Mitchell, Morris R. (Morris Randolph), 1895-1976

Morris Randolph Mitchell was a pacifist and educator who, 1919-1924 and 1926-1929, farmed in Marston and Ellerbe, N.C., and served as principal and/or teacher in Ellerbe schools; founded Macedonia Cooperative Community in Clarkesville, Ga., in the 1940s; served as director of the Putney Graduate School in Putney, Vt., 1950-1964; and was president of Friends World College in Glen Head, N.Y., 1964-1972.

Morris Randolph Mitchell, son of Dr. Samuel Chiles Mitchell and Alice Broadus Mitchell, was born in Georgetown, Ky., 23 June 1895. He had three brothers--Broadus, Terry, and George--and one sister, Mary (Mrs. George Clifford).

After graduating from Hyatt's Park High School in 1912, Mitchell attended the University of South Carolina (September 1912-May 1913), the University of Virginia (September 1913-May 1914), and Delaware College (June 1914-April 1917). He served in World War I from April 1917 to December 1918, and returned to Delaware for his final semester in January 1919, graduating in June.

In 1919, Mitchell married Grace Lucille Gates, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick T. Gates of Montclair, N.J. There were three children from this marriage--Morris Randolph Jr., Grace Anne, and Alice Broadus. Between June 1919 and May 1924, Mitchell farmed in Marston and Ellerbe, N.C., and became principal of schools in Ellerbe. He then began work toward his Ph.D. at George Peabody College for Teachers (June 1924-August 1925) and Columbia University (September 1925-May 1926). He graduated from Peabody in August 1926 after the summer session.

Mitchell returned to Ellerbe from September 1926 to May 1928, taught at Peabody and the University of North Carolina in the summer of 1928, and then took a job as headmaster of the Park School in Buffalo, N.Y., where he stayed until August 1933. From 1933 to July 1935, Mitchell traveled throughout Europe and the Soviet Union. On his return in July 1935, he joined the faculty of Columbia University's New College, through whose auspices he established Macedonia Cooperative Community in Clarkesville, Ga. Also in this period, he and Grace separated, eventually divorcing around 1936.

In 1939, Mitchell left New College to head the Department of Education at the State Teachers College in Florence, Ala. In addition, he worked on several educational and agricultural development projects in Alabama. In 1943, he married Barbara Jaynes of Florence. They had three children--Randolph, Nancy, and Mary.

From 1943 to 1949, Mitchell managed Macedonia, taking time off to teach at Rochdale Institute and Pendle Hill and to serve as director of the Walhalla Camp for Conscientious Objectors (summers, 1943-1944). He also became executive secretary of the Southeastern Cooperative League (1947-1950). Mitchell left Macedonia in 1950 to become director of the Putney Graduate School in Putney, Vt. He remained in this position until July 1964, when he assumed the presidency of the Friends World College, an international school headquartered in Glen Head, N.Y.