Collection Summary
Roland S. Morris Papers 1910-1943
1910-1943
MSS33613
Morris, Roland S. (Roland Sletor),
1874-1945
5,000 items
15 containers
6 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Lawyer, diplomat, and educator.
Correspondence, memoranda, speeches, reports, newspaper clippings, photographs, and
other papers relating primarily to Morris's service as U.S. ambassador to Japan and to
his special missions to Siberia.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925--Correspondence.
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928--Correspondence.
Long, Breckinridge, 1881-1958--Correspondence.
McCormick, Vance Criswell, 1872-1946--Correspondence.
Morris, Roland S. (Roland Sletor), 1874-1945.
Rowe, L. S. (Leo Stanton), 1871-1946--Correspondence.
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence.
Organizations
University of Pennsylvania.
Subjects
Diplomatic and consular service, American--Japan.
Diplomatic and consular service, American--Soviet Union.
International law.
Universities and colleges--Pennsylvania.
Places
Japan--Foreign relations--United States.
Siberia (Russia)--History--Revolution, 1917-1921.
Soviet Union--Foreign relations--United States.
Soviet Union--History--Allied intervention, 1918-1920.
United States--Foreign relations--Japan.
United States--Foreign relations--Soviet Union.
Occupations
Diplomats.
Educators.
Lawyers.
Provenance
The papers of Roland S. Morris, lawyer, diplomat, and educator, were given to the
Library of Congress by his children, Edward Shippen Morris and Sarah Morris Machold,
in 1950.
Processing History
The papers of Roland S. Morris were processed in 1952. The finding aid was revised in
2012.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Roland S. Morris is governed
by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Roland S. Morris are open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Roland S. Morris Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1874
Born, Olympia, Wash.
1892
Graduated high school, Lawrenceville, N. J.
1896
A.B., Princeton University, Princeton, N.Y.
1899
L.L.B., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
Began practice of law, Philadelphia, Pa.
1904
Member, firm of Duane, Morris and Heckscher
1908
1916
Chairman, Democratic Finance Committee of Pennsylvania
1913
1916
State chairman, Democratic Party in Pennsylvania
1917
1921
Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Japan
1918
1919
Special mission to Siberia
1920
1921
Acting assistant secretary of state
1924
Professor of international law, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia,
Pa.
1928
1933
Pennsylvania State Board of Law Examiners
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Roland Sletor Morris (1874-1945) span the years 1910-1943. The collection
contains correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, intelligence reports, speeches, newspaper
clippings, photographs, and other papers relating primarily to Morris's service as
ambassador to Japan (1917-1921) and to his special missions to Siberia (1918-1919).
Included are typewritten copies of a translation of a diary of a Japanese mission to the
United States (1860) and official telegrams exchanged with Secretary of State Robert
Lansing, as well as material pertaining to the Allied intervenion in Siberia, 1918-1920.
Also in the collection are papers pertaining to Morris's work as a professor of
international law at the University of Pennsylvania. Correspondents include William
Jennings Bryan, Robert Lansing, Breckinridge Long, Vance McCormick, Leo S. Rowe, and
Woodrow Wilson.
Arrangement of the Papers
The papers are organized by type of material.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
General correspondence
1
1910, June-1919, Apr.
1910, June-1919, Apr.
2
1919, May-1920, Jan., including a weekly report of Siberian
Commission of the American Red Cross
1919, May-1920, Jan., including a weekly report of Siberian
Commission of the American Red Cross
3
1920, Feb.-1938, Feb., undated
1920, Feb.-1938, Feb., undated
4
Official telegrams
4
Secretary of state to United States Embassy,
Tokyo, Japan
4
1918, June 16-1919, Dec.
1918, June 16-1919, Dec.
5
1920, Jan.-1920, Apr. 30
1920, Jan.-1920, Apr. 30
5
Exchanges by Morris and Robert Lansing regarding
shipping, 1918, Feb.1-May 13
1918, Feb.1-May 13
5
Mainly from Morris to secretary of state,
Washington, D.C.
5
1918, May 2-Sept. 23
1918, May 2-Sept. 23
5
1919, July 10-1920, Apr. 27
1919, July 10-1920, Apr. 27
6
Data on Japan
6
Reports, memoranda, diplomatic lists, printed
matter, etc., including typescript copies of a translation of a diary of a
Japanese mission to the United States (1860), with translator’s preface.
7
Data on Siberia
7
Letters from commercial and banking firms;
letters from Red Cross and YMCA; report on Proceedings of the Second Congress,
Third Communist Internationale, Petrograd-Moscow, Russia, July-Aug. 1920 (from
Pravda
and
Isvestia
); material regarding
Stevens Railway Commission; etc.
8
Reports mainly from Asiatic Squadron of United
States Fleet and from American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia, to Morris
9
Reports and memoranda regarding friction between
forces of the United States and Japan in Siberia; atrocity photographs; etc.
10
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
10
Correspondence, 1926-1943
1926-1943
10
“University of Pennsylvania General,”
correspondence, 1926-1928
1926-1928
10
“University Museum,” letters received, 1937-1940
1937-1940
11
Miscellaneous working papers, senior research
papers, etc.
12
Speeches by Morris
12
1917-1924
1917-1924
13
1925-1939
1925-1939
14
Undated
Undated
15
Miscellany, mainly manuscript notes, clippings, and
printed matter