Morris High School (Bronx, New York)
Encyclopedia
Morris High School was a high school in the borough of the Bronx in New York City
. It was built in 1897. It was the first high school built in the Bronx. Originally named Peter Cooper
High School, the name was changed to Morris High School to commemorate a famous Bronx landowner, Gouverneur Morris
, one of the signers of the United States Constitution
and credited as author of its Preamble
. Morris High School was one of the original New York City Public High Schools created by the New York City school reform act of 1896. In 1983, the school and surrounding area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as the Morris High School Historic District
.
Some of its famous alumni include former United States Secretary of State
Colin Powell
, United States Attorney
Benito Romano
, historian Vincent Harding
, inventor Peter Karter
, Representative
Frank A. Oliver
, television journalist Gabe Pressman
, and newspaper columnist Victor Riesel
.
In 2002, as part of an overall restructuring and downsizing of New York City's high schools, Morris High School was closed and the building renamed the Morris Campus. It now houses five small specialty high schools: High School for Violin and Dance, Bronx Leadership Academy 2, Bronx International High School, the School for Excellence, and the Morris Academy for Collaborative Study.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was built in 1897. It was the first high school built in the Bronx. Originally named Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President of the United States...
High School, the name was changed to Morris High School to commemorate a famous Bronx landowner, Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the...
, one of the signers of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
and credited as author of its Preamble
Preamble to the United States Constitution
The Preamble to the United States Constitution is a brief introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles...
. Morris High School was one of the original New York City Public High Schools created by the New York City school reform act of 1896. In 1983, the school and surrounding area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the Morris High School Historic District
Morris High School Historic District
Morris High School Historic District is a national historic district centered on a high school located at South Bronx, The Bronx, New York, New York. The district includes 51 contributing buildings. It includes the Morris High School, two streets of brick rowhouses, and Trinity Episcopal Church...
.
Some of its famous alumni include former United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
Benito Romano
Benito Romano
Benito Romano is the first Puerto Rican to hold the United States Attorney's post in New York on an interim basis.-Early years:Romano's parents moved to New York City from Puerto Rico and settled down in the Bronx where he was born and raised. His grandfather, a dairy farmer, immigrated from...
, historian Vincent Harding
Vincent Harding
Vincent Gordon Harding is an African American historian and a scholar of religion and society. An activist as well, he is best known for his work with and writings about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-Education:...
, inventor Peter Karter
Peter Karter
Peter Karter was an American nuclear engineer and one of the pioneers of the modern recycling industry. He lived in Old Lyme, Connecticut....
, Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Frank A. Oliver
Frank A. Oliver
Frank Oliver was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in New York City, Oliver attended the public schools and the Morris High School...
, television journalist Gabe Pressman
Gabe Pressman
Gabe Pressman is the senior correspondent for WNBC-TV. Pressman has been a journalist in the New York City area for over 60 years. He is considered one of the pioneers of United States television news.-Early years:...
, and newspaper columnist Victor Riesel
Victor Riesel
Victor Riesel was an American newspaper journalist and columnist who specialized in news related to labor unions. At the height of his career, his column on labor union issues was syndicated to 356 newspapers in the United States...
.
In 2002, as part of an overall restructuring and downsizing of New York City's high schools, Morris High School was closed and the building renamed the Morris Campus. It now houses five small specialty high schools: High School for Violin and Dance, Bronx Leadership Academy 2, Bronx International High School, the School for Excellence, and the Morris Academy for Collaborative Study.
Other alumni
- Kay MedfordKay MedfordKay Medford , was an American character actress and comedienne.She was born Margaret Kathleen O'Regan in New York City to James and Mary O'Regan, first-generation Irish-American parents, both of whom had died by the time she was 15 years old...
, actress - Judith CristJudith CristJudith Crist is an American film critic. She appeared regularly on the Today show from 1964-1973 and has appeared in one film, Woody Allen's Stardust Memories...
, film critic - Armand HammerArmand HammerArmand Hammer was an American business tycoon most closely associated with Occidental Petroleum, a company he ran for decades, though he was known as well as for his art collection, his philanthropy, and for his close ties to the Soviet Union.Thanks to business interests around the world and his...
, industrialist - Jules DassinJules DassinJulius "Jules" Dassin , was an American film director, with Jewish-Russian origins. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career.-Early life:...
, film director - Alex Faickney OsbornAlex Faickney OsbornAlex Faickney Osborn was an advertising executive and the author of the creativity technique named brainstorming.-Early life:...
, advertising executive - Bernard OpperBernard OpperBernard "Bernie" Opper was an All-American basketball player at Kentucky and then professional player in the National Basketball League and American Basketball League....
(class of 1934) – All-American basketball player for the Kentucky WildcatsKentucky Wildcats men's basketballThe Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647... - Milton BerleMilton BerleMilton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
, comedian - Robert ScheerRobert ScheerRobert Scheer is an American journalist who writes a column for Truthdig which is nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate in publications such as The Huffington Post and The Nation...
, journalist - Anthony J. DePaceAnthony J. DePaceAnthony J. DePace was an American architect who designed numerous Roman Catholic churches in throughout the Northeastern United States area during the mid to late 20th century.-Early life and education:...
, architect, known for his design of many Roman Catholic churches throughout the Northeast