Morris Buske Papers- Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park

Morris Buske was a teacher, historian, lecturer, playwright, and one of the early founders of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park. Buske was born in 1912 on a farm in Anson, Wisconsin. After beginning his education in a one room schoolhouse, his family moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin so he could attend high school. He studied history at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, where he was active on the debate team. He then attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. While working on his Phd, he met his future wife, Dorothy Isabelle Hohler. Buske and his family left Madison in 1940, without completing his dissertation, to teach history at Oak Park River Forest High School. Dorothy Buske (nee Hohler) died in 1989. Buske married Dorothy “Dot” Alma in 1992.

Buske remained active in the teaching profession and was a prolific researcher, author, and presenter. He co-authored “The Record of Mankind” (1965) a widely used world history textbook that had numerous editions in addition to educational articles, series, and materials. After his retirement from teaching in 1974, Buske became Chairman of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in 1975-1976. From this experience, he helped establish several local organizations. He served on original board of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation, acted as president of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, and he and his first wife helped establish the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, where he acted as the first chairman. He also was a Faculty representative of the Oak Park River Forest High School Alumni Association. For all of his work in the community, he received the Carl Winter Community Service Award from the Rotary Club.

Buske established himself as an authority on Hemingway. In addition to being an active member of the Ernest Hemingway Foundtion of Oak Park board, he regularly corresponded with fellow Hemingway scholars and frequented other Hemingway archives. He published numerous articles on Hemingway and gave various talks, often accompanied by slides. He wrote the play Lovely Walloona, which was produced in Oak Park and Petosky, Michgan. His most notable Hemingway work Hemingway’s Education, A Re-examination Oak Park High School and the Legacy of Principal Hanna, was published posthumously in 2007.

Morris Buske died January 14, 2005.