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Samuel F. Morrison Collection, Circa 1936-2021

 

Summary

Abstract:
The Samuel F. Morrison Collection contains materials primarily dating from the 1970s to 2010s that document the professional and personal life of librarian Samuel F. Morrison, the creation of the Broward County Library's African American Research Library and Cultural Center, and the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center.
Extent:
67 Hollinger Boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Samuel F. Morrison Collection, African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The Samuel F. Morrison Collection is comprised of materials primarily dating from the 1970s to 2010s including correspondence, books, professional and personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, plaques, ephemera, artwork, vinyl records, and VHS tapes. These materials document the professional and personal life of librarian Samuel F. Morrison, the creation of the Broward County Library's African American Research Library and Cultural Center, and the establishment of the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center. The collection also contains materials related to Morrison's roles as director of the Frostproof Living Learning Library Center in Frostproof, Florida from 1972 to 1974, the assistant/deputy director of Broward County Library in Broward County, Florida from 1974 to 1987, the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center's chief director from 1987 to 1990, and Director of the Broward County Library from 1990 to 2003. Also included are items related to Morrison's participation and leadership in local and national organizations.

Biographical / historical:

Samuel F. Morrison was born in Flagstaff, Arizona on December 19, 1936 to parents Travis Morrison (1909-1953) and Esther Porter (1919-circa 2000). He had one sister, Pearl Lorraine Morrison Pitts (1938-1964). His father divorced Esther and married his second wife Ruth Swain (1911-1990). Morrison was primarily raised in Phoenix, Arizona. His family moved several times due to his father's job at munitions plants. He graduated from Compton High School in Los Angeles, California in 1952. Morrison earned an associate degree from Compton Junior College in 1955. Morrison entered the United States Air Force and served from 1955 to 1959. For three of those years in the service, he was stationed in Morocco and helped manage the library on the Air Force base. In 1970, he received his bachelor's degree in English from California State University. Morrison earned a Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1972 and attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University completing coursework in 1989.

From 1972-1974, Morrison worked as a library director at the Frostproof Living Learning Library Center in Frostproof, Florida. He built a library and initiated outreach services for the African American and Hispanic migrant communities. In 1974, Morrison became the assistant director of Broward County Library in Broward County, Florida and served as deputy director from 1976-1987. He assisted in the growth of Broward County Library from 2 branches to 25 branches during this time. He also managed the formation of the new Main Library branch in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Morrison lead in the construction of the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center and became the library's chief director from 1987 to 1990. In 1990, Morrison returned to Broward County as director of Broward County Library and worked in that position until his retirement in 2003. Under his leadership, Broward County Library was awarded "Library of the Year" in 1996 and grew to 38 branches. During his tenure as director, Morrison fundraised for the creation of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, which serves as a public library as well as a special collections research center dedicated to the history and culture of the African diaspora. He attended the library's groundbreaking ceremony on October 23, 1999 and opening day on October 26, 2002.

Samuel F. Morrison actively participated in local and national organizations during his career. He served in the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the NAACP, Urban League of Broward County, Florida Library Association (FLA), and American Library Association (ALA). He was president of the Florida Library Association in 1981. Morrison received awards and recognition including the FLA Lifetime Achievement Award, DEMCO/ALA Black Caucus Award for Excellence in Librarianship, Leadership Foundation Broward "Leader of the Year" Award, and the African American Achievers Award.

Morrison married Judith Moore in 1964 and divorced in 1985. He and his former wife had no children.

Acquisition information:
Samuel F. Morrison donated the materials to the AARLCC Special Collections.
Processing information:

This collection received file level processing. The finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as acquisitions to the collection.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 9 series: Series I. Correspondence, Series II. Professional Papers, Series III. Personal Papers, Series IV. Photographs and Scrapbooks, Series V. Printed Materials, Series VI. Awards, Series VII. Ephemera, Series VIII. Artwork, and Series IX. Audio-Visual Materials.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Terms of access:

The Samuel F. Morrison Collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

Samuel F. Morrison Collection, African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library.

Location of this collection:
African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Broward County Library
2650 Sistrunk Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale
FL
33311
USA