Henry Harris was born in Olympia, Washington, on October 27, 1874. He was a member of Stanford University's "Pioneer Class" which graduated in 1895, and went immediately into his medical training at Johns Hopkins Medical School and Hospital. Following a postgraduate period of study in European clinics, he came to San Francisco to establish himself in general practice. He taught medicine at Cooper College (Stanford), and also lectured on the history of medicine at the University of California Medical School. Dr. Harris authored many medical articles, but is chiefly known for his book California's Medical Story, published in 1932. Following the publication of this book, Dr. Harris was made an honorary member of the San Francisco County Medical Society; as the first librarian of that organization, he also established the beginnings of the Society's historical archives. Dr. Harris became active in the cause of Zionism in 1920. He served as president of the San Francisco Zionist District for three years, and continued to be prominently identified with that work until his death in 1938.