Anna Jane Harrison was born on December 23, 1912, on a family farm in Benton City, Missouri. Her parents, Albert Harrison and Mary Katherine Jones Harrison, worked the land in rural Audrain County. When Anna was just seven years old, her father died, leaving her mother to manage the farm while raising Anna and her older brother. Life on the farm was demanding, yet it fostered a strong work ethic and independence in the young girl. Her early education took place in a one-room schoolhouse near her home, the same modest building where she would later return as a teacher. She developed an interest in science during her high school years in nearby Mexico, Missouri, which set the course for her remarkable career.
Harrison enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry in 1933. Recognizing the practical need for teaching credentials in that era, she completed a second bachelor's degree in education in 1935. Between these accomplishments, she taught for two years in the very one-room school she had attended as a child, giving her firsthand experience with rural education. She then returned to graduate studies at the University of Missouri, receiving a Master of Arts in chemistry in 1937. During this period she published research on photovoltaic effects in solutions of Grignard reagents, examining voltages generated by interactions between dissimilar chemicals when struck by light. She continued toward a doctorate and completed her Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1940. Her dissertation focused on reactions involving sodium ketyls, a type of radical species.
That same year, Harrison began her college teaching career as an instructor of chemistry at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, the women's college affiliated with Tulane University in New Orleans. She remained there for several years. During World War II she contributed to national defense research. She worked with the National Defense Research Committee and later with Corning Glass Works, studying toxic gases and smokes under various environmental conditions. Her efforts supported the development of field equipment, including smoke detectors for the U.S. Army, and she received the Frank Forrest Award from the American Ceramic Society for related work. These experiences broadened her scientific expertise beyond pure academic chemistry and demonstrated her ability to apply knowledge to practical wartime needs.
In 1945 Harrison joined the chemistry faculty at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, as an assistant professor. She was drawn in part by the opportunity to collaborate with the distinguished chemist Emma Perry Carr, a longtime faculty member known for her spectroscopic research. Mount Holyoke, a women's college with a strong tradition in the sciences, provided an environment where Harrison could thrive both as a teacher and as a researcher. She advanced rapidly, becoming an associate professor and then a full professor in 1950. From 1960 to 1966 she served as chair of the chemistry department. In 1976 she was named the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Chemistry, a position she held until her retirement in 1979 as professor emeritus. After leaving Mount Holyoke she continued teaching for a time at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, underscoring her lifelong commitment to education.
Harrison's research centered on molecular spectroscopy, particularly in the far ultraviolet region of the spectrum. She investigated the absorption and photodecomposition of molecules under ultraviolet light, exploring how molecules break apart and reassemble during chemical reactions. This work contributed to a deeper understanding of molecular structure and reactivity. While her scholarly output was significant, her greatest influence came through teaching and mentoring. At Mount Holyoke she inspired generations of students, many of them women who went on to careers in science at a time when such paths were still uncommon. She was widely recognized for her clarity, dedication, and ability to make complex chemical concepts accessible.
Beyond the classroom and laboratory, Harrison assumed major leadership roles in national scientific organizations. She served as chair of the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Education in 1971. In 1978 she was elected the first woman president of the American Chemical Society, an organization founded more than a century earlier and then numbering around 150,000 members. Her election marked a historic milestone. As president she emphasized the importance of chemical education and the need for scientists to communicate effectively with the public and with policymakers. She later served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1983 and 1984. From 1972 to 1978 she was a member of the National Science Board, which advises the President of the United States and Congress on science policy. She also held positions or affiliations with the National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, the National Science Foundation, the Manufacturing Chemists Association, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and other bodies.
Harrison traveled extensively in support of science. In 1971 she visited India on behalf of the National Science Foundation. In 1974 she journeyed to Antarctica as a representative of the National Science Board to observe scientific activities on the continent. During her ACS presidency she traveled to Japan, Spain, and Thailand. These international experiences reinforced her belief that science is a global enterprise requiring broad public understanding and support.
Her contributions earned numerous honors. She received twenty honorary degrees from colleges and universities. Awards included the Citation of Merit from the University of Missouri College of Arts and Sciences in 1960, the Manufacturing Chemists Association Award in College Chemistry Teaching in 1969, the James Flack Norris Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Chemistry from the ACS Northeastern Section in 1977, and the ACS Award in Chemical Education in 1982. Colleagues remembered her as a clear and strong voice for chemical education and as a leader who demonstrated that dedication and capability know no gender barriers.
In the later decades of her career Harrison spoke increasingly about the need for improved communication of science to the general public and to government officials. She believed that a scientifically informed citizenry was essential for wise decision-making in a technological society. She also supported the advancement of women in science, serving as a visible role model through her own achievements.
Anna Jane Harrison died of a stroke on August 8, 1998, at Holyoke Hospital in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at the age of eighty-five. She had lived nearby in South Hadley. Her career spanned more than four decades of teaching, research, and leadership. From a one-room schoolhouse on a Missouri farm to the presidency of the nation's largest chemical society, she exemplified perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and a deep commitment to education. She helped open doors for women in chemistry and elevated the importance of teaching within the scientific community. Her legacy endures in the students she taught, the policies she influenced, and the barrier she broke as the first woman to lead the American Chemical Society.