Jan. 22, 2009

David Morris is a man known to many throughout mid-Michigan as a savvy businessman an innovative farmer and a community booster of the highest order. Thanks to a pledged donation of $375,000 to the Michigan Historical Center Foundation, he'll now be known as the benefactor of a unique learning opportunity that will place high-school students right in the middle of historic governmental decisions that have shaped Michigan.

Mr. Morris was honored today at the ceremonial opening of the Archives of Michigan's David and Betty Morris Learning Center, in the Michigan Library and Historical Center in downtown Lansing.

"David Morris has been a long-time supporter of a great many agricultural, community and natural-resources causes," said Michigan Historical Center Foundation Director Patricia Clark. "Because of his vision and commitment to creating things of lasting value for future generations, the Archives of Michigan will be able to inspire students to radically change the way they view history and their ability to positively affect their future."

According to State Archivist Mark Harvey, the learning center is set to open to the public in February 2010. "We're planning for a student visitor experience like no other," he said. "When students enter the learning center, they'll be immersed in authentic materials - newspaper articles, government reports, photos, maps, letters, diaries and more - and then be asked to research a real-life issues from the past."

The experience, Harvey said, goes much further. In the Governor's Decision Room, 10 to 15 high-school students at a time will play the roles of governor and cabinet, examining the actual reports placed before leaders in times past. Following the research, the students will make decisions on the best course of action to follow and present their decisions in a press conference and, ultimately, will compare their decisions against the actual outcomes.

Additionally, students in the Research Room will be able to consider Michigan artifacts and be challenged (under the guidance of trained staff) to write scripts and create short audio and video broadcasts that explain a particular aspect of Michigan history - the best of which will be made available via the Web for teachers to use in the classroom.

"The David and Betty Morris Learning Center presents a remarkable opportunity for the treasured heritage of our past to merge beautifully with today's technology and resources, making it possible for students to do more than simply read about history," said Harvey. "Because of Mr. Morris' generosity, Michigan students will now have a way to interact with history and understand more fully how each of us can play a role in influencing the world around us."

David Morris' philanthropy throughout the years has been far-reaching in Michigan. He and his late wife Betty have been avid supporters of Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. They were very involved in their community and active in the Grand Ledge United Methodist Church, and numerous other organizations.

The Michigan Historical Center Foundation exists to raise private funds to support the Michigan Historical Center and to foster private and public appreciation and support of the Michigan Historical Center's statewide museum, archival, archaeological, historic preservation, publication and heritage education programs. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/mhcfoundation.

The Archives of Michigan is part of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency within the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/archivesofmi.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).