Background
Harrison, William Preston was born on April 12, 1869 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Carter H. (5 times mayor of Chicago) and Sophinisba Grayson (Preston) H.
Harrison, William Preston was born on April 12, 1869 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Carter H. (5 times mayor of Chicago) and Sophinisba Grayson (Preston) H.
Educated Marquette School, Chicago, and Chicago U. Pvtly. tutored in Germany, France and Spain.
1 son, Carter. Entered real estate business, Chicago, 1889. Editor public Chicago Times, 1891-1895. Traveler and newspaper correspondent for Times, Post, Inter-Ocean (all Chicago), 1895-1901.
Around the world, 1888-1889, in Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides (living with natives), 1894-1896, in Europe and North. Africa, 1896-1901, and 1926, Mexico, Central America, West Indies, 1903, 07, 10, the Orient, 1919.
Continued real estate operations, 1901-1915. Art collector and patron, since 1918.
Vice-president Board of Governors, Los Angeles Museum. Vice-president Museum Association, Los Angeles Museum.
Director Friends of Huntington Library and Art Gallery.
Member board of trustees Associates of University of California in Los Los Angeles Founded Mr. and Mistress William Preston Harrison Gallery American Art, Los Angeles, 1918, now part of Los Angeles Museum, consisting of 50 American oil paintings and 50 contemporary American water colors. Founded Mr. and Mistress William Preston Harrison Gallery of Modern French Art, Los Angeles, now part of Los Angeles Museum, 1926, consisting of 30 French oil paintings and 90 French water colors and drawings (all accepted by City of Los Angeles as vested rights in perpetuity).
Member board of trustees Associates of University of California in Los Los Angeles
Married Ada Marie Sandberg, July 3, 1915.