A Chronicle of Higher Education

TLDR

Harry Birkin's lifelong struggles with time and timing, evident from childhood, shaped his personal and administrative behavior. The study traces Birkin’s development through personal correspondence and institutional records across childhood, adolescence, university, and academic career. Birkin advanced to senior roles, earning such esteem that a campus building was named after him upon retirement. Harry, so to speak, marched to a different beat.

Abstract

Harry Birkin's battles with time and timing were evident from early childhood. In postcards, letters and memoranda we trace his development as a child, adolescent, undergraduate student, and his career in academia. We read of Harry's progress through his creative rationalizations for the delays and mishaps that characterized his personal and administrative behavior. He moved up the ladder to positions of increased responsibility, sufficiently admired by his colleagues, his profession and institution, to have had, upon his retirement, a campus building named for him. Harry, so to speak, marched to a different beat.