[1] His son David Kent Harrison was a professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon and a Guggenheim Fellow for the academic year 1963–1964.

[1] Same year, he continued his study in Stanford for his master's degree in physics.

During World War II, he was chief of the optics division of the National Defense Research Committee, and later head of the Office of Field Service of the Office of Scientific Research and Development.

[5] He served as president of the Optical Society of America from 1945–46 and was awarded the Frederic Ives Medal in 1949.

[6] He was an Honorary Member and Fellow of OSA, and in addition to the Ives Medal, received the Mees and Meggers Awards.