Joseph Morris Bachelor, who also published under the pen name Joseph Morris, was an American educator, editor, poet, and author active during the first half of the twentieth century. Educated at Miami University and Harvard University, Bachelor began his academic career teaching English at Cornell College in Iowa before transitioning to publishing. In New York City, he worked as an editor for the Century Company, notably serving as the definitions editor for the two-volume The New Century Dictionary.\n\nIn 1927, Bachelor returned to his alma mater, Miami University, where he spent the remainder of his career as a dedicated and rigorous professor of English. He was highly regarded for his courses on Shakespeare and a specialized vocabulary course he developed titled "Words." Beyond his teaching, Bachelor was a prolific textbook collaborator, co-authoring at least ten English textbooks. Among his most notable educational works, written alongside Garland Greever, were The Century Vocabulary Builder (1922) and The Century Book of Selections (1924).\n\nIn addition to his pedagogical texts, Bachelor edited several poetry anthologies in collaboration with St. Clair Adams, which featured some of his own verse. He was also deeply involved in the early history of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, writing its official Ritual and the lyrics to its first song. Following his death in 1947, Bachelor bequeathed over 400 acres of land to Miami University, which became the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve, and the university later honored his memory by naming an academic building, Bachelor Hall, in his honor.
