachelor of Divinity from the Melbourne College of Divinity in 1933. Harrison also worked in a parish while studying.
1931 Married Doris Tear on 30 May, 1931. They had four children: one son and three daughters.
1933 Ordained, and inducted as Minister of New Town, Hobart, Tasmania.
1937-40 Minister of St Aidan's Presbyterian Church, Claremont, WA.
1940 Inducted on 9 May as Minister of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Forrest, ACT. At that time, Canberra had only a population of 8,000 and one Presbyterian Church.
1940-55 Visiting chaplain to the Royal Military College, Duntroon.
1950-51 Moderator, Presbyterian Church of New South Wales.
1953 Awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
1955-65 Visiting chaplain to Harman Naval Wireless Station.
1961 Overseas trip to the United Kingdom, Europe, Israel and Palestine.
1962-64 Moderator-General, Presbyterian Church of Australia.
1964-70 Vice President, World Presbyterian Alliance. During this time he made several overseas trips to attend conferences and meetings.
1978 Died on 19 November, 1978. A service of thanksgiving was held at St Andrew's Church on 21 November, 1978 conducted by the Reverend Alistair Christie, a close friend of Harrison.
Provenance:

The papers were donated to the National Library in three instalments in 1978, 1980 and 1993. Instalments one and three were donated by the Reverend Alistair Christie, a close friend of Harrison, and instalment two by Mrs Claire Lupton, Harrison's daughter.

Arrangement:

The three instalments have been amalgamated and arranged into eight series. Where possible, the original arrangement of the papers and file titles have been preserved by the Library.

Indexed terms

Names:
Hector Harrison

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1096752).
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Hector Harrison, National Library of Australia, MS 6277, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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