The Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation

News:

The Paul & Jean Harris Home is ready for visitors!

On your next visit to Chicago, arrange a tour of Comely Bank, the Home of Paul and Jean Harris. Visits are by appointment only at this time. Please contact us at least a week in advance to arrange your visit.

Please support the Home by purchasing a brick for the front walkway or the back patio. Prices range from $250 to $2,500. Your donations help maintain this historic part of Rotary history.

Click HERE for the brick order form.

The Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and your gift is tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

The Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation greatly appreciates the ongoing support of:

The Rotary Club of Chicago (ROTARY/One)

Rotary International District 6450, the Birthplace of Rotary.

Home of Paul Harris, original photograph

Who was Paul Harris?

Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905 so business people and professionals with diverse backgrounds could form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

Our Foundation works to preserve the home of Paul Harris, and his wife, Jean Thomson Harris, who lived there together from 1912 until 1947.

The Paul and Jean Harris’

Home Foundation

  • The Paul and Jean Harris’ Home Foundation is a not-for-profit Illinois corporation established in 2004 to own and manage the Home of Paul and Jean Harris, named by them as Comely Bank.

  • Interior renovations of the Home are substantially complete, restoring the Home to the condition it was in 1947 when Paul Harris passed away.

  • Rotarians are working together to raise the money necessary to complete the extensive Friendship Garden that the Home enjoyed during Paul’s lifetime.

  • While much work has been done, the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation needs your help in its quest to restore this Rotary monument to its full former glory.

Who was Paul Harris?

Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905 so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Our Foundation works to preserve the Home of Paul Harris and his wife, Jean Thomson Harris.

Home of Paul Harris, original photograph

About the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation:

  • The Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation is a charitable not-for-profit Illinois corporation established in 2004 to own and manage the Home of Paul and Jean Harris.

  • Renovations are on underway to restore the Home to the condition it was in on the date in 1947 when Paul Harris passed away. The Foundation manages that work.

  • Rotarians are working together to raise the money necessary to retire the debt created in buying and renovating the Home, and create an endowment to pay for the operation of the Home as a museum.

  • While much work has been done, the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation needs your help in its quest to restore this Rotary monument to its former glory. Major donors will be recognized on the Home’s Donor Wall and through multiple naming opportunities.

Be Part of the Legacy

We need your help to preserve the Paul & Jean Harris Home!

Join the over 450+ Rotarians and Benefactors who have already donated!