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Tennessee Valley Authority Documents

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3175

  • Staff Only

This collection consists of two booklets pertaining to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The first is a copy of the “Tennessee Valley Authority” speech by Hon. Harcourt A. Morgan, director of the TVA, dated September 26, 1934 that details the reasons for the existence of the TVA. The second booklet is titled “Removal of a Member of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Message from the President of the United States.” This booklet dated January 5, 1938 relates President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's condemnation of TVA Board Member Arthur E. Morgan, including all pieces of evidence to be presented in Senate Hearings regarding the matter.

Dates

  • 1934 September 26, 1938 January 5

Language

The material in this collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This collection consists of two booklets pertaining to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The first is a copy of the “Tennessee Valley Authority” speech by Hon. Harcourt A. Morgan, director of the TVA, dated September 26, 1934 that details the reasons for the existence of the TVA. The second booklet is titled “Removal of a Member of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Message from the President of the United States.” This booklet dated January 5, 1938 relates President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's condemnation of TVA Board Member Arthur E. Morgan, including all pieces of evidence to be presented in Senate Hearings regarding the matter.

Biographical/Historical Note

The U. S. Congress formed the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933 in order to rectify poor conditions in the Tennessee River Valley, including destructive floods, deforestation, erosion, and periodic unnavigability of the Tennessee River. As an independent agency of the executive department, the TVA is governed by a board of three directors appointed by the President (and subject to Senate approval) who serve for terms of nine years. Among the TVA's various projects are dams (including 26 built by the TVA), electric power, and research into such topics as clean coal, forestry, and wildlife conservation. The TVA is currently headquartered in Knoxville and serves and area of approximately 41,000 square miles.

Arthur Ernest Morgan was born in Hamilton County, OH on June 20, 1878. An engineer and educator, he became the first chairman of TVA from 1933-1938. Additionally, he served as president of Antioch College in Ohio from 1920-1936. He married Lucy Middleton Griscom (1877-1972) and together they had two children: Arthur Ernest (1905-2000) and Frances (1914-2008). Arthur Morgan died on November 16, 1975 in Xenia, OH.

John Harcourt Alexander Morgan was born on August 31, 1867 in Kerwood, Ontario, Canada. He began his teaching career at Louisiana State University and in 1904, he accepted a position as a professor of entomology and zoology and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Tennessee. In 1913 he was named dean of the College of Agriculture and in 1919, he became president of UT, a position he held until leaving in 1934 to work with TVA as an agricultural specialist. He also served for three years (1938-1941) as TVA's chairman. He married Sara Elizabeth Fay and they had four children: Harcourt, Jr., John, Fay, and Lucy. Harcourt Morgan retired from TVA in 1947 and died on August 25, 1950 in Knoxville, TN.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480