Carlton D. Morse whaling collection (Ms.79.22)

Biographical note

Carleton Doty Morse was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on June 12, 1890 and attended Brown University, where he was an active member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. After graduating from Brown with a Ph.B. degree in 1913, Morse spent two years as assistant New England agent for the Aluminum Cooking Utensil Company in Providence, Rhode Island. From 1915 to 1920, he held a position as a bond salesman for investment securities for Bodell & Company, investment bankers. During this time, he joined the Army during the first World War (1917-1919) where he served as a captain in the 301st Infantry Division and the 76th Division of the American Expeditionary Force. After the Armistice, he was assigned to the 90th Division- of the Army of Occupation, in Germany.

Following his return to the United States, Morse resumed his career in investment banking. From 1920 to 1922, he was promoted to sales manager for Bodell & Company's offices located in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1922, he worked as a sales manager in the Philadelphia office of the Guaranty Company of New York. He held this position until 1924 when he moved back to Massachusetts to take up the position of Manager of the Boston office of Hill, Joiner & Company. In 1926, he was able to successfully open his own investment firm, Morse & Company, where he was managing partner, alongside Frank D. Fuller, until 1935. In 1929, he was also named president and treasurer of the Clearwater Laundry Co., Inc. of Boston. He subsequently acceded to a joint appointment as both secretary and director of the Massachusetts Laundry Association.

In addition to his professional activities, Morse also sat on the planning board for the town of Needham, Massachusetts for the years 1937-1946, where he had resided since relocating in 1924. From 1946 to 1949, he served on the Needham Hospital Building Committee. He also served on the advisory board of the Boston division of the Salvation Army, dates unknown.

A devoted alumnus of Brown, Carleton D. Morse was founder and first chairman of the Friends of the Library of Brown University as well as chairman of the board of editors of the Brown Alumni Monthly. He served as the New England Regional Director of the Associated Alumni of Brown and as president of the Brown Club of Boston.

Morse's affinity for the whaling industry dates back to his childhood days in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where New England whaling had its greatest port. Carleton D. Morse died on June 2nd, 1955 at the age of 64 after succumbing to a long illness. He left a widow, Doris (Cox) Morse; a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Morse, a graduate from Pembroke College, class of 1956.