Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association records
Scope and Contents
The Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association (MORSA) records include a variety of materials pertaining to the administration of and research by the organization. Materials include photographs, directories, documents, news clippings, pamphlets, publications, and maps.
The records have been divided into two series ADMINISTRATIVE and RESEARCH FILES. The ADMINISTRATIVE series includes records dating from 1993-2019 and consist of an annual conference proceedings subseries, a meeting minutes subseries, correspondence, donor records, founding documents, membership rosters from 1997-2016, a DVD produced by the organization, The Slate newsletter, and a tribute to Dean Rockwell.
The RESEARCH FILES series includes general information, oral histories of country school students from the state of Iowa, publications collected by Sue Daniels that relate to country schools, and a reproduction of one-room schoolhouse classroom rules. A subseries of Michigan country schools is organized alphabetically and includes information from the Bess Britton collection, a bibliography, a Michigan county list, school directories, general information regarding Michigan country schools, Michigan historic sites, a list of Michigan schools, county maps, information on one-room schools in southeast Michigan as well as Upper Peninsula schools, and photographs. Also included in the Michigan subseries are three Michigan publications: Historic Michigan, The Northern Journal, and Traverse: Northern Michigan’s Magazine, which contain articles on one-room schoolhouses.
The most substantial part of the collection is the subseries of Michigan county files arranged alphabetically by county, with each file containing site surveys, articles, photographs, interviews, and recollections. While all Michigan counties are represented in the collection, not all county files are as prolific as others, with some files containing multiple surveys, photographs, and articles, and others containing only one survey and no additional material.
Also included is a Michigan county photograph subseries, organized alphabetically by county. Photographs include schoolhouse building exteriors and interiors, as well as location information in the form of landmark photographs. Not all Michigan counties are represented in this subseries, as some schoolhouses are no longer in existence, or could not be identified.
Researchers interested in country schools and one-room schoolhouses in the state of Michigan, will find a comprehensive collection documenting the history of Michigan rural education, as well as the current conditions of the schoolhouses. The bulk of the material is carefully organized research files containing historic building surveys, maps, and images. Also included is information specific to Michigan facilities as well as general information on the culture of one-room schoolhouses.
Dates
- Creation: 1874 - 2019
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1994 - 2019
Creator
- Michigan One Room Schoolhouse Association (Author, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the University Archives.
Biographical / Historical
The Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association (MORSA) was founded in May of 1993 after the first Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Conference held at Eastern Michigan University. The Association is a “consortium of owners, historians, teachers, students, and preservationists dedicated to promoting and preserving these treasured building.” MORSA conducts an annual day-long conference, maintains a building registration and marker program, and publishes a bi-annual newsletter The Slate.
Extent
21.7 Linear Feet (44 archive boxes, 1 halfsize archive box, 3 oversize boxes, 1 record center carton, 1 photograph box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association (MORSA) records provide examples of the efforts of MORSA between 1994 and 2019 as it pertains to research, publications, and special events. Founded after the first Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Conference held at Eastern Michigan University in May of 1993, the Association is a “consortium of owners, historians, teachers, students and preservationists dedicated to promoting and preserving these treasured buildings…”and conducts an annual day-long conference, maintains a building registration and marker program, and publishes a bi-annual newsletter The Slate.
Processing Information
Finding Aid Created by Alexis Braun Marks, CA
Additional accession processed by Brooke Boyst, 2023.
Source
- Balkam, Rochelle (Donor, Person)
- Daniels, Sue (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association (MORSA) records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Alexis Braun Marks, CA, Brooke Boyst, WSU Practicum Student Fall 2018
- Date
- 2023 February 6
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Eastern Michigan University Archives Repository
Bruce T. Halle Library, Room 310
955 West Circle Drive
Ypsilanti Michigan 48197
734-487-2673
lib_archives@emich.edu