John Bowes Morrell
Encyclopedia
John Bowes Morrell (1873–1963) was a York
author
and historian
. He was Lord Mayor of York
and a leading figure in the local movement to establish a university in York. The "JBM Library" at the University of York
is named after him.
He joined Rowntree's Cocoa Works
when he was 17, becoming Director at 25. He was Mayor of York in 1914 and again in 1950.
He helped found the University of York
and the Borthwick Institute for Archives
. He bought many newspapers, including the Birmingham Gazette
, Lincolnshire Chronicle, and Westminster Press.
He wrote books, especially about York which he loved; e.g. 'York Monuments', and 'Woodwork at York'. He was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of York, given honorary degrees to Universities, and declined a knighthood.
' which was illustrated by his sister Jemima.
His mother was Lydia Hutchinson (Morrell) (1832–1939) http://www.links.org/links-cgi/readged?/home/ben/camilla-genealogy/current+c-morrell85523+2-2-0-1
JBM married Bertha Spence Watson (1877–1954) in the Friends Meeting House
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1902. See here for her mother's 'Family Chronicles': "1877 ... our Darling little Bertha was given to us on the 18th of May. I recovered nicely, & the new baby, like all of her sisters in turn before her, was much made of, & considered the greatest treasure ..."
(YCT) was formed as Ings Property Company Limited in 1945 by JBM and his brother Cuthbert Morrell, who had both been buying medieval properties in York for many years, which they restored and rehabilitated, together with Dr Morrell’s son Mr William Bowes Morrell. In 1976 they bequeathed all the properties in the company to the current registered charity, York Conservation Trust Limited http://www.yorkconservationtrust.org/aims.htm
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. He was Lord Mayor of York
Lord Mayor of York
The Lord Mayor of York is the Lord Mayor, Chairman of City of York Council, first citizen and civic head of York. The appointment is made by the council each year in May, at the same time appointing a Sheriff, the city's other civic head...
and a leading figure in the local movement to establish a university in York. The "JBM Library" at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
is named after him.
He joined Rowntree's Cocoa Works
Rowntree's
Rowntree's was a confectionery business based in York, England. It is now a historic brand owned by Nestlé, used to market a range of fruit gums and pastilles formerly owned by Rowntree's. Following a merger with John Mackintosh & Co., the Company became known as Rowntree Mackintosh, was listed on...
when he was 17, becoming Director at 25. He was Mayor of York in 1914 and again in 1950.
He helped found the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
and the Borthwick Institute for Archives
Borthwick Institute for Archives
The Borthwick Institute for Archives is the specialist archive service of the University of York, York, England. It is one of the biggest archive repositories outside London. The Borthwick was founded in 1953 as The Borthwick Institute for Historical Research. It was originally based at St...
. He bought many newspapers, including the Birmingham Gazette
Birmingham Gazette
The Birmingham Gazette, known for much of its existence as Aris's Birmingham Gazette, was a newspaper that was published and circulated in Birmingham, England from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries...
, Lincolnshire Chronicle, and Westminster Press.
He wrote books, especially about York which he loved; e.g. 'York Monuments', and 'Woodwork at York'. He was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of York, given honorary degrees to Universities, and declined a knighthood.
Family
JBM's father was William Wilberforce Morrell (1837–1904), a bank manager at York, and the author of 'The History of SelbySelby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
' which was illustrated by his sister Jemima.
His mother was Lydia Hutchinson (Morrell) (1832–1939) http://www.links.org/links-cgi/readged?/home/ben/camilla-genealogy/current+c-morrell85523+2-2-0-1
JBM married Bertha Spence Watson (1877–1954) in the Friends Meeting House
Friends meeting house
A Friends meeting house is a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends , where meeting for worship may be held.-History:Quakers do not believe that meeting for worship should take place in any special place. They believe that "where two or three meet together in my name, I am there among...
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1902. See here for her mother's 'Family Chronicles': "1877 ... our Darling little Bertha was given to us on the 18th of May. I recovered nicely, & the new baby, like all of her sisters in turn before her, was much made of, & considered the greatest treasure ..."
York Conservation Trust
The York Conservation TrustYork Conservation Trust
The York Conservation Trust buys and restores important old buildings in York, many of which would have crumbled out of existence years ago had it not been for the trust's intervention. It is "yet another legacy for which we must thank former Lord Mayor John Bowes Morrell"."JBM" started acquiring...
(YCT) was formed as Ings Property Company Limited in 1945 by JBM and his brother Cuthbert Morrell, who had both been buying medieval properties in York for many years, which they restored and rehabilitated, together with Dr Morrell’s son Mr William Bowes Morrell. In 1976 they bequeathed all the properties in the company to the current registered charity, York Conservation Trust Limited http://www.yorkconservationtrust.org/aims.htm
Buildings named after JBM
Publications
- How York Governs Itself: Civic Government As Illustrated By the County of the City of York, 1928
- (ed. with A. G. Watson) Whitehall at York. How York is governed by the ministers of the Crown, 1933
- York Monuments, 1944
- The biography of the common man of the city of York as recorded in his epitaph, 1947
- Woodwork in York, 1949