Paul Harris Books online:

(Paul Harris' home page)

The Founder of Rotary

This Rotarian Age

My Road to Rotary

(excerpts and ordering information only)

Paul Harris had more than a few challenges early on. There are stories that Harry Ruggles kept the "boys" from disbanding more than once by quite literally jumping into song. But when the meetings began to have long reports of news about new clubs, mostly from the west coast and the work of Homer Wood, the club became unsettled. When it was clear that many in the club did not want time taken up with talk of "extension" of new clubs, ironically, Rotary's 4th president, who'd saved Rotary with a song, Harry Ruggles? Well, he and Charles Newton put their heads together to pick someone who would stop Paul Harris. They picked the man who would become the "Builder of Rotary" Chesley R. Perry.

Now, read the actual sections of "The Golden Strand" by Oren Arnold, copyright Rotary Club of Chicago 1966.  (signed copy at right Thomson)

How did the book get its name? See Glasgow Rotarian Harry Lauder.