MTGMss495.xml Guide to the Melvin S. Morris Papers 1925-1981 Morris (Melvin S.) Papers Finding aid prepared by Jodi Allison-Bunnell (2004) Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula
Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
© 2004 Finding aid encoded by Jodi Allison-Bunnell 2004 Finding aid written in English. University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana—Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 495 Morris, Melvin S., 1907-1986 Melvin S. Morris Papers 1925-1981 5 linear feet 10 boxes and 15 reels of film Melvin S. Morris was Professor of Range Management in the School of Forestry at the University of Montana--Missoula. The collection contains biographical materials, correspondence, writings, teaching materials, subject files, photographs, and films related to Morris' research and teaching on range management. Materials are in English Biographical Note

Melvin S. Morris was Professor of Range Management in the School of Forestry at the University of Montana-Missoula. Born July 9, 1907 in Denver, Colorado, he received his B.S. in Forestry in 1930 and M.S. in Botany in 1932 from Colorado State University. Professor. Morris did advanced work in botany at the University of Chicago in 1940-1941. He began teaching and research at the University of Montana in the fall of 1936. He conducted research in fields of grassland ecology, range management and wildlife nutrition. In 1954-1956, he was project manager for a study of elk nutrition in the Blackfoot Valley for the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. Professor Morris wrote numerous articles which have been published by the Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station and by professional journals. Mr. Morris was president (1966-1967) of the American Society of Range Management and was affiliated with several other professional organizations. He was president of the Montana Academy of Science in 1946. His academic and honorary affiliations include Alpha Zeta, Phi Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, and Chi Sigma Pi. He was a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science and an Honor Alumnus of College of Forestry, Colorado State University. Professor Morris retired June 30, 1972. In the mid-1970s, he served on the Navajo Environmental Protection Commission. He died at his home in Missoula on November 9, 1986.

The collection contains biographical materials, correspondence, writings, teaching materials, subject files, photographs, and films related to Morris' research and teaching on range management at the University of Montana. It documents his interest in the National Bison Range; elk nutrition in the Blackfoot River valley; winter range at Camas Prairie and Perma, Montana; and mining reclamation and range issues on the Navajo Reservation. Photographs are concerned with range research, elk nutrition, and events in the University of Montana's School of Forestry, including annual senior trips, fire training, and the campus. Films are in color and document School of Forestry trips and range conditions in Montana.

The collection is arranged in seven series:

Series I: Biographical, undated, 1 folder

Series II: Correspondence, 1936-1983, 0.25 linear feet

Series III: Writings, 1932-1944, 2 folders

Series IV: Teaching, 1935-1972, 0.75 linear feet

Series V: Subject Files, 1925-1981, 3.25 linear feet

Series VI: Photographs, 1937-1956, 1 linear foot

Series VII: Film, circa 1951-1955, 15 items

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

[Name of document or photograph number], Melvin S. Morris Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

The main collection was in the possession of the Morris family until time of donation. One addition to the collection may have been part of the University of Montana Forestry Library.

Gift of Eleanor Morris, 1991; apparent gift of Irene Evers, 2000.

The original processors arranged the collection as it arrived in 1991 and numbered it collection UM 13; photographs were separated to the photograph collection, and the films were described as Film Collection 15. In 2004, the collection was re-numbered as Mss 495, photographs and films were re-integrated, and an unprocessed addition of subject files and photographs received in 2000 was added.

In 2021, all motion picture film reels were cleaned, cored, and rehoused for preservation purposes.

Five match boxes of animal scat (rabbit, sheep, gopher, ground squirrel, pygmy rabbit) transferred to University of Montana Zoology Museum, 1997. University of Montana publications were transferred to the Archives' University Publications collection in 2004.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

University of Montana-Missoula--Faculty University of Montana-Missoula--School of Forestry Camas Prairie (Mont.) National Bison Range (Mont.) Navajo Indian Reservation--Environmental conditions Perma (Mont.) Elk--Montana--Blackfoot River Valley--Nutrition Forestry schools and education--Montana--Missoula Range management--Study and teaching--Montana--Missoula Range management--Navajo Indian Reservation Range management--West (U.S.) Rangelands--Montana -- Camas Prairie Rangelands--Montana -- Perma Reclamation of land -- Navajo Indian Reservation Photographs Motion Pictures Montana Colleges and Universities Forestry teachers -- Montana--Missoula Series I Biographical undated 1 folder

This series contains a single folder of biographical materials about Morris, including an undated vita.

 1/1 undated Series II Correspondence 1936-1983 0.25 linear feet

This series contains Morris' professional correspondence that relate to his teaching and research interests in range management, ecology, and wildlife nutrition.

 1/2 1936-1964 1/3 1965-1968 1/4 1969-1973 1/5 1974-1975 1/6 1976-1980 1/7 1981-1983 Series III Writings 1932-1944 2 folders

This series contains Morris' 1932 thesis on the forage value of chaparral and a summary of a faculty seminar on college teaching that was presented by Ernest Melby at the University of Montana.

1/8 M.A. Thesis, Forage Value of Chaparral 1932 1/9 Summary, faculty seminar 1944 Series IV Teaching 1935-1972 0.75 linear feet

This series contains materials related to Morris' years of service to the University of Montana. It includes student papers from Morris' range management courses and materials from the School of Forestry's annual senior class trip that were used to produce complete scrapbooks of the trips. The books include diaries of the trips, lesson materials, photographs, and logistics materials.

 1/10 Student papers 1935-1962 1/11 Student papers 1965 1/12 Student papers 1966 1/13 Student papers 1972 1/14 Student papers undated 2/1 Range Management class trip 1938 2/2 Range Management class trip 1940 2/3 Range Management class trip 1941 2/4 Range Management class trip 1950 2/5 Range Management class trip 1951 2/6 Range Management class trip 1952 2/7 Range Management class trip 1953 Series V Subject Files 1925-1981 3.25 linear feet

This series contains materials produced and collected by Morris in the course of his research and other work-related activities. Many of his writings appear here with contextual information about the reason and circumstances of their authorship. Materials include bibliographies on range management topics, articles by Morris and others, and reports. There are significant materials on the National Bison Range, topics related to the U.S. Forest Service, and from his service to the Navajo Nation. Most of the materials, however, relate to range conditions and management in Montana.

 3/1 Bibliography on range management topics undated 3/2 [National] Bison Range undated 3/3 Class notes, Colorado Agricultural College [ca. 1928-1932] 3/4 Coal mining, southeast Montana 1974 3/5 Elk, Morris publications on 1956-1957 3/6 U.S. Forest Service 1948-1964 4/1 Forestry 1967-1981 4/2 Forestry undated 4/3 Grasslands 1925-1969 4/4 Grazing 1934-1972 4/5 Herbicides 1950-1969 4/6 Herbicides 1970-1975 5/1 Ranch Planning 1965-1969 5/2 Rangeland 1931 and undated 5/3 Rangeland 1970 5/4 Reports on range management 1930-1970 5/5 Reports on range management 1914-1959 5/6 Range management, material organized and numbered 1-124 undated 5/7 Range management, material organized and numbered 125-247 undated 6/1 Rangeland undated 6/2 Range forage plants 1935-1946 6/3 Sagebrush/grasslands 1931-1981 6/4 Sagebrush/grasslands undated 6/5 Soil conservation 1938-1977 7/1 Navajo/Wesco: Environmental protection and coal gassification 1975 7/2 Navajo Reservation uranium mining 1974-1975 7/3 Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority 1975 7/4 Navajo Tribe/U.S. Department of the Interior 1975 7/5 Navajo Tribe, proposed coal lease 1975 7/6 Memors from the Navajo Nation on environmental protection 1975-1976 7/7 Navajo strip mine reclamation 1975 7/8 Navajo Indian grazing and forestry 1975 7/9 Navajo mining 1975 7/10 Clipping, Morris on coal mining reclamation undated 8/1 Elk nutrition study 1949-1956 8/2 Elk nutrition study 1929-1955 8/3 Elk nutrition study 1955-1956 8/4 Elk nutrition study 1955-1956 8/5 Elk nutrition study 1954-1955 8/6 Elk nutrition study, data 1954-1955 8/7 Poisonous plants undated 8/8 Forest grazing undated 8/9 Forest range studies 1959 9/1 Noxious plant control 1956 9/2 Classification systems, soil 1953-1971 9/3 Range management case histories undated 9/4 Land use study 1946 9/5 Miscellaneous undated Series VI Photographs 1937-1956 1 linear foot

This series contains photographs produced and collected by Morris in the course of his work at the University of Montana. They include images of the campus, the university grass nursery, forest fire training for students, and the annual senior forestry trips. There are also photographs that appear to have been produced in the course of research, including images of rangelands in Montana, ranches, and materials from the elk nutrition study in the Blackfoot Valley.

 93-2485 Mount Sentinel, Missoula, Montana ca.1957 94-2486 Cemetery at Laurin, Montana October 19, 1941 93-2487 Rangeland 15 miles northeast of Livingston, Montana October 18, 1941 93-2488 Rangeland nine miles southwest of Choteau, Montana September 19, 1941 93-2489 University of Montana campus; Missoula, Montana undated 93-2490 Range Management class on Mount Sentinel overlooking University of Montana campus. undated 93-2491 Trees growing out of old mining loading ramp, Ruby Creek, Beaverhead National Forest. July 28, 1951 93-2492 Mel Morris out checking range conditions. undated 93-2493 Mel Morris out checking range conditions. undated 93-2494 Mel Morris out checking range conditions. undated 93-2495 Mel Morris out checking range conditions. undated 93-2496 Lolo student fire camp 1942 roster. ca.1942 93-2497 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2498 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2499 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2500 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2501 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2502 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2503 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2504 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2505 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2506 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2507 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2508 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2509 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2510 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2511 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2512 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2513 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2514 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2515 Training at Lolo Fire Camp. ca.1942 93-2516 Big Prairie Ranger Station; Airplane depot. undated 93-2517 University of Montana, Old Football stadium. undated 93-2518 University of Montana, Old Football stadium. undated 93-2519 University of Montana, Old Football stadium. undated 93-2520 University of Montana, Old Football stadium. undated 93-2521 University of Montana, Old Football stadium. undated 93-2522 University of Montana campus, Missoula, Montana. undated 93-2523 University of Montana; Physical Plant. undated 93-2524 University of Montana students working on restoring "Big M" on Mount Sentinel undated 93-2525 University of Montana students working on restoring "Big M" on Mount Sentinel undated 93-2526 University of Montana students working on restoring "Big M" on Mount Sentinel undated 93-2527 University of Montana students working on restoring "Big M" on Mount Sentinel; view of campus undated 93-2528 Men working on University of Montana campus. undated 93-2529 Men working on University of Montana campus. undated 93-2530 University of Montana Range Management Class. undated 93-2531 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2532 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2533 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2534 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2535 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2536 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2537 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2538 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2539 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2540 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2541 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Winter 1955 93-2542 University of Montana, Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Elk Nutrition Project. Al Mullen (In plaid) John Lowell (in doorway) Winter 1955 93-2543 University of Montana Campus undated 93-2544 Mel Morris Class picture undated 93-2545 American Society of Range Management Display undated 93-2546 Group Photograph of Range Managers undated 10/1 Elk nutrition study [1955-1956] 10/2 Eastern Montana, Dillon, and Gardiner range lands undated 10/3 Camas Prairie and Perma, Montana, winter range Lomasson [ca. 1937] 10/4 Range conditions 1937 10/5 Intermediate wheatgrass undated 10/6 University of Montana, Forestry School trips undated 10/7 University of Montana, grass nursery undated 10/8 Miscellaneous/unidentified undated Series VII Film ca. 1951-1955 15 reels 16mm film

This series contains color 16mm films produced by Morris; none have sound. Most are of University of Montana School of Forestry trips, with accompanying scenes from range and wildlands. There is one shot that shows the University of Montana's "M" in the mid-1950s.

Digital copies are available for all films.

 495(VII):1 University of Montana Forestry School, trip, landscape and ranch shots ca. 1951 495(VII):2 University of Montana School of Forestry trip ca. 1951 495(VII):3 Landscape shots ca. 1952 495(VII):4 Landscape and ranch shots, Mexican (?) town ca. 1953 495(VII):5 Montana State Game Refuge, forestry trip, landscape shots, petroglyphs, and logging ca. 1953 495(VII):6 University of Montana School of Forestry trip, ranch and landscape shots ca. 1953 495(VII):7 Elk, deer, buffalo, and helicopter ca. 1954 495(VII):8 University of Montana School of Forestry trip, landscape and ranch shots ca. 1954 495(VII):9 Releasing elk into the wild, cattle ranch, deer, and landscape shots ca. 1955 495(VII):10 Ranch and landscape shots, shot of University of Montana's "M" undated 495(VII):11 University of Montana School of Forestry trip undated 495(VII):12 Elk in pen, University of Montana School of Forestry trip undated 495(VII):13 Landscape shots, dam, University of Montana School of Forestry trip undated 4959(VII):14 Logging, landscapes undated