Member Spotlight: Pary Harris '65

By Rigby Philips '21

Pary Harris ‘65 has been making scrapbooks for the Maryland men’s basketball team for she-doesn’t-know-how-long. But these aren’t your run-of-the-mill hobby scrapbooks.

“It’s totally different,” Harris says. “Really what we’re doing is chronicling the events that happen each year.”

Harris and her friend Maria Jackson primarily use the Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post and the Diamondback to collect articles and photographs for the scrapbooks. They also supplement with pictures and news from social media. The two work to make the scrapbooks as personal as possible — Jackson even takes photos at every game.

“We didn’t have Twitter back then,” Harris says. “Now that we do, we grab what we can online, but the books are getting a little bit too big.”

The tradition started with Lefty Driesell, iconic men’s basketball coach, in the 70s. He requested that the the Fastbreakers create scrapbooks documenting each player’s season—including the ones on the bench. Harris is the second person ever to be in charge of the project, which she took over decades ago. She has been scrapbooking ever since.

What motivates Harris, she says, is developing a personal relationship with each of the players.

“When they call you years later, and they’re still thanking you for their scrapbook,” Harris says.“It’s rewarding to know what it meant to them.”

One of her greatest memories is attending the 2002 Final Four games and the Championship Game in Atlanta, where Maryland defeated Indiana 64-52.

“It meant so much to so many people,” she recalls.

Harris stays connected with Maryland through more than scrapbooking — she is also a life member of the Alumni Association.

“I joined way, way, way, way back,” Harris said. “Maryland was everything I thought a big school should be,” she said, “and of course I got my education there, and I can’t say enough positive things about Maryland.”

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