MORGAN, Tess

MORGAN, JONES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/23/2016 at 14:58:56

BIOGRAPHY ~ Tess Morgan
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

A native of Iowa, Tess Morgan has spent most of her life in the town of Lamoni and served Graceland College for over thirty-two years.

Tess was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on June 13, 1895, the daughter of John Lewis and Ellen (Jones) Morgan. She taught public school from 1914 to 1923 at Hiteman, Iowa.

In 1923, she enrolled at Graceland College where she attended three years. As a student, Tess served as editor of Acacia yearbook. She graduated in 1926 with an associate's degree and then went on to the University of Iowa where she received her B.A. in English literature (1927) and her Master's in English literature (1928). She came to the Graceland faculty as an English composition and literature instructor in 1928.

Due to Graceland's economical constraints during the Depression, Tess left Graceland in 1934 as a part of the college's program of action to meet hardships of the times. Tess Morgan agreed to leave at that time since it was assumed that it would be easier for her to find other employment. She joined the faculty at Webster City Junior College in 1934. She returned to Graceland in 1937 to continued her association as an instructor in the English department. In that same year she sponsored the Journalism Club which became a major influence in campus publications. Tess returned to Graceland and served on the 1943 Postwar Planning Committee. She was appointed dean of women in 1944, serving in that role until 1949. Tess was involved in student publications and started journalism clubs in 1937 and 1959.

Throughout her career, Tess gained respect for displaying a genuine concern for her students that went beyond her interest in their academic progress.

Tess retired from active teaching as professor emerita in 1965 after having spent long and rewarding years as teacher, chairman of the department, dean, counselor, and campus leader. Upon retirement, Tess relocated to Independence, Missouri.

Tess died in Independence, Missouri, on January 27, 1977.

Tess Morgan Hall, located on Graceland's Lamoni campus, opened its first wing in 1960, and was named in Tess' honor.

SOURCES:
Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where . . . .An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 88, 93-94, 157-58. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 429. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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