Fonds - Cole Harris fonds

Richard Colebrook Harris was born in Vancouver on 4 July 1936. Harris post-secondary education consisted of studies at the University of British Columbia (BA, 1958), the University of Montpellier (1958-59), and the University of Wisconsin (MS, 1961 and PhD, 1964). His PhD thesis, "A Geography of the Seigneurial System in Canada during the French Regime, was supervised by A.H. Clark. Harris teaching positions included the following appointments: Lecturer (1963-1964) at UBC, Assistant Professor (1964-1968) and Associate Professor (1968-1971) at the University of Toronto, Lecturer in French (Summer 1967) at the University of Laval in French (Summer 1967), and Associate Professor (1971-1973) and Professor (1973-2002) at UBC. Harris research interests focused on European settlement in early Canada, particularly the nature of social change in immigrant societies in new environments and on geographies of colonialism in early British Columbia. In addition to teaching and researching, Harris served as President of the Canadian Association of Geographers (1985-1986) and was on the following editorial boards: Professional Geographer (1982-1986), Annals of Association of American Geography (1988-1992), and the Journal of Historical Geography (1975-1982). Additionally, he was president of the Vancouver Institute (1985-1986) and was Co-Editor of BC Studies (1995-2002). Harris has received the following awards and distinctions: Guggenheim Fellow, 1968-69; Canadian Council Leave Fellowship, 1975-1976; Award for Scholarly Distinction in Geography, Canadian Association of Geographers, 1980; Senior Killam Fellow, 1982-84; Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, 1982; Prize for outstanding article in the Canadian Historical Review, 1985; Killam Research Prize, 1987; Gold Medal, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, 1988; Sir John A. Macdonald Prize, Canadian Historical Association, 1988; Award of Merit, Association for Canadian Studies, 1988; Doctor of Law, Honoris Causa, York University, 1993; Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Canada, 1994; Award of Distinction, Canadian Cartographic Association, 1994; David and Brenda McLean Chair of Canadian Studies, UBC, 1997-1999; Clio Award, Canadian Historical Association, 1998; Dean of Arts Prize, UBC, 1999; Just Desserts Award, Alma Mater Society, UBC, 2001; and Honorary Professor, Shaanxi Normal University, 2001.