James Ostelle Harrison Collection
Scope and Contents
The James Ostelle Harrison Papers include typed manuscripts and published articles/columns by Harrison, graduate and professional research, course syllabi and related materials, and news clippings about him. The collection also includes papers created after his death concerning the shrunken head (or “tsantsa”) he brought to Mercer University and attempts to authenticate it prior to its return to Ecuador in 2019.
Original folder names (including spelling) and organization have been retained where possible. The collection originally contained organic matter (pressed plants, etc.) and some has been removed for the preservation of the overall collection. Organic matter in stable condition have been retained where possible.
Dates
- Creation: 1943-2019
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted access. All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.
Rights Statement
To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.
Biographical / Historical
James Ostelle “Jim” Harrison was born on June 17, 1920, to parents James Drew and Marie Mills Harrison and died on April 5, 2016. Harrison married Katherine “Kitty” Deal in 1942 (divorced 1970) and Joyce Rape in 1971. He had two children, Juliet “Julie” and Michael James Harrison. Harrison received his A.B. degree from Mercer University in 1949, his M.S. degree from the University of Georgia in 1954, and his Ph.D. degree from Cornell University in 1960. He retired as Emeritus Professor of Biology of Mercer University, having served on the faculty from 1962-1986.
In addition, he was ecological consultant to the Avland Development Company’s Lake Wildwood Project, 1970-1971; chairman of the Area Water Quality Advisory Committee, 1979-1980; president of the Ocmulgee Audubon Society, 1975-1977; and president of the Ocmulgee Monument Association, 1981-1983. Before coming to Mercer, Harrison was a military pilot during World War II, where he was shot down in the Adriatic Sea, and a research entomologist with the United States Fruit Company in Central America, which included excavating native graves. Harrison published dozens of articles and newspaper columns, as well as a book, The Other Life of a University Professor, which speaks of his life experiences before coming to teach at Mercer.
Extent
4.17 Cubic Feet (10 records center boxes and 1 pamphlet file)
Language of Materials
English
Subject
- Harris, Rufus Carrollton, 1896-1988 (Person)
- Mercer University. Faculty (Organization)
- University of Georgia (Organization)
- Cornell University (Organization)
- Area Water Quality Advisory Committee (Macon, Ga.) (Organization)
- Avland Development Company (Organization)
- Ocmulgee Audubon Society (Organization)
- United Fruit Company (Organization)
- Ocmulgee Monument Association (Organization)
- Title
- James Ostelle Harrison Collection
- Author
- Mary Overby (1985), Susan Broome (2005), Rachel Lukavsky (2020) and Gabrielle Hale (2021)
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Original gift of James O. Harrison (1985); additional materials brought by Alpha May Bond (June 2019)
Repository Details
Part of the Mercer University Archives and Digital Initiatives Repository