Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons¹²

Norman Wait Harris

American banker (1846–1916)

Norman Wait Harris (August 15, 1846 – July 15, 1916) was an American banker. He founded Chicago-based N.W. Harris & Co., the predecessor of Harris Bank as well as its affiliate Harris, Forbes & Co.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Norman Wait Harris (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Aug 15, 1846, died Jul 15, 1916.¹

Companies

BMO BankFounder¹¹

Early life and education

Date not recordedWestfield State University³

Career

Occupation: banker, investment banker, philanthropist.⁶

Date not recordedFounded Chicago Community Trust⁴
Date not recordedFounded BMO Bank⁵

Personal life

BornAug 15, 1846, Becket^{7 8}
DiedJul 15, 1916, Lake Geneva⁹
CitizenshipUnited States¹⁰

Philanthropy

In his later years, Harris was a philanthropist supporting a wide range of institutions, particularly in Chicago. Harris made substantial gifts to the University of Chicago, which in 1924 endowed an "Institute of Politics"; the Field Museum, where a $250,000 gift was used to fund a public school expansion; and the YMCA. In 1913, Harris gave $250,000 to Northwestern University for the construction of Harris Hall of Political Science and History (today known as Harris Hall), which is located at the front gate of the University.

Harris also gave a substantial gift to the Chicago Training School for Home and Foreign Missions, the largest training school of its kind for Methodist missionaries in the United States. Harris, who was actively involved with the Methodist Episcopal Church, donated the land for the construction of its main campus and chapel.