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Collection Number: 03787

Collection Title: Joseph L. Morrison Papers, 1822-1970.

This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


This collection was processed with support from the Randleigh Foundation Trust.

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Size 8.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 15,762 items)
Abstract Journalist, author, and professor of journalism at the University of North Carolina, 1946-1970. The personal correspondence deals with Morrison's work for Cantor Publishing Company, applications for research grants, teaching at the University of North Carolina, journal articles and other writings, and work with various writers' conferences. Included also is correspondence with friends and professional colleagues, particularly Harry Golden of Charlotte, N.C. The material related to his work on W. J. Cash, Josephus Daniels, and O. Max Gardner includes correspondence with people who might have known each subject; copies of articles and other printed material by or about each subject; and Morrison's research notes.
Creator Morrison, Joseph L.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
This collection contains additional materials that are not processed and are currently not available to researchers. For information about access to these materials, contact Research and Instructional Services staff. Please be advised that preparing unprocessed materials for access can be a lengthy process.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Joseph L. Morrison Papers #3787, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Joseph Morrison in 1967 and 1970.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: Suzanne Ruffing, May 1996

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

Updated by: Laura Hart, July 2021

This collection was processed with support, in part, from the Randleigh Foundation Trust.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Joseph Lederman Morrison was born Joseph Lederman in New York City in 1918. After graduation from the University of North Carolina in 1940, he taught at the University for one year. After working for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot in 1941, he served as first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, 1942-1946, where he edited Armed Services publications. In 1946, he returned to teaching in the Department of Journalism at the University where he remained for the rest of his life.

In 1947, Morrison interned with the National Association of Broadcasters. Recipient of a CBS fellowship in 1957, he received his M.A. in American history from Columbia University in 1958 and his Ph.D. in American history from Duke University in 1961.

In addition to teaching journalism at UNC, Morrison worked with WRAL and WPTF radio in Raleigh, edited trade articles for Cantor Publishing Company in New York, wrote articles for Grolier Encyclopedia International, and played violin in the University Symphony.

Morrison's books include Opportunities in Business Papers (1955); Chapel Hill Guide (1955); Josephus Daniels Says (1962); Josephus Daniels, Small-d Democrat (1966); W. J. Cash, Southern Prophet (1967); and Governor O. Max Gardner (1971). He also wrote articles on W. J. Cash, H. L. Mencken, W. C. Brann, and Josephus Daniels for various scholarly journals.

In 1946, Morrison married Pearl Penner. They had two children, Lucy and Peter. Morrison died in 1970.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Papers include general correspondence; materials on W. J. Cash, including one audiotape; material on Josephus Daniels; material on O. Max Gardener; and miscellaneous writings.

General correspondence deals with his work for Cantor Publishing Company, his applications for research grants, his articles for Grolier, his teaching at UNC, his journal articles, and his work with various writers conferences. Included also is correspondence with friends and professional colleagues, especially Harry Golden of Charlotte, N.C.

The material related to his work on W. J. Cash, Josephus Daniels, and O. Max Gardner includes correspondence with people who might have known each subject; copies of articles and other printed material about or by each subject; and typed 5" by 8" notecards used by Morrison in his research. Each card contains a quotation, precis, or statement of fact about the subject and shows the specific source of the text--newspaper, manuscript, article, pamphlet, etc.--with date and location of the source if applicable. Usually these cards are arranged in chronological order according to their content. Notecards relate to subjects discussed in Series 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Among the miscellaneous writings are seminar papers from Morrison's study at Duke and notes from other articles.

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Contents list

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. General Correspondence, 1949-1970.

About 1,450 items.

Arrangement: alphabetical.

Correspondence of Morrison arranged alphabetically by subject.

Folder 1-20

Folder 1

Folder 2

Folder 3

Folder 4

Folder 5

Folder 6

Folder 7

Folder 8

Folder 9

Folder 10

Folder 11

Folder 12

Folder 13

Folder 14

Folder 15

Folder 16

Folder 17

Folder 18

Folder 19

Folder 20

Correspondence, circa 1949-1970

  • Brann, W. C.
  • CBS Fellowship
  • Cantor Publishing Company
  • Coffin, Oscar J.
  • Cooper, Rose--Welfare
  • Dietetic Association
  • Duke School of Journalism
  • Elkins, Charles
  • Faculty Study--Library
  • Fellowship Matters
  • Golden, Harry
Folder 21-40

Folder 21

Folder 22

Folder 23

Folder 24

Folder 25

Folder 26

Folder 27

Folder 28

Folder 29

Folder 30

Folder 31

Folder 32

Folder 33

Folder 34

Folder 35

Folder 36

Folder 37

Folder 38

Folder 39

Folder 40

Correspondence, circa 1949-1970

  • Greeley, Horace
  • Grolier
  • Guggenheim
  • "Illegitimacy, Sterilization, and Racism"
  • "Images of the Jew in the Work of American Jewish Writers"
  • Johnson, Gerald (E. P. Douglass review)
  • Judaica
  • Jus Primus Noctis
  • Mencken and Odum
  • Mencken, C. S. A.
  • Moon Hoax Article
  • NC-4 Flight
  • National Jewish Post
  • News and Observer Centennial
  • North Carolina Writers Conference
  • Parker, Roy (Publisher's Auxiliary)
  • Popular Culture
  • Reader's Digest Foundation
Folder 41-55

Folder 41

Folder 42

Folder 43

Folder 44

Folder 45

Folder 46

Folder 47

Folder 48

Folder 49

Folder 50

Folder 51

Folder 52

Folder 53

Folder 54

Folder 55

Correspondence, circa 1949-1970

  • Research Grants
  • Rural Electric Cooperations
  • Scheer, George
  • School of Journalism
  • Smithwick Award
  • Smyth, Joseph Hilton
  • State School Boards Association
  • "Tar Heel Journalism" (Personal Journalism)
  • Tatum petition
  • Theta Epsilon Pi fraternity
  • Trade Journal Writing
  • Vocational Guidance manuals
  • Webb, Dr. Alex
  • Wilson, Louis Round
  • Miscellaneous
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Wilbur Joseph Cash, 1921-1941 and 1957-1970.

About 840 items.

Material relating to W. J. Cash, a native of South Carolina, who grew up in Cleveland County, N.C., attended Wofford College and Wake Forest College, taught school in Kentucky and North Carolina, worked on newspapers in Chicago, Baltimore, and Shelby, N.C., and was associate editor of the Charlotte News and author of The Mind of the South and other works. See also notecards in Series 6.

Folder 56-60

Folder 56

Folder 57

Folder 58

Folder 59

Folder 60

Cash Correspondence, 1921-1941

Copies of Cash correspondence, especially letters from Blanche Knopf.

Folder 61

Cash Commencement Speech, 1941

Transcript of the commencement address entitled "The South in a Changing World," delivered by W. J. Cash at the University of Texas, Austin, 2 June 1941.

Audiotape T-3787/1

Cash Commencement Speech, 1941

Audiotape of the commencement address entitled "The South in a Changing World," delivered by W. J. Cash at the University of Texas, Austin, 2 June 1941.

Folder 62-79

Folder 62

Folder 63

Folder 64

Folder 65

Folder 66

Folder 67

Folder 68

Folder 69

Folder 70

Folder 71

Folder 72

Folder 73

Folder 74

Folder 75

Folder 76

Folder 77

Folder 78

Folder 79

Correspondence about Cash, 1964-1970

Notes about and correspondence with people who knew Cash, especially his widow Mary Cash Maury, collected by Morrison while writing books and articles about Cash. Items are arranged alphabetically by the title of the book or article.

  • Answer to Woodward's Appraisal of Cash, 1969-1970
  • Dictionary of American Biography article on Cash, 1968-1970
  • "The Missing Editorship of W. J. Cash," 1967-1970
  • "The Mysteries Suicide of W. J. Cash," 1964-1965
  • Notes for Raleigh talk on Cash, 1967
  • "The Obsessive Mind of W. J. Cash," 1967
  • Southern Prophet, 1965-1967
  • "W. J. Cash; The Summing Up," 1970
Folder 80

Clippings, 1948-1980

Chiefly newspaper clippings about Cash.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Josephus Daniels, 1822-1970.

About 775 items.

Correspondence, notes, and copies of manuscripts relating to "Josephus Daniels and the Bassett Academic Freedom Case"; "Josephus Daniels: Southern Philo-Semite"; "Josephus Daniels, Simpatico"; "Josephus Daniels as Secretary of the Navy"; "The 'Tar-Heel editor' in North Carolina's Crisis, 1929-1932"; Josephus Daniels Says; Josephus Daniels, Small-d Democrat; and an article on Daniels for the Encyclopedia Americana Daniels was owner and editor of the Raleigh News and Observer, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, and U.S. ambassador to Mexico. See also notecards in Series 6.

Folder 81-88

Folder 81

Folder 82

Folder 83

Folder 84

Folder 85

Folder 86

Folder 87

Folder 88

Correspondence about Daniels, 1958-1966

Correspondence with people who might have known Daniels, especially his son Jonathan Daniels. Items are arranged alphabetically.

Folder 89-106

Folder 89

Folder 90

Folder 91

Folder 92

Folder 93

Folder 94

Folder 95

Folder 96

Folder 97

Folder 98

Folder 99

Folder 100

Folder 101

Folder 102

Folder 103

Folder 104

Folder 105

Folder 106

Articles on Daniels, 1947-1970

Correspondence, notes, and copies of manuscripts of books and articles by Morrison about Daniels.

  • Americana article on Daniels, 1968
  • Josephus Daniels and the Bassett Academic Freedom Case, 1961-1962
  • Josephus Daniels as Secretary of the Navy, 1964-1965
  • Josephus Daniels Says, 1958-1962
  • "Josephus Daniels--Simpatico," 1962-1963
  • Josephus Daniels, Small-d Democrat, 1966-1968
  • "Josephus Daniels Southern Philosemitel," 1947; 1962-1963
  • "The 'Tar Heel editor' in North Carolina's Crisis, 1929-1932," 1966
  • "Was Josephus Daniels a 'Buffalo'?" 1960-1963
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. Oliver Maxwell Gardner, 1903-1970.

About 720 items.

Material accumulated by Morrison while researching O. Max Gardner, governor and politician of North Carolina. See also notecards in Series 6.

Folder 107-125

Folder 107

Folder 108

Folder 109

Folder 110

Folder 111

Folder 112

Folder 113

Folder 114

Folder 115

Folder 116

Folder 117

Folder 118

Folder 119

Folder 120

Folder 121

Folder 122

Folder 123

Folder 124

Folder 125

Gardner Correspondence, 1903-1947

Copies of Gardner's correspondence and one folder of his wife's correspondence from the period after his death.

Folder 126

Fay Webb Gardner Correspondence, 1947-1966

Folder 127-132

Folder 127

Folder 128

Folder 129

Folder 130

Folder 131

Folder 132

Correspondence about Gardner (Morrison), 1964-1970

Letters from Morrison to people who might have known Gardner, with correspondence about his book on Gardner grouped at the end.

Folder 133-137

Folder 133

Folder 134

Folder 135

Folder 136

Folder 137

Correspondence about Gardner (replies), 1968-1970.

Letters from people who knew Gardner, especially Faye Gardner, Ralph Webb Gardner, Edwin Gill, and Drew Pearson.

Folder 138-139

Folder 138

Folder 139

Notes on Interviews, 1968-1970

Notes on interviews about Gardner.

Folder 140-142

Folder 140

Folder 141

Folder 142

Research Materials, 1968-1970

Miscellaneous research materials, including Edwin Gill's memoranda on Gardner.

Folder 143

Clippings, 1902-1970

Newspaper clippings relating to Gardner.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 5. Miscellaneous Writings and Pictures, 1959-1968.

About 650 items.

Arrangement: alphabetical.

Typescripts of miscellaneous articles and seminar papers and pages 54-277 (chapters 4-15) of a work on Benedict Arnold. (See also notecards in Series 6.)

Folder 144-150

Folder 144

Folder 145

Folder 146

Folder 147

Folder 148

Folder 149

Folder 150

Writings

"Brann the Iconoclast"

"Canada or Guadeloupe, 1759-1763"

"E. L. Godkin as Silkstocking Liberal"

Godkin Notes

Pulitzer Notes

"The Zionist Movement's East-West Struggle"

"Canada or Guadeloupe, 1759-1763"

"E. L. Godkin as Silkstocking Liberal"

Godkin Notes

Pulitzer Notes

"The Zionist Movement's East-West Struggle"

Folder 151-154

Folder 151

Folder 152

Folder 153

Folder 154

Benedict Arnold Typescript, Ch. 4-15

Folder 155

Miscellaneous

Image Folder PF-3787/1

Pictures, 1964 and undated

  • Photograph of Joseph L. Morrison
  • Photograph of engraving of Joseph E. Robinson
  • Photograph of engraving of J. P. Caldwell
  • Photograph of W. O. Saunders
  • Photograph (retouched) of R. Don Laws
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 6. Notecards, 1957-1970.

About 11,025 items.

Arrangement: chronologically.

Primarily typed notecards containing quotations, precis, or other data from Morrison's research.

Box 14

Notecards about W.J. Cash and Josephus Daniels

Box 15

Notecards about Josephus Daniels and Oliver Maxwell Gardner

Box 16

Notecards about Oliver Maxwell Gardner and other research topics

Includes information on Joseph Pulitzer, E. L. Godkin, imperialism, and the Cliveden set.

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