Martin F. Morris Papers

Collection — Box: 1, Folder: 1-17

Identifier: GTM-191122

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Scope and Contents

Autograph manuscripts include the lecture series “History and Development of Constitutional and Civil Liberty.” The collection also contains additional lectures on law, as well as notebooks. Also, obituary notices, funeral cards, and file on the Morris Medal, founded eponymously in 1875. Included are photocopies of letters to Georgetown College president, J. Havens Richards, S.J., re Morris (dated 1889-1909).

Dates

Creation: 1875 - 1909

Creator

Morris, M.F. (Martin Ferdinand), 1834-1909 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.

Biographical / Historical

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Martin F. Morris was born on December 3, 1834, in Youghal, Ireland. After graduation from Georgetown University in 1854, Morris entered the Jesuit novitiate at Frederick, Maryland. However, his plans for joining the priesthood changed on the death of his father, when he decided to study law to better provide for his mother and sisters. Morris entered private practice in Baltimore, Maryland (1864-1867); and in Washington, D.C. (1867-1893).

Morris was one of the founders of the Georgetown Law School in 1871; teaching Constitutional law from 1876 to 1909; and serving as Dean in 1907. While at Georgetown, he published “Lectures on the History of the Development of Constitutional and Civil Liberty” (1898). Morris received a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) honorary degree from Georgetown University in 1877.

On April 14, 1893, Morris was nominated by President Grover Cleveland, to serve as Associate Justice on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (now the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit). The appointment was confirmed by the Senate on April 15, 1893; and was held by Morris until retirement on June 30, 1905.

Morris died on September 12, 1909, in Washington, D.C.

Source: Wikipedia