Irving Harris
Encyclopedia
Irving B. Harris was an American
businessman and philanthropist
. With his brother, he co-founded the Toni Home Permanent Company, which was sold to the Gillette Safety Razor Co. in 1948.
Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, Harris did much of his charitable work in Chicago, Illinois, but he also donated substantially to the arts in Aspen, Colorado
. Harris contributed most of his money to programs for children and the arts such as the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance. He attended Yale University
and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1931. In 1986, Harris gave a donation that established The Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at The University of Chicago
. Mr. Harris gave the lead gift in 1954 to create public television station WTTW
in Chicago - he later served as the station's Chairman of the Board. His philanthropy created several non-profits in Chicago - Family Focus (with Bernice Weissbourd) and the Ounce of Prevention Fund are "children" of Irving Harris, as is Erikson Institute
, the graduate school in child development he helped found in 1966.
Harris published a book, Children in Jeopardy, in 1992. Harris had a wife named Joan; two daughters, Roxanne Harris Frank and Virginia Harris Polsky; and a son, William Harris.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. With his brother, he co-founded the Toni Home Permanent Company, which was sold to the Gillette Safety Razor Co. in 1948.
Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Harris did much of his charitable work in Chicago, Illinois, but he also donated substantially to the arts in Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
. Harris contributed most of his money to programs for children and the arts such as the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1931. In 1986, Harris gave a donation that established The Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at The University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. Mr. Harris gave the lead gift in 1954 to create public television station WTTW
WTTW
WTTW channel 11 is one of three Public Broadcasting Service member public television stations serving the Chicago, Illinois market; the others are WYCC and WYIN. WTTW began broadcasting on September 6, 1955 and it is owned and operated by Window to the World Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit...
in Chicago - he later served as the station's Chairman of the Board. His philanthropy created several non-profits in Chicago - Family Focus (with Bernice Weissbourd) and the Ounce of Prevention Fund are "children" of Irving Harris, as is Erikson Institute
Erikson Institute
Erikson Institute is a graduate school in child development located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It is named for the noted psychoanalyst and developmental psychologist, Erik Erikson.-History and mission:...
, the graduate school in child development he helped found in 1966.
Harris published a book, Children in Jeopardy, in 1992. Harris had a wife named Joan; two daughters, Roxanne Harris Frank and Virginia Harris Polsky; and a son, William Harris.