Summary
Overview
Morris, Roland S. (Roland Sletor), 1874-1945.
1855-1988 (mostly 1915-1929)
2.25 linear feet, 4 boxes
Abstract
Roland S. (Sletor) Morris was a leader of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania and was the ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921. The Roland S. Morris Papers consist of correspondence, diaries, writings, and other materials that document Morris's family life, political involvement in the Democratic Party, and his position as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921.
Description
Description
The Roland S. Morris Papers consist of correspondence, diaries, writings, and other materials that document Morris's family life, political involvement in the Democratic Party, and his position as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921. The collection includes correspondence between Morris and his family, particularly his wife, Augusta Shippen West, as well as official incoming correspondence during Morris's ambassadorship and correspondence from Woodrow Wilson and Edith Bolling Wilson to Morris. Diaries and journals include travel accounts from Morris and his wife, along with a description of Morris's mission to Siberia in 1919 written by Frank C. MacDonald, an assistant at the Japanese embassy. The Writings section of the Morris Papers includes published and unpublished works relating to Japan and diplomacy. Biographical material includes information on the Morris family, particularly Morris's marriage to Augusta Shippen West in 1903.
Collection Creator
Biography
Roland S. (Sletor) Morris was a leader of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania and was the ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921. Morris was born in Olympia, Washington on March 11, 1874 to Thomas Burnside Morris and Sarah Arndt Sletor. Morris attended the Lawrenceville School before entering Princeton University in September 1892. He graduated in June 1896, and went to the University of Pennsylvania Law School from 1896-1899, graduating cum laude. After receiving his law degree, Morris practiced law in Philadelphia at the firm of Duane, Morris and Heckscher. Morris was also politically active; he was the Chairman of the Democratic State Finance Committee in 1908 and from 1913-1916; additionally, he was a delegate or delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1904, 1908, 1912, 1920, and 1928. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as Ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921, and sent him on a special mission to Siberia from 1918-1919. Morris was a professor of international law at the University of Pennsylvania beginning in 1924, the Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, President of the American Philosophical Society, a trustee of both Princeton University and Temple University, and a Regent of the Smithsonian Institute.
Morris married Augusta Shippen West in Philadelphia on April 20, 1903 and they had two children, Sarah Arndt Morris and Edward Shippen Morris. He died in Philadelphia on November 23, 1945.
Collection History
Acquisition
Gift of Roland Machold, July 10, 2006, January 2008, and January 2009.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jennifer Cole in February 2007. Finding aid written by Jennifer Cole on May 8, 2007.
Bibliography
The Roland Sletor Morris Undergraduate Alumni File was consulted during preparation of the biographical note.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Curator of the Public Policy Papers. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Roland S. Morris Papers; 1855-1988 (mostly 1915-1929), Public Policy Papers, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Contents and Arrangement
Arrangement
The Roland S. Morris Papers are organized into the following categories: Correspondence, Diaries and Journals, Writings (Of Morris and Others) and Biographical Materials. Within these sections the folders are arranged alphbetically except the Diaries and Journals, which are arranged chronologically.
Roland S. Morris Papers, 1856-1988, 1915-1929
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