Person

Morrison, Philip Crosbie (1900 - 1958)

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    Morrison, Philip Crosbie Portrait
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Born
19 December 1900
Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
Died
1 March 1958
Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Naturalist, Science broadcaster and Ornithologist

Summary

Crosbie Morrison became Australia's best known naturalist during the 1940s and 1950s. He was the editor of Wild Life from 1938-1954 and broadcast regular weekly nature talks from 1938 until his death.

Details

Philip Morrison was educated at The University of Melbourne attaining a Masters of Science (MSc) in 1926. He went on to communicate science and participate in scientific expeditions and studies. As a Science communicator Philip Morrison edited the periodical Wild Life, was a special writer for the Melbourne News Paper The Argus and wrote the book Melbourne's Garden first published in 1946. In addition of his written contributions Morrison also produced weekly nature talks broadcast throughout Australia and New Zealand and presented lecturers on natural history at The University of Melbourne Extension Board (later known as the Council of Adult Education).

His scientific expeditions and studies included the Great Barrier Reef Committee's 1925 work, the first Mackay aerial survey of central Australia in 1930 and a later trip across the Nullarbor with Sir Russell Grimwade.

Philip Morrison was also active in numerous scientific societies and has served as the President of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (1941-1943), The Royal Society of Victoria (1949-1950), the Victorian branch of the British Astronomical Association (1951-53) and the Victorian National Parks Association in 1952.

Chronology

1921 - 1924
Education - Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.), The University of Melbourne, Australia
1924 - 1926
Education - Masters of Science (M. Sc.), The University of Melbourne, Australia
1938 -
Career position - Producer of Nature Talks broadcast through Australia and New Zealand
1938 - 1954
Career position - Editor, Wild Life
1939 - 1950
Career position - Lecturer, Natural History, The University of Melbourne Extension Board (later Council of Adult Education), Australia
1941 - 1943
Career Position - President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, Australia
1947
Award - Australian Natural History Medallion, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, Australia
1949 - 1950
Career Position - President, Royal Society of Victoria, Australia
1951 - 1953
Career Position - Foundation President, Victoria Branch, British Astronomical Association
1952
Career Position - Foundation President, Victorian National Parks Association, Australia

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne

  • Audio tape of interview with P. G. Morrison, P000657; Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne. Details

State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

  • Philip Crosbie Morrison - Records, 1924 - 1960; State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

Books

  • Brash, Stuart; Conde Anne-Marie; Robin, Libby; McCarthy, Gavan; Sherratt, Tim, A Guide to the Records of Philip Crosbie Morrison (Melbourne: Australian Science Archives Project, 1993), 178 pp. Details
  • Garden, Don, Conservation journeys: a short history of the VNPA (Carlton, Vic.: Victorian National Parks Association, 2012?), 70 pp. https://vnpa.org.au/publications/conservation-journeys-a-short-history-of-the-vnpa/. Details
  • Pizzey, Graham, Crosbie Morrison: Voice of Nature (Melbourne: Victoria Press, 1992), 303 pp. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • Balmford, Peter, 'Newspapers as a Source of Information about Natural History', The Victorian naturalist, 102 (1) (1985), 20-27. Details
  • Bartels, Ditta, 'Speech by Ditta Bartels at launch of the Guide to the Records of Philip Crosbie Morrison', History of Australian Science Newsletter, 32 (1994). http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/hasn/no32/feats32.html#morrison. Details
  • Garnet, J. R., 'A Tribute to Crosbie Morrison', The Victorian naturalist, 75 (1958), 21-24. Details
  • Robin, Libby, 'Visions of Nature: Wild Life, 1938-1954', The Victorian naturalist, 102 (5) (1985), 153-61. Details
  • Robin, Libby, 'The Professor and the journalist: Crosbie Morrison and John Turner, scientists in popular conservation campaigns', Victorian Historical Journal, 65 (1994), 154-68. Details
  • Sherratt, Tim; Condé, Anne-Marie, 'Communicating with Wild Life', Australasian Science, Summer (1992). http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/journal/as_morri.htm. Details

Resources

See also

Digital resources

Title
Morrison, Philip Crosbie Portrait
Type
Image

Details

McCarthy, G.J.

EOAS ID: biogs/P000657b.htm

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