Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Lee Morrison Papers, 1946-2012, SC 0215, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Lee Morrison in October 2012.

Processing Information

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in 2017-2019. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 5041 . This collection was rehoused in January 2020 and slight alterations were made to finding aid.

Appraisal

Four boxes of trophies, plaques, awards, and realia were not retained by Special Collections.

Bio/Historical Note

Dr. Lonnie Leotus "Lee" Morrison (1926-2015) was a professor, coach, and administrator at Madison College starting in 1954 until she retired in 1989. She graduated from Georgia State College for Women in 1948 with a B.S. in Education. She then went on to get her M.A. from George Peabody College for Teachers in 1951. After acquiring the position at Madison College, she received her doctorate at Indiana University in 1964. In 1967, she became the Coordinator of Women's Sports for Madison College. From 1972 until her retirement in 1989 she served as the Associate Director of Athletics for James Madison University. Dr. Morrison dedicated her professional career to promoting equality in collegiate sports. After the passage of Title IX, an educational amendment that banned sex discrimination in any program receiving federal aid, she was still involved in many organizations that fought to end sex discrimination in school athletics. She was a member of the Virginia Association for Girls and Women in Sport and a founding board member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), for which she later served as president. She worked on numerous committees at the state, regional, and national level for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. She also served on President Ronald Carrier's Think Tank on Women's Issues at JMU. Throughout her career she won many awards for her dedication. After retirement, she helped establish the Morrison-Bruce Center for the Promotion of Physical Activity for Girls and Women on the JMU campus. The Morrison-Bruce Center is named in honor of Dr. Morrison and Dr. Patricia Bruce, professor of physical and health education at JMU from 1961-1989. Morrison and Bruce were colleagues, friends, and long-time companions.

Scope and Content

The Lee Morrison Papers, 1946-2012, comprise the personal and professional papers of Dr. Lee Morrison. These files relate to conferences, speeches, diplomas and awards, photographs, reports on women's issues in sports and education, Title IX, President Ronald Carrier's Think Tank on Women's Issues at JMU, and personal reflections. There are also transcripts of interviews conducted by Chuck Walcott, Virginia Tech professor of political science, with Lee Morrison dated 1996.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the same order in which it was donated.

Separated Material

A copy of the brochure "Sexism in Higher Education: The James Madison Perspective" (1990) was separated from the collection and cataloged.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• College sports
• College sports for women
• James Madison University -- Faculty -- Correspondence
• Letters (correspondence)
• Madison College -- Faculty -- Correspondence
• Morrison, Lee (Lonnie Leotus), 1926-2015 -- Correspondence
• Photographs
• Physical education for girls
• Physical education for women
• Reports
• Research (documents)
• Speeches (Documents)