Morris David Morris papers, 1929-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Morris, Morris David
Title
Morris David Morris papers
Dates
1929-1989 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.05 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Collection Number
6223 (Accession No. 6223-001)
Summary
Materials relating to the work and career of a professor of Economics at the University of Washington
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Morris David Morris was a professor of economics at the University of Washington from 1949 to 1981 and was a driving force behind the growth of South Asian Studies in the United States.

Morris was born on February 10, 1921 in San Francisco, California, remaining there for his childhood. He was educated in public schools and worked for his father’s business, providing uniforms for streetcar workers. He attended the University of California at Berkley starting in 1937, majoring in Economics. Following his graduation in 1941 he worked in a shipyard for a brief time, then in 1942 he took a job with government services as a Junior Economist at the War Production Board in Washington D.C. Eventually he joined the U.S. Army Air Force and served during WWII. In 1946 Morris went back to UC Berkley to obtain his graduate degree. In 1949 he joined the economics faculty at the University of Washington. During his time at UW his research shifted from labor union in California to labor forces in India. Through the Fulbright program he visited India from 1951-1952. Morris wrote numerous essays during his career, in particular on the history of the Indian economy and problems of economic development, and had a great influence on the creation of South Asian Studies programs. His work led him to develop the Physical Quality of Life Index as a measurement of economic health.

He retired from the University of Washington in 1981, after which he took on the appointment of the Henry R. Luce Professor of Sociology and Comparative Study of Development at Brown University. Morris was also active in national initiatives for the development of the study of South Asia in the United States, such as the American Institute of Asian Studies and H-ASIA. Morris also worked with the World Hunger Program at Brown University. He remained a professor at Brown until his retirement in 1991. He continued to teach at Brown and also at Brandeis University. During this time, Morris donated much of his personal library to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, including a number of rare books on India's economy.

He died March 12, 2011 at the age of 90, survived by his wife Michelle B. McAplin and two sons, Noah and Sam.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Hand-written and typed notes, work plans, referee reports, and copies of correspondence with a whole generation of mainly American historians researching the economic and social history of the non-western world.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyrights retained by creator. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Tirthankar Roy, London School of Economics

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 Agriculture - 561
1 Articles & Notes 1929-1971
1 Burmen Organization 1968-1972
1 Distribution Equity 1973-1976
1 Agriculture - Output and Productivity 1968-1972
1 Population - 561 1962
1 Entreprenueurships 1953-1972
2 IEH Business Organization 1965-1972
2 Qualifications of Poverty 504 1970
2 Britain after 1800 1954-1963
2 Foreign Investment 1950-1962
2 Irene Gilbert Education 1967
2 Distribution Equity 1978
2 Epidemics 1977
2 Retardation 1956-1963
2 Foreign Trade Chapter Notes 1971
2 Labor Population - 561 1953-1969
2 Development Indicators 1972-1978
3 Marcia Frost BP LF 1881-1961 1974
3 Values & Entreprenuership/Burmen Organization 1969-1975
3 Huloueal Experience w/ Stages 504 1960-1971
3 IEH - Caste & Social Structure 1967
3 GNP Quantification 1948-1966
3 Structure of Enterprise 1954-1964
3 561 - Extracts on Labor Supply 1948
3 France 1955-1958
3 England to 1800 1947-1959
3 Civil War - Economic Effects 1966
4 Foreign Trade Articles 1954-1976
4 Widening of Markets - 561 1954-1968
4 International Committee of Director, Humecal Stahher Projects (HIS) 1967-1989
4 Famine 1976-1981
4 IBH 18th Cent. 1954-1974
4 CTI Mainly 1914 1954
4 ED Morality & Health 1975-1978
4 El Co. Trade 1968
4 Bombay City
4 Historical Actual Consumption Patterns 1974-1979
4 F. Buchanan Hamilton 1960-1982
4 Asian Studies Materials 1999
4 IEH General Interpretations 1964
5 Price Revolutions & Capital Accumulations 1942-1958
5 Education Irene Gilbert 1968
5 Assorted Research Materials 1932-1974
6 Coal 1960-1972
6 Assorted Loose Research Materials 1933-1977
6 Agricultural Output Etc. 1962-1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Economics--Study and teaching--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Morris, Morris David--Archives

Corporate Names

  • University of Washington. Department of Economics--Curricula
  • University of Washington. Department of Economics--Faculty

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives