Brittani Young
Contributing Writer
Most SE students have had at least one class in the Morrison Building, but the majority of SE students probably are not aware of the history behind the structure in the middle of our campus.
The massive Morrison Building recently celebrated its 102nd birthday this past January.
L. David Norris’ book (1986) “A History of Southeastern Oklahoma State University Since 1909” described the complete history of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, including the history of the creation of the Morrison Building.
According to Norris’ book, there were many discussions, often heated, between Oklahoma legislators and residents in and around the Durant area. The discussions involved where the building should be located, prior to its construction.
Southeastern started out as a state normal school, the name given to a two-year higher learning school during the time period, and was created to specifically train students to become public school teachers.
E.D. Cameron, the Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction, visited Dr. J.L Shuler’s peach orchard, a stretch of property lying just north of the Durant city limit, and it was there that he found a structure similar to what the Morrison Building would become.
The model structure existed geographically where the Russell Building lies today.
It was this structure that made Cameron appreciate the property so greatly that he was inspired to set up a meeting with Shuler just an hour later.
Schuler donated the stretch of land on which the Morrison Building now resides. Schuler officially gave up his warranty deed on May 15, 1909.
Many Durant residents did not agree with the location of the land, as it was located outside the city limits of what was then Durant, according to Norris.
According to Norris, there were several other properties available for the building, properties that Durant residents deemed would be more appropriate for the location of their esteemed university.
The State Board of Affairs immediately employed an architectural firm to draft the blueprints for the Morrison Building and to get construction process moving in the right direction.
Serious protests, again concerning the location of the building broke out in early June 1909, said Norris. This time, the residents had official backing.
The State Normal Board of Regents, which is the equivalent to today’s Oklahoma State Regent’s for Higher Education, also did not think the current location of the building was the best place for it.
John L. Mitch, the secretary of the Board of Regents, traveled to Durant from Oklahoma City in order to determine the validity of the protest on behalf of the Board of Regents council.
Luckily for the past, present and future SE students, faculty and staff, by June 4, 1909 Mitch resolved the problem caused by the protests by deciding that the location was acceptable. Preparation for construction was then continued on the Morrison Building.
The work was to start no later than September 1909, but it was not until November that the contract with Daugherty-Kirby Construction Company was actually completed.
Finally, the constuction work began in December 1909. The building was completed by January 1911.
The building held administrative offices, classrooms, an auditorium and a gymnasium. As SE has grown as a campus, the offices and gymnasium have since been moved from Morrison to their current locations.
On May 26, 1937, Dr. W.B (William Brown) Morrison became president of Southeastern. He was also the president of Oklahoma Presbyterian College for a period of time.
Morrison also served as a history professor for Southeastern during a previous timeframe, said Norris.
Although he only resided as president of Southeastern for one month, he has been attributed to strengthening the university when Mrs. Kate Galt Zaneis resigned, along with several other faculty members, during a tumultuous era of work labor issues.
In 1969, the building was named in memory of Morrison. The Morrison Building has a rich history indeed.