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Tom Harnett Harrisson

(1911-1976), Traveller, explorer and scholar; co-founder of the Mass-Observation social survey project

Sitter in 15 portraits
Born in the Argentine and educated at Harrow and Cambridge University. Was a member of the Oxford University expeditions to Borneo and the New Hebrides and published his first anthropological book Savage Civilization in 1936. Founded Mass Observation, 1936, with the poet Charles Madge, to establish an account of the lives of the ordinary people of Britain. During World War II he lead expeditions behind Japanese lines in Borneo and was awarded the DSO in 1946. From 1947 he ran the museum in Kuching in Sarawak, making important archaeological discoveries and establishing an international reputation. Was killed in a road accident in Bangkok in 1976.

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Tom Harnett Harrisson, by Humphrey Spender - NPG P960

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Humphrey Spender
modern archival bromide print, 1937
NPG P960

Tom Harnett Harrisson, by Howard Coster - NPG x11712

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x11712

Tom Harnett Harrisson, by Howard Coster - NPG x11713

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x11713

Tom Harnett Harrisson, by Howard Coster - NPG x11716

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x11716

Tom Harnett Harrisson, by Howard Coster - NPG x11717

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x11717

Web image not currently available

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x11714

Web image not currently available

Tom Harnett Harrisson

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x11715

Web image not currently available

Tom Harnett Harrisson; Charles Madge

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1938
NPG x12062

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