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Paintings by Paul Harris

 

Paul and Jean Harris with one of Paul's paintings in 1941 at ROTARY/One's Business Exhibition

The source of the photo is Nicholl's book - 'The Golden Wheel'. (Cal Thomson)

In the winter of 1940, Paul and Jean Harris were vacationing in the newly formed ‘resorts’ just outside Hollywood, California.

 

The restless Paul Harris, a man who had never really retired, was again looking for a new project. In his Californian desert retreat, surrounded by so much natural beauty, he suddenly got the urge to express himself on the canvass.

 

There were many artists present at his resort. One of them was Mrs Matille Prigge Seaman (pictured with Harris). Matille took up the role of Art Teacher to the enthusiastic Paul Harris.

 

Paul Harris subsequently gifted these paintings to Rotary headquarters with his ‘signature, “Mike Jr”. When asked to explain the meaning of this name, Harris explained it was short for Michelangelo Jr.

 

 “But Michelangelo was quite some painter”, someone at RI HQ retorted.

 

“I know”, said Paul Harris, “but I always believe in starting at the top!”

 

Rotary Global History Fellowship senior historian Calum Thomson 25 February 2006
The reception area of the Rotary Archives. The two oil painting on the walls, representing desert scenes in California, USA, are by Paul Harris. He playfully signed them "Mike, Jr." Mike, he joked, was short for Michelangelo RGHF Committee member (voice of Paul Harris) Art McCullough provided the two (see below) 2003 photographs from Palm Springs, CA, USA. It is the general area where Jean and Paul Harris were vacationing when he created the two paintings shown above.
Two more of "Mike Jr's" originals The two photos below are in the ROTARY/One offices in Chicago  (Jack Selway photos)
Home SECTION HOME Paul P. Harris, The Founder of Rotary International SEARCH
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A Gift for Paul Global Views of PH Argentina Scotland Turkey Rawlins Survey
Rawlins Answers Restless Years Signatures Harris Autographs Harris Checks Doc's & Charters
Harris Letters This Rotarian Age Speech, 1928 "Friendship Trees" Wallingford, VT South Africa 1934
Tribute to Harris Peregrinations My Road To Rotary Founder of Rotary Europe 1932 European Tour 1928
RIP Letters PH in The Rotarian Harris Philosophy Radio Speech 1933 30th Anniversary Jean & Paul
Photo Gallery Distant Sense A Road Traveled Perry by Harris Paul's Bio of Jean Harris Timeline
Books All Harris Writing Rotarian Articles Convention Messages Meet Paul Harris  
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The contents of this website, our electronic features and newsletters have been researched, collected, compiled, and written by Rotarians. RGHF Mission: As an effort to serve others, RGHF accumulates and preserves the complete history, values and philosophy of the Rotary movement, as well as encourages others to do the same at every level of the Rotary movement, and publishes those histories, values and philosophies on the internet, as well as other forms of media as expedient. 17 March 2003, amended 20 December 2007, Rotary Global History Fellowship Board of Directors.

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