The Walter L. Morris Papers includes biographical papers, theater promotional and operational papers, movie producer papers and movie reels from 1910-1999, with the bulk of the material covering 1922-1983.

Series I: Biographical Papers, 1923-1999 –- This series contains papers related to Morris’s personal life, including correspondence, resumes, high school programs, photographs, and publications.

Series II: Theater Promotion Papers, 1922-1970 April 8, undated -- This series consists of photographs, programs, promotional materials and tickler files Morris used to promote theaters he managed in East Tennessee, the East Coast and California.

Subseries A: Photographs, 1926-1969, undated –- This subseries includes photographs from performances in theaters Morris managed in the late 1920s, performers’ autographed photos from the 1940s, and stills from movies that ran from the 1920s-1960s.

Subseries B: Programs, 1922-1962, undated –- This subseries consists of programs and heralds from theaters Morris managed for Paramount, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, and from theaters he operated himself in Knoxville and Oak Ridge.

Subseries C: Promotional Materials, 1929-1970 April 8 –- This subseries primarily contains novelty promotional materials from theaters Morris managed for Paramount, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox as well as theaters he operated himself in East Tennessee. It also includes promotional material for the re-release of Gone with the Wind, the English distribution of Strange World, and an advertisement for the world premiere of A Walk in the Spring Rain during the Dogwood Arts Festival in 1970.

Subseries D: Tickler Files, 1920-1962 March 19, undated –- Morris maintained file folders for time-sensitive promotions, which he called “tickler files”. These files include company memos, advertising manuals, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, photographs, and promotional materials related to holidays, themes, contests, and publicity stunts.

Series III: Theater Operation Papers, 1910-1999, undated –- This series includes documents, photographs and publications pertaining to Morris operating and managing movie theaters across the country and in East Tennessee.

Subseries A: Legal and Financial Papers, 1943-1985 –- This subseries contains legal documents, newspaper clippings, and a transcript related to Morris’s successful lawsuit to end theater monopolies in Knoxville. It also includes legal and financial documents tied to Morris leasing his Pike and Tower theaters to the Simpson Operating Company.

Subseries B: Management Papers, 1910-1999, undated –- This subseries consists of correspondence, business documents, blueprints, newspaper and magazine articles, and brochures regarding Morris’s management of theaters in Knoxville and Oak Ridge.

Subseries C: Photographs, 1920-1979 –- The bulk of this subseries contains photographs of Morris’s Pike (later named the Capri and the Capri-70/Cinerama-70) and Tower (later named the Lenox) theaters. It also contains photographs of other theaters in Knoxville.

Subseries D: Publications, 1945 August 18-1972 April 19 –- This subseries consists of publications and supplements with suggestions for running a successful movie theater, including Motion Picture Herald, Motion Picture Exhibitor, and Boxoffice.

Series IV: Movie Producer Papers and Reels, 1950-1977, undated -- This series reflects Morris’s time as a movie producer of two translated motion pictures and smaller-scale news reels. It contains movie scripts, newspaper clippings, journals and movie reels.

Subseries A: Scripts and Papers, 1950-1959, undated –- This subseries contains the movie script for 800 Leagues over the Amazon. It also includes a script and newspaper clippings related to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands’ visit to Knoxville and Norris Dam, and a script for a short subject film “Santa Claus Comes to Knoxville, Tenn.”

Subseries B: Publications, 1961 June-1977 June – This subseries consists of The Journal of the Producers Guild of America issues.

Subseries C: Reels, 1950-1959, undated – This subseries includes news reels and Strange World movie reels.

Series V: Oversized Materials, 1920-1992 -- This series contains materials that require larger storage containers.

Subseries A: Theater Promotion Papers, 1950-1971 – This subseries includes promotional materials for Strange World, the re-release of Gone with the Wind, and They Call Me Trinity.

Subseries B: Theater Operation Papers, 1920-1992 – This subseries includes blueprints, photographs, and publications related to Morris operating and managing movie theaters across the East Coast, California, and East Tennessee.