Thomas P. Morgan Explained

Thomas P. Morgan
Pseudonym:	Tennyson J. Daft
Birth Date:	1 December 1864
Birth Place:	East Lyme, Connecticut, USA
Genre:	Comedy

Thomas P. Morgan (December 1, 1864 - 1928)^{[1] [2]} was an American writer, editor, poet, and columnist.

Biography

Morgan was born in East Lyme, Connecticut to Joseph P. Morgan. He moved to Rogers, Arkansas in 1890.^[3] He began his career as an actor and circus clown before moving west and operating a book and stationery business in Rogers, Arkansas.^[4]

He wrote for various periodicals including Harper's Magazine, Ladies Home Journal and Puck as well as a playwright.^[5] He became nationally known for his comedic tales of country folk life employing quirky characters and vernacular dialogue.^[1] He was friendly with Will Rogers and his wife Betty.^[6] He sometimes used the pen name Tennyson J. Daft.^[1] Morgan also wrote plays but is better known for his humorous short stories.^{[7] [8]} He wrote a daily humor column for the Kansas City Star for many years.^{[9] [10]} He spent his later years in Arkansas.^[11]

Bibliography

• Short stories and wit of Tom P. Morgan: Late of Rogers, Arkansas, Compiled by J. Dickson Black

Further reading

• New York Times obituary, July 8, 1928, page 21, column 3.
• “Mystery of Tom P. Morgan is Resolved” by Billie Jines, Northwest Arkansas Morning News, May 3, 1987, p. 1B.
• “Memories of Tom P. Morgan” by Vera Key, Benton County Pioneer 1 (August 1956): 8–10.
• Obituary of Tom P. Morgan. Rogers Democrat. July 12, 1928, p. 1.
• Tom P. Morgan Research File. Research Library. Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers, Arkansas.
• Who's Who, XII to XVI by Fred W. Allsopp, Poets and Poetry of Arkansas, Little Rock, 1922, page 109
• "Westerners Who Write" by Arthur Grissom, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 28, 1888
• Journalist, Volume VIII, November 10, 1888, 2, XI, August 9, 1890
• Editor and Publisher, Volume LXI, July 14, 1928

Notes and References

1. Web site: Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
2. Web site: The Poets and Poetry of Arkansas. Frederick William. Allsopp. September 14, 1933. Central Printing Company. Google Books.
3. Web site: The House of Beadle and Adams and Its Dime and Nickel Novels: The Story of a Vanished Literature. Albert. Johannsen. September 14, 1950. University of Oklahoma Press. Google Books.
4. Web site: TOM P. MORGAN. www.ulib.niu.edu.
5. Web site: Tom P. Morgan | Harper's Magazine.
6. Book: Yagoda, Ben. Will Rogers: A Biography. September 14, 2000. University of Oklahoma Press. 9780806132389. Google Books.
7. Web site: Provincial Drama in America, 1870-1916: A Casebook of Primary Materials. Paul T.. Nolan. September 14, 1967. Scarecrow Press. Google Books.
8. Book: Randolph, Vance. We always lie to strangers: tall tales from the Ozarks. September 14, 1951. Columbia University Press. 9780837177656. Google Books.
9. Book: Rogers, Will. Will Rogers' Weekly Articles: The Coolidge Years, 1927-1929. January 1, 1981. Oklahoma State Universirty Press. 9780914956174. Google Books.
10. https://rogersar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/573/Tom-Morgans-Desk-and-Chair-PDF
11. Web site: Provincial Drama in America, 1870-1916: A Casebook of Primary Materials. Paul T.. Nolan. September 14, 1967. Scarecrow Press. Google Books.