Joseph L. Morrison Papers, c1966-1967

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-2020-035

Staff Only

Content Description

The Joseph L. Morrison Papers consists of a galley proof of his book, "The Prophet of the South: A Biography and Reader of W.J. Cash." The collection also includes correspondence to Alfred A. Knopf Inc. Materials are in fair condition and are dated c1966-1967. (The proof is dated c1966, given that Alfred A. Knopf published the book in 1967.)

Dates

1966 - 1967

Creator

Morrison, Joseph L., 1918-1970 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to the public without restriction. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to duplicate or publish material from this collection must be obtained from the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Lederman Morrison was born on May 28, 1918 in New York City. Morrison graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1940, and taught there for one year. He also served in the Army Air Corps as first lieutenant from 1942-1946. After completing his military service, Morrison went back to Chapel Hill to teach as a professor in the Department of Journalism, where he spent his entire career.

He was a very talented author. His works 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 for scholarly journals. He also served as an editor for Cantor Publishing and writer for Grolier Encyclopedia International. In addition to his writing career, he was also involved in Raleigh's radio stations WRAL and WPTF.

Morrison first "met" W.J. Cash in 1941 at a presentation at Chapel Hill for aspiring journalists in high school. At that time, Cash was an editor of the Charlotte News and author of "The Mind of the South." Morrison was deeply impressed both by Cash himself as well as his literary works. A mere two months after the presentation, Cash committed suicide while in Mexico with his wife for the Guggenheim fellowship. Morrison was curious about Cash's bitter fate and began to research small bits of biographical data, which eventually "became the nucleus of a systematic search."

In 1946, Pearl Penner and Joseph Morrison married and had two children, Lucy and Peter, to whom his book on W.J. Cash is dedicated. Morrison died on November 11, 1970 and is buried in Durham, North Carolina in Durham Hebrew Cemetery.

Extent

0.27 Cubic Feet

1.22 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Joseph Lederman Morrison (1918-1970), was born in New York City, and later became a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, from 1940-1970. Morrison wrote W.J. Cash, Southern Prophet, among several other books. Wilbur Joseph “W.J.” Cash (1900-1941), was a journalist and author of The Mind of the South. Morrison’s book traces his life until Cash took his life in 1941.

This collection contains documents in fair condition dated c1966-1967.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged in the original order in which it was received.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The immediate source and date of acquisition for this collection is unknown.

Related Materials

Authors—W.J. Cash. (CALL NUMBER: NCR VERTICAL FILES)

Cash. W.J. The Mind of the South. New York: Knopf, 1941. (CALL NUMBER: NCR 975)

Morrison, Joseph L. The Obsessive “Mind” of W.J. Cash. Chapel Hill: School of Journalism, University of North Carolina, 1965. (CALL NUMBER: NCR 804.91 CASH)

Bibliography

Finding Aid-Biographical Information, Joseph L. Morrison Papers #3787, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

JewishGen, comp. JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. bit.ly/3fQjmU8.

Joseph L. Morrison Papers, c1966-1967. Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Condition Description

Materials are in fair condition. The documents are extra long in length and folded in half. Many of the edges are torn up and curled.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of this collection was completed by Sydney Carroll, July 2020.

Subjects

Authors Subject Source: Local sources
Biography Subject Source: Local sources
Cash, W. J. (Wilbur Joseph), 1900-1941
Journalism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Knopf, Alfred A., 1892-1984
Southern States--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings