IN MEMORIAM: ED NEWTON HARRISON, 1914–2002

Abstract

outstanding and innovative teaching assistant at the City University, initiated an informal systematics seminar, and organized and taught a highly successful museology course. He also helped prepare for the AOU's centennial meeting at the Museum in 1983. Peter was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Museum of Natural History, working with Richard Zusi on bird morphology and evolutionary systematics. In 1988, Peter moved across The Mall to the Smithsonian Institution Press, as a technical editor for the Smithsonian Contributions and Studies series program and then the acquisitions editor for the natural sciences. He became director of the press in September 1996, but resigned for health reasons in January 2002. Peter's most significant contribution to ornithology was as the editor and publisher of important books on birds and other relevant aspects of biology that increased both public and professional understanding of those fields. He also helped conceive and launch three new series: Smithsonian Series in Comparative Evolutionary Biology, Zoo and Aquarium Biology and Conservation Series, and Biological Diversity Handbook Series. In addition, he developed copublishing arrangements with foreign publishers, including the Natural History Museum of London, BirdLife International, New Holland Publishers (Australia), and Southern Book Publishers (South Africa). Peter was a voracious reader, a tireless networker, intrepid and fearless at approaching the biggest names, and dogged in working with authors to finish their manuscripts. Many authors found his encouragement, vision, and editing skills indispensable. Aside from his work, Peter's chief interests were his home and his wife Amanda and their children, Tom, Oliver, and Louisa. He took a particular delight in how creatures related to one another. He could speak knowledgeably about most of the plants and animals found in the mid-Atlantic woods and shore. During the year of his illness, Peter's values never changed. He accepted with grace the incapacities that came and went and came again. During a period of remission when his strength returned and he took to exercise machines, he said he intended to come back with a better brain and a better body. Another time, when he was very weak, he was asked whether there was anything from that experience he thought others could learn. To look carefully at everything, he replied, just as he would have in health. Thanks to his energy and influence, many valuable books were written and published. In addition to his wife and children, Peter is survived by his parents, a sister, three brothers, and their families. We thank Vincent Burke and Duke Johns at the Smithsonian Institution Press, Mary LeCroy at the American Museum of Natural History, and Richard Zusi at the National Museum of Natural History for assistance.