A few weeks ago I was getting things ready for Stanford's Homecoming Reunion when my supervisor told me that Stanford's oldest living alum was from the Class of 1932. I thought that this was pretty amazing, so I got in touch with the Stanford Daily editors and proposed a feature article about Lawrence W. Harris, Jr. '32, born July 23, 1911.
Yesterday, my interview was published. Mr. Harris is a very sweet man and even though his hearing aid gave out a few times while I spoke to him, it was a delight to get to know him. He was so involved while he was in school! I went through his yearbook, and I found all of these photos of clubs he was in. Can you imagine? When the stock market crashed, he was a sophomore in college. He lived through the Great Depression, both World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement... and so much more. He's 99 years old!* I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.
The last photo is Mr. Harris's senior portrait from 1932. Seventy-eight years later, he's still looking back on his memories at Stanford. The funny thing is that today I have my senior portrait appointment scheduled. I wonder what I'll think of it in 78 years.
Click here if you'd like to read the interview.
*He's also been married to his wife, Jane, since 1939. So sweet.
Yesterday, my interview was published. Mr. Harris is a very sweet man and even though his hearing aid gave out a few times while I spoke to him, it was a delight to get to know him. He was so involved while he was in school! I went through his yearbook, and I found all of these photos of clubs he was in. Can you imagine? When the stock market crashed, he was a sophomore in college. He lived through the Great Depression, both World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement... and so much more. He's 99 years old!* I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.
The last photo is Mr. Harris's senior portrait from 1932. Seventy-eight years later, he's still looking back on his memories at Stanford. The funny thing is that today I have my senior portrait appointment scheduled. I wonder what I'll think of it in 78 years.
Click here if you'd like to read the interview.
*He's also been married to his wife, Jane, since 1939. So sweet.
All photos courtesy of the Stanford Quad.
That is awesome! I love hearing old people's stories....they have been through so much and experienced so many different things. It's so sweet that he's been married to his wife since '39. Swoon!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat opportunity to get to interview him! I love hearing about what universities were like way back when.
ReplyDeleteThat's really neat! I love hearing real peoples own accounts with history. I'm lucky enough to still have a great grandma around (97 years old) and she lived in SF during the great depression. I love hearing her stories!
ReplyDeleteIt's really nice hearing stories from back in the days. great post!
ReplyDeleteThis is really incredible! I can't imagine how much he's done in his 99 years of life. And it kind of makes me want to cry happy tears that he's been married to his wife since 1939. xo
ReplyDeleteI interned with 2 Stanford students at the embassy here this summer...all they talked about was Stanford, Stanford, Stanford! :) I know hold a special place in my heart for that school. They represented it well.
ReplyDelete*now, not know
ReplyDeleteAw I'm glad that the Stanford love is making its way around. It actually took me a while to love the school, but I think that now I really do.
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