Anson D. Morse (AC 1871) Papers

Anson Daniel Morse (August 13, 1846 - March 13, 1916), educator and historian, was born in Cambridge, Vermont, the son of Harmon and Elizabeth Murray Morse. He was graduated from Amherst College in the class of 1871 with high honors. After some further years of preparation he returned to teach at Amherst where he served on the faculty for more than forty years. In 1876 he was lecturer on political economy at Amherst College: in the following year he became professor of political economy and instructor in history and in 1876 he was appointed Winley professor of history and political science. After 1892 his chair was divided and he became professor of history which title he held till his retirement in 1907. Professor Morse died in 1916.

Professor Morse was a leader in a small group of scholars who in the last quarter of the nineteenth century began to emphasize political parties as the most effective tool in expressing the popular will. He published three notable articles on the subject of party in the years 1891-1896: The Place of Party in the Political System, What is Party, and The Natural History of Party. He also wrote number of historical articles and a small book entitled Civilization and the World War, published after his death. Professor Morse was best known for his abilities as a teacher, and his methods seem to have influenced the political writings of Calvin Coolidge, who was one of Morse's students at Amherst.