Bust of Paul Harris. Inscribed "SERVIR".

This bust was created for the 50th aniversary of Rotary in 1955.  An item about this bust appeared in 'The Rotarian' magazine in August 1955  which states:

"At the request of the Rotary Club of Rio Cuarta, Argentina, of which he is a member, LIBERO PIERINI, a talented sculptor, has modelled a bust of the Founder of Rotary International, PAUL P. HARRIS. Copies of it in bronze, plaster, and postcard photographs have been distributed by Rio Cuarta Rotarians as a Golden Anniversary project. In writing to Rotary Clubs all over the world announcing the project, JOSE MARTORELLI, Golden Anniversary Chairman, notes that the bust is 'an amazing likeness'."

It seems that this copy of the bust of Paul Harris was perhaps donated to RI  by a club in Belgium, who received it from a Rotary scholar they sponsored, who presumably went to Argentina in 1963-64 on a Rotary scholarship. A photograph in the archives has this following caption taped to the original matte board:

HOMMAGE CORDIAL DU ROTARY CLUB DE RIO CUARTO (ARGENTINE) A SON CONFRERE DE

_________ (BELGIQUE): CE PORTRAIT DE PAUL HARRIS, OEUVRE DE NOTRE ASSOCIE

LIBERO PIERINI, PAR MEDIATION DE MONIQUE FILLOY, NOTRE BOURSIEREDE LA

"ROTARY FOUNDATION" 1963-1964. (two signatures - illegible)

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

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