Scope and content note
This collection consists of correspondence, 10 volumes (notebooks, journals, etc.), sketchbooks, and ca.150 drawings.
 
Although Benjamin Yoe Morrison (1891–1966) was chief of the Division of Plant Exploration and Introduction of the U.S.D.A. (1934–1948) and the first director of the U.S. National Arboretum (1937–1951), the papers in this collection deal mostly with his activities after retirement (1951), when he lived and had his nursery in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The correspondence (1924–[1945–1965], boxes 1–2) concerns plant breeding and the exchange or sale of seeds and bulbs, as well as information about his work and the work of fellow horticulturists, publication of his National Horticultural Magazine, and business of the American Horticultural Society, which he helped to found and in which he was very active.
 
Most of the letters are to Morrison. Among the correspondents are Samuel Caldwell, Nashville; Mr. and Mrs. Morris Clint, Brownsville, Texas; Walter S. Flory, Blandy Experimental Farm, Boyce, Virginia (see general correspondence folder at the end of the correspondence section); Leo Hannibal, Concord, California; Frederic P. Lee, Chairman, Advisory Council, U.S. National Arboretum (see general correspondence folder at the end of the correspondence section); Alida Livingston, Oyster Bay, New York; Ralph Pennington, Atlanta; R. Ruffier-Lanche, Grenoble, France; S. E. Satomi, Tokyo, with translations of volumes III and IV (ca.55 typescript pages) of Chosei-karin-sho, as well as “A Descriptive List of Satsuki in Japan” (46 typescript pages); Donald Stryker, Langlois, Oregon; Roberta Watrous, Washington, D.C.; and Guy Wilson, Brougshane, Colorado and Antrim, N. Ireland (see general correspondence folder at the end of the correspondence section). Among the plants discussed are Azalea, lilies, Lycoris, Narcissus, and Zephyranthus.
 
In addition, there are six boxes of manuscripts and reports (published and unpublished, handwritten and typewritten, original and carbon copy, some including sketches and photographs), and notes. Among these are manuscripts for a work on the Satsuki azalea, a bulletin on azalea cultivation, and various other writings on azaleas; manuscripts for works on bulbs, ornamentals, Narcissus, and landscape architecture, the last stemming from a journey to Japan; and a copy (14 carbon typescript pages) of a description of the U.S. National Arboretum (by Morrison?). There are copies of reports of a horticultural trip to Britain, France, Germany, and Holland (ca.1931?, 170 carbon typescript pages), “General Discussion of Existing Stations and Other Agricultural Centers” (in Colombia, observations made [by Morrison?] 1943–1944, 80 carbon typescript pages), “Agricultural Study of Peru” (partially written by Morrison and under his supervision, ca.1942, 43 mimeographed pages), “Glenn Dale Azalea Check List” (1951, 47 mimeographed pages), breeding notes (n.d., two notebooks), and a journal of observations (January–October 1916) while in Japan and China on a Sheldon Traveling Fellowship in landscape architecture from Harvard University. Also found here are Morrison’s libretto for Salve Regina (presumably copyrighted ca.1957) and certificates, letters of introduction, and other personal documents (1915–1962), including some relating to his trip to Japan in 1916 and to his World War I service as a Second Lieutenant, Sanitary Engineers. Additional materials include sketchbooks and over 150 drawings in various media of Chinese and Japanese gardens and other scenes (box 9, oversize drawer 27, and shelved). 

Other resources
Individual and group portraits of this subject are available from the Hunt Institute portrait collection. Thumbnails of the individual and group portrait holdings are available as PDFs for research purposes. For publication-quality images, contact the Archivist to place an order.

Biographical citations for this subject are available from the Hunt Institute biographical collection as a PDF.

Our Botanists’ Art exhibition includes artwork and information about Morrison.

Artworks by Morrison are held by Hunt Institute’s Art Department. For more information, search the Catalogue of the Botanical Art Collection at the Hunt Institute database.

Box 10
Preservation photocopies of noted material in collection

Additional material, shelved
Journal, 1916
 
Three sketchbooks (pastel and pencil), 1916 and n.d. 
 
Oversize drawer 27
Various pastel, watercolor, and pen-and-ink sketches, apparently exhibited by Morrison in Kyoto, 1916 (explanatory material in box 9). 36 pieces.
 
Six woodcuts of nonbotanical scenes. 
 
One passport (1916) indicating that Morrison was traveling to China, Japan, and French Indochina to study landscape architecture. In portfolio.
 
Certificate (July 1935) stating that Morrison was a delegate to the Sixth International Botanical Congress, Amsterdam. 
 
Some of Morrison’s botanical drawings are in the Institute’s Art Department.