Norris, Dr. Harry Waldo1862-1946

NORRIS, RULIFFSON, BRIGGS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/24/2010 at 17:49:04

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) July 17, 1946

H.W. NORRIS PASSED AWAY TUESDAY NIGHT

Distinguished Scholar and Veteran Faculty Member Is Gone

Dr. Harry Waldo Norris, 83, from 1891 to 1942 professor of zoology at Grinnell college, and since 1941 emeritus professor, died at his home here late Tuesday night after four weeks' illness.

The only 50-year faculty member in Grinnell's 100-year history, Dr. Norris never missed a class or lecture because of illness. Thousands of students, many of whom became distinguished scientists in their own right, received the splendid training and scholarly inspiration of his teachings.

Dr. Norris engaged in internationally recognized research on the comparative anatomy of the nervous system and published researches including some 60 titles. He also made a singularly valuable contribution to the life of the college in his chapel and vesper talks and his activity on the faculty, of which he was chairman for many years.

"The uncompromising and clear-eyed integrity that characterized the true scholar he succeeded in carrying over into all his living and doing," President Emeritus John S. Nollen recently wrote of him.

GRADUATED IN 1886

Born in Pittsfield, N.H., Sept. 11, 1862, Dr. Norris was graduated from Grinnell (then known as Iowa college) in 1886, receiving his A.M. in 1880. He was honored with a doctor of science degree by the college in 1924. His graduate work included study at Cornell university, the University of Nebraska, and Freiburg, Germany.

In 1913-14 he was an exchange professor at Harvard, and at various times he taught summer courses at the Universities of Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota.

He had a great part in helping laboratory sciences to win their full place in the Grinnell curriculum, through many a skirmish with faculty proponents of the older restricted course of study. The result was the firm establishment of a new concept of a rounded college course as including the liberal arts and sciences.

Dr. Norris began his teaching with a year's instructorship in 1888-89. After graduate work at Cornell he returned to Grinnell in 1891 as Stone professor of biology and zoology and curator of the museum until 1903, when he continued as Stone professor of zoology and curator until 1932. From 1931 to 1941 he was research professor of zoology.

He married Harriet Victoria Ruliffson of Lincoln, Nebr., a graduate of the University of Nebraska, in 1892. She survives, together with three children, Waldo W. Norris, Greeley, Colo.; Mrs. Fielding G. (Genevieve) Barnett, Reno, Nev.; and Selden H. Norris, Grinnell, a member of the college faculty. There are six grandchildren.

Two brothers preceded him in death, but a sister, Mrs. W.G. Briggs of Ault, Colo., and two brothers, Moses L. Norris of Fort Collins, Colo., and Ernest C. Norris of LaSalle, Colo., survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon from the Smith Funeral Home in charge of Dr. J.S. Nollen, president emeritus of Grinnell college and Rev. Leland W. Mann, pastor of the Congregational church.