Milford chronicle., 1962-07-06
UNIVERSITY NEWS

| freshman who occasionally studied
in a one room library in o l d Col
lege. The library housed less than
| 10000 volumes, had no card cata-
| log and received the part-time at
tention of Professor George A.
| Harter.
Several weeks ago, the Univer-
sity of Delaware's board of trus-
tees announced that the new Ii
brary under construction on t h e
central campus would be named in
honor of Morris, Sussex Coun-
tain whose stature and accomplish
ments as an individual have par
alleled the growth and develop
ment of the university with which
he has been so intimately associa-
ted for more than six decades.
Norris clearly recalls his early
experiences in the Delaware G o l.
lege library.
81 visited 1t on one or two oc-
casions," he said, ''but it contain
ed only a few government docu-
ments and old books of little in
terest to me. Both the Delta Phi
Literary Society, of which I was
member, and the Athenaean S o.
ciety had much better collections
in the East and West Wings of Old
College. Those interested in novels
and the humanities usually turned
to these libraries rather than to
the college collection"
After finishing his undergradu-
ate work in 1898, Norris returned
to the campus in the fall of that
year for Independent graduate
study. In a humorous and para
doxical reflection for a man who
became recognized as one of the
bers of the legal profession, Nor
ris explained, "By that time
the collection of books assembled
by Professor Vallandigham was
much improved and | took no form
al classes, but SIMPLIFY read as
much as l could. DIR. Purnell in
vited me to attend a series of lee
lures on law, but | refused be-
cause | thought he might also
want me to take an examination
on them"
Morris, a former Federal judge,
past president of the board o f
trustees and now it's honorary
counselor, has been one of those
persons greatly responsible for the
progress of the university in t h e
1900's. A faculty resolution, passed
upon the occasion of his retire
ment from the presidency of t h e
board in 1859, stated: Under his
stalwart leadership there cam e
about far reaching reorganization
of the university that included the
adoption of coeducation, the crea-
tion of new schools, and the re-
cruitment of new faculty and adj
miniStrators.
Another measure of his leader
ship was offered by his board col
leagues, who said: During his in
cumbency, great betterments of
the university have come about.
There has been a five fold increase
in the number of students taught
Through on or off mpus
programs. Fields of instruction
have been widened, with more in
tensive cultivation and consequent
greater enrichment of the intellec-
tual lives of those affected by the
university It's repute is more fav-
orable and more widespread than
ever before. Perhaps his most mon
umental contribution has been his
persuasion of others to dream, and
then do, about the university"
President John A. Perkins said,
Judge Morris, 1 have been delight
ed to discover, is leader w h
does not let one down. He SEEM
ingly has none of the human fraid-
ties either large Or small which
prevent most of us from living
constantly according to the dictat-
es of our better selves. / have been
fortunate in sharing with him a
great mutual concern and respon-
sibility-sthe thing about which he
does care greatly-the University
of Delaware"
Undoubtedly, Morris and his
turn of the century classmates
w 6l dW dl VI tUllC Pf1uthIy VI IlhO
library's holdings, the lack of a
fuH-time librarian, the limited Ii
brary hours and the struggles of
the then small college to obtain a
worthwhile, working collection
useful books and periodicals. Per-
haps, even in those dreary circum-
stances, young Morris could dream
of the future wellbeing of the uni
versity and of his contributions to
it.
But whatever his thoughts, it is
fitting, indeed, that the new library.
with it's $4,000 square feet of
floor space, its 650,000Ibook capa-
city, its reference rooms, ope n
stacks, music room, audio-visual
devices and competent, specialized
staff, will bear the name of a
man with a special interest in
books, who has done SO much to
bring the University of Delaware
to position of eminence in all its
undertakings.
DFPARTMENTC DJMINTcH