Murray Morgan: PART I

Murray Morgan (1916-2000). Tacoma-born Murray Morgan was many things, including journalist, political commentator, theater and arts reviewer, political activist, freelance writer, and college history teacher. An author and , in addition, a history reporter. He was a spellbinding teacher who from 1969 to 1981 taught a Northwest history course at the Tacoma Community College.

"His classes were filled with great stories of explorers -- wheelers, stealers and the common people."

"His lectures were like a story about old friends. He was a fantastic teacher."

He was author of South on the Sound: An Illustrated History of Tacoma and Pierce County (with Rosa Morgan), among many other books. Perhaps his best-known book is Skid Road: An Informal Portrait of Seattle. Morgan died on June 22, 2000. Murray C. Morgan started life in 1916 as the son of 10-year Tacoma residents Henry Victor Morgan and Ada Camille Morgan[1]. His Canadian father, a Unitarian Universalist minister with strong socialist beliefs, preached in Tacoma for first half of the twentieth century. His mother, Ada Camille, was one-quarter Native American and three quarters Huguenot. As a clairvoyant, an accepted avocation at the turn of the century, she used a crystal ball and read tealeaves. Murray described her as a “D.A.R. [Daughters of American Revolution] Republican”. This made for some heated dinner table discussions between Murray's two parents.

A young Murray Morgan (pictured) inspires his father's verse. Like his well-known son, Henry Victor Morgan, long-time area Universalist Minister, was published worldwide.

Murray's interest in writing came from his parents. He said, “Someone was always writing around the house”. His father wrote and published a monthly periodical called Master Christian. It had a small circulation, but young Murray helped assemble and mail it to subscribers around the world. From his mother’s hand came children’s plays and (according to Murray) “bad poetry.”

"NOT ME!" My baby boy is scarcely three, And yet so very wise is he, Whate'er suits not his majesty He simply says to it, "Not Me-e! ,, Sometimes so full of pranks is he My neighbor spanks him laughingly; Swift comes my darling home to me, "Bad man spank rompers, Dad, Not Me-e!" Deep marks of dirt on kitchen floor, Show Murray's been in mud galore, Dear Auntie points and says, "Now see!" "Bad dirty shoes/' he says, "Not Me-e!" He comes with bump on little brow For Daddy's kiss. I say, "See now, Our baby's hurt, Mama see!" " 'Twas Murray's head," he says, "Not Me-e!" I believe the cares of life would flee If we with his wise eyes could see, And say to all the ills that be, "You touch the outer man, Not Me!" The Spirit Singing By Henry Victor Morgan, 1921

Murray soon picked up a pen himself. Very early he wanted to be a journalist and writer. He wrote for his junior high and high school newspapers. Before his 1933 graduation from Tacoma’s Stadium High School, Murray Morgan became a nationally published writer when Scholastic Magazine published his article “How to Second a Boxer.” See Part II [1] 1920 WA Census: Pierce Co. Tacoma City Henry V. MORGAN, Head, 53, married, emigrated to U.S. in 1886, naturalized in 1916, b. Canada, parents b. Ireland, Universalist Minister Adalaine (Adda Camille Layne Pearne Morgan), Wife, 47, married, b. Nebraska, parents b. Canada Murray, son, 3 11/12, b. Washington