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Mrs. Morris was an English professor at Odessa College for over
twenty years and holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from North Texas State
University. There she studied with the eminent Shakespearean
scholar, Dr. Arthur Sampley. Further studies were done at Yale
University, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D. C., the
University of Southern California and the University of Birmingham
in England while attending the University's Extra-Mural School of
Shakespeare in the British Embassy at Stratford, England. Her thesis
"The Proposed Globe
Theatre at Odessa, Texas" precipitated this
extensive and copious research. She was privileged to work directly
with Dr. Allardyce Nicoll of the International School of
Shakespeare. Dr. Nicoll read her thesis and was astonished to learn
that West Texas did in all seriousness intend to build a
Shakespearean theatre. "You have reached for the stars," he said,
"and you have found them. If you complete this theatre - and I
believe you will - you will have the most nearly authentic replica
of Shakespeare's own Globe anywhere on earth."
Mrs. Morris personally solicited donations and grants from
individuals and private foundations to finance the construction,
receiving funds from the Houston Endowment, the Piper Foundation of
San Antonio, the Texas Electric Service Co. in Ft. Worth, the Sid
Richardson Foundation, and many others.
She is listed in "Who's Who in American Women," "Who's Who in
American Education," "World Who's Who of Women," "Texas Women of
Distinction," "Who's Who in the South and Southwest," "The Golden
Book of Texas Federation of Women's Clubs," and "The Royal Blue
Book." A former First Lady of Odessa and a Piper Professor, she is a
member of various clubs and organizations including the Poetry
Society of Texas, The Odessa Music Study Club, and a life member of
Delta Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She is a life member of The
Globe Board of Governors and truly the First Lady of the Theatre.
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Marjorie Morris
August 23, 1907 - June 17, 2001
German
Visitor
In October, 1998, Vanessa Schormann from Munich, Germany, visited
Marjorie Morris, the founder of the Odessa Globe Theatre. Vanessa is
working on her Doctoral Thesis and was in the United States doing
research on Shakespeare Festivals and replicas of Shakespeare's
Globe Theatre. She stated The Globe Theatre in Odessa, Texas, was a
fascinating replica of the original built in 1599. Vanessa asked to
meet the 91 year old founder of the Odessa Globe after she heard how
Marjorie lead the drive to build this theatre upon completing her
Master's Thesis in 1950.
Their conversation was full of the trials and tribulations of
researching a 400 year old structure of which there are no accurate
drawings and only descriptions from theatre patrons of the time.
Studying the writings and drawings of other theatres of the time and
area has led scholars, such as these two, to be able to accurately
describe Will's theatre. Vanessa has since returned to Germany to
work on her thesis. She writes on a regular basis to keep in touch
with the many friends she made while in Odessa. She talks of the
memories of her all too short week in West Texas and being able to
see our production of Twelfth Night while she was here. She will
never forget the West Texas hospitality she received nor the
opportunity to meet our founder and local legend, Marjorie Morris.
And we will never forget our friend, the little German girl from
Munich.
Autobiography
Marjorie Rogers Morris, Founder of The Globe of the Great Southwest and the Anne Hathaway (Cottage) Library, which are built within The Globe Court in Odessa, Texas, died on June 17, 2001.
The following is an autobiographical record transcribed from hand written papers left by Mrs. Morris.
I was born in Pilot Point, Texas the youngest of nine children born to Rev. & Mrs. W. L. Rogers on August 23, 1907. I accepted Christ as my Savior while still a child of 8 years of age. Our home was a godly home, one that was filled with reverence for God, but we were not pious. A prayer of thanks was offered at the table before each meal, and an evening prayer each night before we went to bed. My father prayed first, and then each member of the family offered his/her prayer, thanking God for the blessings of the past and also asking for God’s guidance for the days ahead.