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Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material, 1920-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Morrison Music Company
Title
Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material
Dates
1920-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
.84 cubic feet, (2 boxes plus oversize materials)
Collection Number
Lib1990.8 (accession)
Summary
Sheet music, recordings, publications and other material produced by or related to a Seattle based publishing and recording company
Repository
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library

P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public by appointment. Advance notice is required to listen to sound recordings.

Additional Reference Guides

A complete list of the collection's sheet music titles is available in the repository.

Languages
English.
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Historical Note

Howell O. "Morrie" Morrison (1888-1984) and Alice Nadine Morrison (1892-1978) created the Pacific Northwest's first local popular music empire, the Morrison Music Company. The Morrison's business began as a sheet music publication company, capitalizing on the success of Alice's hit songs, the royalties from which provided the company's start-up capital. The sheet music company evolved into a series of family-run business enterprises which included dance studios, instrumental groups, a recording and record manufacturing business, and a film production endeavor, under such names as: Morrison's Marimba Xylophone Orchestra, Morrison's Dancing Academy, Morrie's Musical Comedy Co., and Morrison Music Company, Electronic Recorders and Associates.

Though the Morrison's son Lew and grandson Ken carried on the professional music legacy, the Morrison music empire came to an end after the deaths of Alice and Morrie Morrison in 1978 and 1984.

Information source: HistoryLink.org

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Content Description

Sheet music, recordings, publications and other material produced by or related to the Seattle based Morrison Music Company and the related enterprises of Howell O. "Morrie" and Alice Morrison. The sheet music collection includes many songs written by Alice or Morrie Morrison, published by Morrison Music Co. as well as other publishers; music by other composers published by Morrison Music Co.; and a small file of sheet music by Seattle area and other publishers. The collection also includes several sheets of manuscript music, mostly by Alice, Morrie or Lew Morrison. Dance related publications include two booklets by Morrie Morrison containing practical and theoretical information on dance, as well as several sheets of dance instructions and diagrams and a group of materials about Morrison's "Elysian Phenemona" approach to creativity and dance.

Recordings include various sized discs produced by Morrison Record Co. and other record companies, and sample and blank recording discs from several companies.

Photographs depict Jackie Souder's Orchestra, which recorded on the Morrison label, and the Andrews Sisters, who recorded Alice Nadine Morrison songs.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in series:

  • Sheet music
  • Dance instruction
  • Sound recordings
  • Writings by Morrie Morrison
  • Photographs and drawings
  • Ephemera

Location of Collection

5a.2.4

Location of Collection

5a.4.10

Location of Collection

VI.a.17

Acquisition Information

Gift of Lew Morrison (Morrie and Alice Morrison's son); received in 1990.

Processing Note

Items related to including Morrison Music Company from accession no. 1993.41 were added to the collection in 2011.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Sheet music

    Arranged by publisher.

    • Published by Morrison Music Company, 1919-1977

      • Description: 1-37c: Music composed by Alice, Nellie (Morrie's sister), Morrie or Lew Morrison
        39 items

        Some of the songs are written by one of the Morrisons and another composer.

        Includes the sheet music for Alice Nadine Morrison's "My Love Is All For You," a waltz that became locally popular and was reissued by the Chicago-based sheet music company Forster Publishing (see folder 1/3). The song became a nation-wide hit which eventually sold a half-million copies. Also includes the music for "Love's Ship," which sold a reported one million sheet music copies and was included in the score for the 1920 movie Shore Acres; and the music for the show "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," produced by Morrie Morrison. Also includes the orchestration for "Under the Moon of Tahiti," by Alice Nadine Morrison and Abe Brashen (1945) and professional sheet music copies.

        Dates: 1920-1977
        Container: Box/Folder 1/1
        Location: Sheet music / Published by Morrison Music Company, 1919-1977
      • Description: 38-71c: Other composers
        37 items
        Dates: 1936-1970
        Container: Box/Folder 1/2
        Location: Sheet music / Published by Morrison Music Company, 1919-1977
    • Description: 72-75b: Published by Forster Music Publisher, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
      5 items

      Consists of sheet music for five Alice Nadine Morrison songs: "Say You'll Be Mine (My Love is All For You)," a reissue for national distribution, "Sweet Anabel," "Orinoco," "Pan American," and "Love's Ship."

      Dates: 1920-1922; 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Sheet music
    • Description: 76-89: Published by Seattle area publishers
      14 items

      Sheet music by miscellaneous composers (excluding the Morrisons) published by companies and individuals in Seattle, Mercer Island and Olympia.

      Dates: 1931-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Sheet music
    • Description: 90-91: Other publishers
      2 items

      Includes "Playmate of Mine" by Morrie's sister Nellie Morrison, published by Weaver Music in Vancouver, B.C.; and "Chong (He Come From Hong Kong)" by Harold Weeks, published by Leo. Feist Inc., New York.

      Dates: 1919, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Sheet music
    • Description: 92-113: Manuscript sheet music
      22 items

      Manuscript sheet music by Alice, Morrie, and Lew Morrison and others

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Sheet music

  • Dance instruction

    • Description: 114: Ballroom Dance Book: A Journey of a Thousand Steps with music and instruction by Morrie "O," published by Sinclair and Morrison, Seattle
      Dates: 1942
      Container: Box/Folder 1/7
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 115: Morris Morrison's Dance Book: A Journey in the Land of Terpsichore

      This volume introduces Morrison's "Newmo--a new motion-a new mode of social dancing"

      Dates: 1955
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 116: "Dance Steps of the Month," pamphlet published by Morrison Music Company with with sheet music and instructions for "Newmo" dancing
      Dates: 1956
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 117: "Dance of Mexico"

      Sheet music of "authentic Latin music" by Macario Luna with dance instructions on back cover, published by Morrison Music Company

      Dates: 1963
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 118: "La-De-Da" dance instructions, published by Morrison Music Company
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 119: "Learn to dance the Bossa Nova" instructions from Morrison records
      Dates: circa 1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 120: "Morocco" instructions, probably a record insert, from Morrison records
      Dates: circa 1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 121-123: Morrison Records dance recordings lists with dance instructions included
      3 items

      Includes instructions for the "International Dance," the "Gayway," the "Boston Two-Step," the "Spanish Waltz," and the "Pan-American."

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 124-126: Dance description without diagrams (typewritten and handwritten)
      3 items
      Dates: circa 1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1/9
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 127: Instruction for "Lady of Spain," sent to Morrie Morrison by Gordon Moss
      Dates: 1952
      Container: Box/Folder 1/10
      Location: Dance instruction
    • Description: 128-129: Manuscript dance diagrams
      2 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/11
      Location: Dance instruction

    • Dance instruction ephemera

      • Description: 130-131: Lists of Morrison Company dance records
        2 items

        One typewritten list of Morrison Records "best pattern dances" and trifold advertisement for Morrison Music Company dance records.

        Dates: circa 1947
        Container: Box/Folder >1/12
        Location: Dance instruction / Dance instruction ephemera
      • Description: 132: "Gay Nineties Dance Club" membership list, handwritten on hotel register page
        Dates: 1941 November-December
        Container: Box/Folder 1/13
        Location: Dance instruction / Dance instruction ephemera
      • Description: 133: Invitation to the Danceart Club dances at the Dreamland Ballroom, Fourth Avenue, Seattle
        Dates: circa 1941
        Container: Box/Folder 1/13
        Location: Dance instruction / Dance instruction ephemera
      • Description: 134: Flier for dance lessons given by Morrie Morrison at the Encore Ballroom, East Pike at 13th, Seattle
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 1/13
        Location: Dance instruction / Dance instruction ephemera

    • "Elysian Phenomena", circa late 1960s-1980s

      The "Elysian Phenomena" was promoted by Morrie Morrison as "an astounding breakthrough into a world of new conception," which espouses methods "combining, blending and utilizing the forces from Eleven Essential Sensates" to improve life "physically, spiritually and mentally." One the sensates was Movement, expressed through "Elysian Dancing," which purportedly improved and extended the lives of those who practiced it.

  • Sound recordings and sample recording discs

    Arranged by record label or type, then by size

  • Writings by Morrie Morrison

    • Description: 189: Untitled dialogue
      4 pages

      Typewritten dialogue on Morrison Music Company letterhead, presumably by Morrie Morrison

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/16
      Location: Writings by Morrie Morrison
    • Description: 190: Poem: "Once I was a Mountain"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/16
      Location: Writings by Morrie Morrison
    • Description: 191: Poem: "A Saturday Night in Dawson"
      8 pages

      Written by Morrie Morrison with illustrations by D. Griffen and D. McGowan

      Dates: 1920
      Container: Box/Folder 1/16
      Location: Writings by Morrie Morrison

  • Photographs and drawing

    • Description: 192: Jackie Souder's Orchestra
      Dates: circa 1945
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs and drawing
    • Description: 193: The Andrews Sisters signing autographs at table

      Written on verso: Andrews Sisters - Recorded songs by Alice Nadine Morrison

      Dates: circa 1946
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs and drawing
    • Description: 194: Photocopy of drawing of Morrie Morrison
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/17
      Location: Photographs and drawing

  • Ephemera

    • Description: 195: H.O. Morrison business cards
      2 cards
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: 196: Blank stationery and envelope for Morrison Music Company
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/18
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: 197: Forms

      Blank copyright registration forms and musicians' union contract

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/19
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: 198: Poster sized advertisement for Morrison Publications (located at 720 Queen Anne)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Drawer VI.a.17
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: 199: Poster for Vin Plunkett and his Jazz Band

      Writing on back is probably song lyrics or a poem by Morrie Morrison

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/20
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: Poster "Old Time Dance The Western Rangers"

      missing

      Dates: undated
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: 200-202: Programs
      3 items

      Program for Harvest Hoe-Down at the Civic Auditorium, September 23, 1949 with music by Morrie Morrison's Western Rangers 15 piece recording orchestra, and programs for "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," at the Metropolitan Theatre, directed by Morrie Morrison. Back page of Hoedown program is a full page advertisement for Morrison Music Company records.

      Dates: 1947, 1949
      Container: Box/Folder 1/21
      Location: Ephemera
    • Description: 203: Clippings
      5 items
      Dates: 1948-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 1/22
      Location: Ephemera

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Dance music--20th century
  • Music publishing--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Sound recording industry--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Morrison, Alice Nadine, 1892-1978
  • Morrison, Howell Oakdeane, 1888-1984
  • Morrison, Lew, b. 1913

Corporate Names

  • Morrison Music Company
  • Morrison Records

Geographical Names

  • United States--Washington (State)--Seattle

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera
  • Sheet music

Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson
2009

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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