Arthur Morgan
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Arthur Morgan, first director of the TVA
(1878-1975)
Arthur Morgan was the first director of the Tennessee Valley Authority. From an early age, he was involved in outdoor surveying and development projects. A self taught man only attending college- the University of Colorado- for six weeks, Morgan was proficient and in 1910 was awarded a job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Office of Drainage Investigation.
His first major project as an engineer was solving the issue of flooding in Dayton, Ohio. He solved the difficult task of keeping the city dry from periodic flooding, using a system of dams and reservoirs which has held ever since its completion in 1924. Morgan never had a good relationship with the Army Corp of Engineers, which ended up adopting his flood control methods.
Taking a break from field work, Morgan, in 1920, became the president of Antioch College. He, in a short time, applied his views of hard work combined with physical work experience to make the college very strong. Morgan used his personal values to aid those around him. Historian Mark Bernstein wrote that "Morgan's dam sites near Dayton, workers lived in well-planned villages that offered literacy classes, vocational training and the chance to take part in local self-government." These forward thinking ideals would be reflected in the actions of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Arthur Morgan to be the director of the TVA when it was created in 1933. His strong background and leadership made him a very strong person to lead the organization. His past as an engineer was reflected in his actions with the TVA. Under his leadership, many dams were set up along the Tennessee River, most famously the Norris Dam, and he tried to revitalize rural southern life through the benefits of the TVA. Morgan, for his workers, set up housing arrangements and education programs for children and adults as part of the TVA.
Toward the end of his direction, he and David Lilienthal began to have different opinions about the direction of the TVA, but especially about the role of the TVA for providing electricity to the south. Eventually, in 1938, Roosevelt relieved Morgan of his position as director of the TVA over increased tensions concerning the future of the organization and an inability to work with his fellow board-members, replacing him with Harcourt Morgan.
Under Morgan, the Tennessee Valley Authority began strongly and provided much aid to southerners in the midst of the Great Depression. His engineering and development actions very positively influenced the region, and he spearheaded the beginning of a strong organization making it much of what it is today.
Arthur Morgan was the first director of the Tennessee Valley Authority. From an early age, he was involved in outdoor surveying and development projects. A self taught man only attending college- the University of Colorado- for six weeks, Morgan was proficient and in 1910 was awarded a job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Office of Drainage Investigation.
His first major project as an engineer was solving the issue of flooding in Dayton, Ohio. He solved the difficult task of keeping the city dry from periodic flooding, using a system of dams and reservoirs which has held ever since its completion in 1924. Morgan never had a good relationship with the Army Corp of Engineers, which ended up adopting his flood control methods.
Taking a break from field work, Morgan, in 1920, became the president of Antioch College. He, in a short time, applied his views of hard work combined with physical work experience to make the college very strong. Morgan used his personal values to aid those around him. Historian Mark Bernstein wrote that "Morgan's dam sites near Dayton, workers lived in well-planned villages that offered literacy classes, vocational training and the chance to take part in local self-government." These forward thinking ideals would be reflected in the actions of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Arthur Morgan to be the director of the TVA when it was created in 1933. His strong background and leadership made him a very strong person to lead the organization. His past as an engineer was reflected in his actions with the TVA. Under his leadership, many dams were set up along the Tennessee River, most famously the Norris Dam, and he tried to revitalize rural southern life through the benefits of the TVA. Morgan, for his workers, set up housing arrangements and education programs for children and adults as part of the TVA.
Toward the end of his direction, he and David Lilienthal began to have different opinions about the direction of the TVA, but especially about the role of the TVA for providing electricity to the south. Eventually, in 1938, Roosevelt relieved Morgan of his position as director of the TVA over increased tensions concerning the future of the organization and an inability to work with his fellow board-members, replacing him with Harcourt Morgan.
Under Morgan, the Tennessee Valley Authority began strongly and provided much aid to southerners in the midst of the Great Depression. His engineering and development actions very positively influenced the region, and he spearheaded the beginning of a strong organization making it much of what it is today.