Harrison Bryan was born on 23 September 1923 in Brisbane and was educated at Brisbane Grammar School. After serving as a lieutenant in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Signal Corps, he earned an honours degree in history (1948) and a Master of Arts (1954) at the University of Queensland. He later completed librarianship training at the Public Library of New South Wales (now the State Library of New South Wales). Returning to Brisbane, he became James Forsyth Librarian (University Librarian) at his alma mater, where he worked to enhance the underfunded University Library. By the time he left for a position at the University of Sydney in 1963, he had laid the groundwork for a major academic library. He also served as President of the Library Association of Australia (1973 to 1974) and was a prolific researcher, authoring works on Australian and British libraries, as well as a history of the University of Queensland. In 1980, he was appointed Director-General of the National Library of Australia. He spearheaded resource-sharing initiatives, including the Australian Bibliographic Network, and played a key role in establishing the Australian Libraries and Information Council. In 1984, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to librarianship and received the HCL (Henry Charles Lennox) Anderson Award. The following year he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Queensland. Bryan retired from his position as Director-General in July 1985. He died on 12 February 2008, survived by his wife, Florence Jolly, to whom he was married since 1948.

The Shapcott Press was established in 1962 within the University of Queensland Library. A Columbian Press was donated to the library by Mr H.S. Shapcott and Mrs Gillespie whose husband was the partner of Ipswich Printing and Typing Services. The aim of the Press was to provide an opportunity for practical work in hand printing as well as to support a course of lectures in Bibliography and Textual Criticism offered by the English Department. The Shapcott Press ceased after the departure of the then University Librarian, Mr H. Bryan, who initially instigated the project.