Our Benefactors:

Richard L. D. Morse
and
Marjorie J. Morse

Richard was born in Grinell, Iowa, on December 27, 1916. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin (1938), and a Ph.d. from Iowa State University (1942). Following distinguished service with the U.S. Navy in WWII, Richard held teaching positions at Iowa State (1945-47), Florida State University (1947-55), and Kansas State University 1955-87). Richard was a lifelong advocate for families and consumers, and was nationally and internationally known as a giant in the field of protecting consumer rights. His most notable accomplishments involved his tireless efforts to have legislation passed on the federal and state levels to benefit citizens in the areas of truth-in-savings and truth-in-lending. A "crusader" for the consumer, Richard held numerous important positions on the local, regional, and national levels including: President of Consumer Education and Protection Association for Kansans; Board of Directors of Consumers Union (20 years!); U.S. Consumer Advisory Council member under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson; Kansas Citizens Council on Aging (founding member); Governor's Advisory Council on Aging; Commissioner, Manhattan Urban Renewal Agency. In 1987, Richard donated his personal papers to the Special Collections Department of K-State's library and collaborated with the staff to establish the Consumer Movement Archives as a repository for the collections of other consumer leaders and organizations.

Born March 15, 1920 in Jefferson, Oklahoma, Marjorie graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in human ecology (1941). While earning a master's degree in human ecology from Iowa State University (1942), Marjorie met Richard, who was completing his Ph.D at that institution and they married in 1943. She became an expert in childcare issues and held numerous positions in that area throughout her career. She began her support of libraries early in her career. While Richard taught at Florida State University, Marjorie led a campaign to establish a public library in Tallahassee. Richard and Marjorie moved to Manhattan in 1955 when Richard became professor and head of the Department of Family Economics at Kansas State University. In Kansas, Marjorie continued to be involved with professional service activities including the following: Riley County Commissioner (1983-93), Treasurer, Kaw Valley Girl Scout Council; President, American Field Service (Manhattan Chapter); President, University Social Club (KSU); President, Manhattan Day Care Association; Chair, Riley County Law Enforcement Agency; Board, Riley County-Manhattan Health Department; Board, Riley County Mental Health Center; Soroptimist Club Woman of the Year (1994); Trustee, KSU Foundation and recipient of its Achievement Award; and, with Richard, served as co-chairs of the Essential Edge Campaign for Funding K-State Libraries. Marjorie is an extraordinary woman who has devoted her life to public service.

Following Richard's retirement from K-State in 1987, he and Marjorie dedicated their time and energy to improving the K-State Libraries through their service as co-chairs of the Essential Edge fund raising campaign (1988-1993), leaders in the Friends of the KSU Libraries organization, and by enhancing the collections and programs of the Special Collections Department. In recognition of their financial support of Special Collections and involvement with the Consumer Movement Archives, the Richard L.D and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections was named in their honor in 1997. During K-State's commencement activities in 2000, the College of Human Ecology bestowed its initial Public Policy Award upon Richard, and a Marjorie J. and Richard L.D. Morse Family and Community Public Policy Scholar was established jointly by the Libraries, College of Human Ecology, College of Business Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, and Leadership Studies. Richard passed away on June 3, 2000. Marjorie passed away on March 4, 2003. At the time of their deaths it was requested that memorial contributions be made to the Morse Department of Special Collections Endowment fund, or the Morse Family and Community Public Policy Scholar award.

For additional information about Richard and Marjorie Morse, the archival collections, or financial contributions, please contact Tony Crawford, University Archivist, Morse Department of Special Collections.

	Last Modified: 07 Mar 2006 Maintained by: Cindy Von Elling Send comments, questions and suggestions to: Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Dept. of Special Collections, K-State Libraries.
Information presented for research or promotional purposes and may be reproduced without permission provided proper credit is given. All photographs, unless otherwise stated, are the property of Morse Dept. of Special Collections and may not be used without prior written permission from the Archivist.