Morris Campus

Museum

In June 2005, a classroom was dedicated by the Morris Campus principals to be used as a campus museum. The aesthetic development of the Morris Museum began in early September, 2005. In the fall, a rededication ceremony was held to officially commemorate the beginning of the museum and campus development. The Morris Campus Museum received a grant from Bronx Councilwoman Foster of $86,000, and plans are underway to make the museum interactive with the services of an architect. The coordinating committee depends on ideas and support from our school and outside community members to help in the museum development.

Purpose

In anticipation of the closing of Morris High School in June 2005, the Morris Campus Museum was established to celebrate and promote the legacy of Morris High School. The goals of the Morris Campus Museum are as follows:

to develop appreciation for the building and community

to foster pride in the campus and its history

to celebrate elders from the Morris alumni and community

to provide a historical perspective of the building and the Bronx

to provide a database for historical resources

Visits

Visits are currently scheduled by appointment only. To make an appointment contact Jane Berkowicz at (718) 5423700 ext. 1010

Plans are underway to train student docents to conduct tours of the museum and building

The museum will be open to teachers, classes, parents, students, and community members

Museum Curriculum

The following were developed by the staff and are available for implementation by teachers:

A Museum Scavenger Hunt

Neighborhood Immigration Unit

Oral History Unit Presently, a curriculum is being developed by campus teachers for an after school, campuswide class to teach students museum management as docents and curators of the museum.

Artifacts

A midget sports team is a young person’s team; it is not a team of ‘little people’. This is a picture of the Morris High School midget football team in 1907.

In Greek mythology, Clio is the muse of history. She is also known as “The Proclaimer” and is often represented as an academic with a scroll or set of tablets. The all women’s Clio Club was a women’s study club and is pictured here in 1909.

The Morris High School track team for the 1913-14 school year.

The Morris Soccer team in 1914.

Another group in the “Contributions of The Nations to the Making of America” pageant in 1921. Here, students dressed up as various European immigrant communities that helped shape the American culture of the 20th century.

In 1921, Morris High School held a pageant titled “Contributions of The Nations to the Making of America”. Students dressed up as various American groups and cultures that helped contribute to America’s development. This picture portrays various Native American cultures, the oldest of all American cultures.

Memorabilia from the 1950s. During that time period it was fashionable for students to decorate school berets and caps.

The molds shown here were used to create the decorative heads along the auditorium ceiling. The heads were created during the renovation of Morris High School in the 1990s and were reproductions of the original design. In order to replicate the heads, an artist was brought over from Italy to make the reproductions.

The Morris Rifle Club. Students practiced shooting at targets.

The all girl’s Naturalist Club was dedicated to the study, appreciation, and conservation of wild plants and animals.