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New birthplace director calls WF home -- again
by Suzanne Rook, Wake Weekly Editor
Ed Morris was excited Monday as he turned the key and opened the door to the Wake Forest College Birthplace Museum.
And though it was his first official day on the job as the birthplace's executive director, he'd already taken a few meetings and has been interviewed for a PBS TV show, North Carolina Weekend. His emotions are somewhat surprising given that Morris, a 32-year veteran of the state Department of Cultural Resources, isn't new to Wake Forest at all. For 18 years, Morris, his wife Cathy and their son Dylan, a 2000 Wake Forest-Rolesville High grad, lived just west of town. "I've been excited about this for days, for weeks," Morris said. "This is the kind of place you can really take ownership of." Originally from Rock Ridge in Wilson County, Morris has degrees from Mt. Olive College, Campbell University and North Carolina State. He retired last October, thinking that he would have some time to himself, he said, laughing. He had served as curator of education and chief of museum services for nearly two dozen state historic sites, was administrator of the state Capitol and helped oversee the reopening of the Thomas Wolfe house in Asheville. He was ready for some time off, he thought. But birthplace society members persuaded him to consider heading the museum. Before long the man who blushingly reveals that his childhood included a platonic kiss from one of the state's most glamorous daughters -- Ava Gardner -- was in Winston-Salem being interviewed by Wake Forest University officials. The university pays Morris' salary. "I had absolutely no intention of going to work full time. They kept calling and talking to me and it sounded more and more tempting," he said. Birthplace Society President Susan Brinkley said Morris -- his personality and his skill set -- are a perfect fit for the museum which is housed in the college's original building, the Calvin Jones House. "He has been in North Carolina all his life. He knows North Carolina inside and out, he knows resources, he knows how to get to the top. He really is in touch with North Carolina and what makes it tick," she said. Morris takes over for Gene Capps, the museum's first director. Capps left the birthplace in October after three years to return to Winston-Salem. While Capps is regarded as an archivist and curator who created interesting displays and exhibits and included the town's history in the museum's mission, Morris intends to reach out to the community. He'll lean on his experience creating educational programs for state historic sites to devise similar programs for the birthplace. Morris said with four elementary schools so close, connecting with third-grade teachers to assist with their study of community and fourth-grade instructors teaching North Carolina history should be easy. He'd also like to have guest speakers for adult visitors --¬İhopefully some from Wake Forest University professors. "The university has promised its support," he said. The university has also agreed to help in getting a 10,000-square-foot museum addition built. The project stalled after neighbors sued the birthplace and said it was not only too large, but would be out of place in the historic neighborhood. The legal battle severely altered the project's timeline. Morris is anxious to see the expansion project continue, and though society members will raise the money, he expects he'll be called on to give more than a few speeches and presentations. During his time in Wake Forest, Morris wasn't a stranger to the museum, but not just because he lives and breathes history. Both Cathy and Dylan Morris are WFU alumni. Ed and Cathy visited the museum on several occasions. The last time, he said, was in 1996 at the 40th anniversary of the college's move to Winston-Salem. "When I walked in, I was so impressed," he said. In 1996, things were different. "There wasn't a lot here then. It wasn't well-organized." Now, exhibits are grouped logically and Capps made sure things were cataloged and in their place. And though Morris is the man in charge, he's going to be getting some help from his wife. Cathy worked for the state for 33 years as an archivist and years ago helped the society begin cataloging its artifacts. Early this week Cathy Morris spent her time organizing -- cabinets, closets and more. Morris took a few moments to sit back, rock in a chair and reflect on his new position. "I love this kind of work," he said, his eyes moving around the room filled with portraits of the college forefathers. "It's what I've spent a lifetime doing." "Your own museum," he said, recalling what drew him to this place. "You don't have a huge bureaucracy. It's a slower pace --¬İyou do what you want to do. It all sounded very appealing."
Last Updated On: March 9, 2006
Copyright 2006 The Wake Weekly