Title: Tennessee Valley Authority Documents

Date/Date Range :   1934 September 26-1938 January 5

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

The first document in this collection is a speech given by the Hon. Harcourt A. Morgan in 1936 discussing the reasons for the existence of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The second piece is President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's condemnation of Tennessee Valley Authority Board Member Arthur E. Morgan, including all pieces of evidence to be presented in Senate Hearings regarding the matter.

Call number: MS-3175

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

Purchased by Special Collections.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], Early Tennessee Valley Authority Documents, MS-3175. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

This collection consists of one folder.

Harcourt Alexander Morgan was born on August 31, 1867 in Kerwood, Ontario, Canada. He earned his B.S. degree from Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph in 1889 and did some graduate work at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He began his teaching career at Louisiana State University as a professor of entomology and horticulture. 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 this role, Morgan served as the primary contact between the University and the state's farmers. Through rotating "farmers' institutes," exhibits, and short courses, Morgan helped to close some of the political divides that had appeared during the Civil War and established an excellent reputation for himself among Tennessee's farmers.

In 1919, Morgan succeeded Brown Ayres as President of the University of Tennessee. During his administration, he emphasized UT's role as a statewide institution and managed to get a number of appropriations from the state legislature to help the university fulfill its role as "the vital center of the state's prosperity." In 1934, he left the University to become the Tennessee Valley Authority's agricultural specialist. Here, Morgan emphasized the need for the TVA to work with state and local organizations, took responsibility for convincing Tennessee's farmers that the TVA would be a positive influence in their lives, and continued to advocate scientific agriculture. He retired from the TVA in 1947, and died on August 25, 1950.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, born 1882 January 30, was the thirty-second president of the United States. Roosevelt served three terms in office. During the Great Depression, FDR implemented his New Deal plan, which was meant to provide relief for the unemployed through such agencies as the Tennessee Valley Authority. President Roosevelt passed away 1945 April 12.

The speech given by the Hon. Harcourt A. Morgan voices the need for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Morgan states that the geographical features of the Tennessee River watershed could benefit the country immensely through the use of hydroelectric power. Morgan also discusses the need for agriculture that would prevent top soil erosion. Such tactics include planting legumes, which create a root system that will fight top soil erosion. This speech was given in Washington D.C. on 1936 September 26 and was broadcast live via the National Broadcast Company.

The second piece in this collection is a message from President Franklin Roosevelt concerning the removal of Arthur E. Morgan as a member and Chairman of the Board of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Roosevelt addresses his message to the Congress of the United States and cites various grievances with Arthur E. Morgan. Such grievances include libelous charges of dishonesty from Morgan towards his fellow directors. When called on to justify these charges, Morgan refused to do so. Roosevelt also claims that Morgan obstructed the work of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Finally, Roosevelt charges that Morgan refused to answer any questions regarding his libelous charges and obstruction of work when asked of it by the Chief Executive of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The contents of this piece include the evidence that was introduced in Congressional hearings regarding the matter.

• Tennessee Valley Authority.
• Morgan, Harcourt A. (Harcourt Alexander), 1867-1950.
• United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt).
• Morgan, Arthur Ernest, 1878-1975.
• Tennessee -- History.