Desk Set  Bison  Maori Boxes

HIS DESK

DESK

BOX. On top of the Desk.

Maori box, 1935. Made of wood, it was a gift to Paul Harris from the Rotary Club of Wellington, ... More...

The origin of this box, seen in the photo above, is unknown, it was at one time on his desk in Evanston.

DESK SET. On top of the Desk.

Desk set made of polished natural wood includes a clock, calendar, inkwell, pen and pen rest. It is inscribed:

"Presented to Paul P. Harris Founder of Rotary To Commemorate his visit to the Rotary Club of North Sydney. (Aust.) 14-3-1935 Athol G. Johnston, President S. McLean, Hon. Secretary".

The following is an extract from the records of the Rotary Club of North Sydney.

"On March 14, 1935 the club was honoured by a visit from Paul P Harris, the founder of Rotary. The Rotary Club of North Sydney was the first club in Australia visited by him. Athol Johnston was the President and it was due to his fore-sightedness and energy that this came about. Paul Harris was presented with a mulgawood writing set as a token of esteem, and a tangible memento of his visit. The set graced his office table until his death in 1947.

 

STATUE. On top of the Desk.

Bison statue with white marble base. "Presented To Paul P. Harris by the Members of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg Canada (the Club that made Rotary international) at their 5th Annual International Goodwill Meeting. Commemorating the 24th Anniversary of the Founding of Rotary By Him, on FEB 23rd 1905 23-2-29". At the Goodwill Meeting in February 1929, Paul Harris was the guest speaker. The 22nd such meeting was held in 2006 and the event is now supported by all 9 Winnipeg Clubs.

STATUE. On top of the Desk.

Bison statue with black marble base. "Paul Harris from the Rotary Club of Calgary Alberta [Canada] Feb 27, 1923". . [Bison has a broken leg.]

The origin of this is currently something of a mystery. The Red Deer Rotary Club was chartered February 23, 1923, four days before the date of this gift. However there seems to be no record of Harris attending either the new club or the original Calgary Club. But, in the year 1922/1923. R. Jeffery Lydiatt, a member of the Calgary Club served as a Director of RI .and it seems probable that it was Lydiatt who presented Harris with this gift as a souvenir from his club.

CANE.

Walking cane made of wood with a curved handle. Inscription is on the band.

"Presented to Paul P. Harris as a token of esteem & affection from the Rotary Club of Essendon Victoria Australia 19-4-45". [Handle is broken.]

On the occasion of the 77th birthday of the Founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, the club sent a congratulatory cable and a figured Blackwood walking stick to arrive in time for the happy event. This handsome present from the club to President Emeritus, Paul was cut from the same block and the replica of a similar stick sent to Winston Churchill. Through some vagary of the mails no acknowledgement was received of the receipt of this gift. Following the demise of our founder, it was noted in a picture of Paul Harris', study preserved at Evanston, that a walking stick was hanging on a hall stand which answered the description of the gift and was recognized by Past President Jim Le Ray. This was confirmed by Governor Nominee, Joe Bradbury on his visit to Rotary Headquarters, Evanston. In addition to inscription on the gold band beneath the handle, the walking stick was easily recognised as the one handed around the club for inspection by members, before dispatch to the United States.

In March 2006 this item was reported missing from the Gallery, but was found behind a piece of furniture.

PITCHER. On top of the Desk.

Water pitcher, made of white ceramic, has decoration in silver. "Silver Jubilee of Rotary 1930" Bottom reads "Designed & Produced by Grays Pottery Hanley England This is No 98 of a signed and limited edition [signature] A. E. Gray". The jug is 7.5 inches high.

To celebrate Rotary's Silver Jubilee in 1930, Edward Gray designed and produced this commemorative jug, printed in silver on a cream base, with the Founder's portrait and 'landmarks in Rotary' on one side, and six flags and a list of the countries in which Rotary Clubs had been established on the other. Edward Gray had been a founder member of the Stoke on Trent Club in 1927, and was the Managing Director of the pottery company bearing his name. It is not known how many were produced but this jug, of a 'Limited Edition', is numbered 98; the Stoke Club has two, including no.232, and there is another at Taradale, New Zealand, no.209. There is a second jug in Evanston and another was sent to Paris.

Further copies of this jug were made and are inscribed with the name of F.W.Langley, the club President in 1942.  more on this story...

In 1968 the Wallingford Club in Vermont, celebrated a three-fold anniversary, honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of Paul Harris, the 150th year of the construction of the Memorial Building by his great-grandfather James Rustin, and the Club's 40th Anniversary. To observe these events, the Club issued a commemorative coin, a dollar-size coin with a bust of Paul Harris on the face and a drawing of the Memorial Building on the reverse. The bust of Paul P. Harris was done by sculptor Phil Kraezkowski, and each coin bears his signature. The Memorial Building was reproduced from a pen and ink sketch by Rotarian Gordon White of Morrisville, Pennsylvania and of Wallingford, Vermont. The coins were struck by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The medals were serial numbered and were issued in silver and bronze. One bronze and one silver coin were given to the Paul Harris Gallery.  THIS ITEM WAS ADDED SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF PAUL HARRIS.

This plaque made of etched copper, shows the 'Objects of Rotary'

This ongoing project is the work of RGHF historian Basil Lewis, first posted 7 April 2006 This section is maintained by RGHF webmaster Paul D. McLain. If you can help identify or supply more information about anything on this page, please contact us at www.historycomment.org

We acknowledge the assistance of DG 11/12 David Templin, ROTARY/One (RGHF Member), Neil Dahlmann of Rotary Club of Highland Park in District 6440, and Jack Selway, USA, with providing photos used in this section.

After you see the museum office, meet his partners and office workers at Harris Dodds & Brown. (A page of photographs of the actual office in the early 2000's)

Learn more about tours of Rotary International Headquarters