Harrar, Ellwood S. (Ellwood Scott)

Ellwood S. Harrar served as a Professor of Wood Technology at Duke University from 1936 to 1974, and as Dean of the Duke University School of Forestry from 1957 to 1967. He researched and published extensively on forestry and dendrology.

From the description of Ellwood S. Harrar papers, 1928-1975. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 52444811

Ellwood Scott "Scotty" Harrar was born on January 18, 1905 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Oberlin College for two years, but received his bachelor's degree from the New York College of Forestry at Syracuse University. Syracuse also awarded Harrar his master's and doctoral degrees, in 1928 and 1936, respectively. Harrar taught at the College of Forestry at the University of Washington in Seattle from 1928 until 1936, when he joined the faculty of Duke University.

At Duke, Harrar began as an Associate Professor of Wood Technology, and in 1945 became a full Professor of Wood Technology. In 1957, he was named Dean of the Duke University Graduate School of Forestry. He served in this capacity until 1967, and in 1974 Harrar retired from teaching. In his 38-year career at Duke, Harrar left only once: during World War II, he served as Chief Administrative Engineer of the Airplane Division of the Curtiss Wright Corporation.

During his tenure at Duke, Harrar participated in a number of professional organizations, including the Society of American Foresters, of which he was elected Fellow in 1965. He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the International Society of Wood Anatomists from 1938-1948, President of the North Carolina Forestry Council in 1958, and President of the Forest Products Research Society in 1959. Harrar published extensively, and his Textbook of Dendrology became a staple of forestry programs across the country. Other popular publications included his Guide to Southern Trees and his numerous articles on forestry and dendrology topics for the Encyclopedia Britannica .

Harrar was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from his alma mater, Syracuse in 1961. In 1967, he was named a James B. Duke Professor, the highest honor awarded to faculty at Duke University. In 1974, Harrar donated his collection of over 5,000 wood samples to the Winterthur Museum in Winterthur, Delaware, for future researchers. Harrar died on February 5, 1975, at the age of seventy.

From the guide to the Ellwood S. Harrar Papers, ., 1928 - 1975, (University Archives, Duke University)