Education: News Story

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Six years ago Negro Edward Lee Harris, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1927 and then taught chemistry at Texas' Negro Bishop College, returned to Pitt to study for his Ph.D. degree. The only way he could support his wife and two children was by working nights as a janitor in Pitt's State Hall. This spring obscure Janitor Harris was on the verge of his Ph.D. but did not know how to raise the $150 necessary for his final graduation fee. Then he was uncovered by newshawks and photographers searching for copy for the University's sesquicentennial celebration (TIME, June 14). Interviewed among his mops and pans, he made some by cheerfully observing: "I get a kick out of the physical exertion. . . . It is good work and I intend to keep right at it if conditions warrant."

His story was promptly featured by the Pittsburgh press, picked up by the Associated Press, United Press, Scripps Howard's N. E. A. Feature Service. Before the sesquicentennial publicity died away Janitor Harris had outstripped by clipping count Pitt's celebrated Football Coach Dr. John Bain ("Jock") Sutherland and become Pitt's No. 1 news story of the year.

Last week Janitor Harris shyly acknowledged the uses of publicity. Having secured his degree with the help of a flutter of checks from alumni and sympathetic newspaper readers, he announced his appointment as head of the chemistry department at Wilberforce (Negro) University at Wilberforce, Ohio.