Young, Morris N. (1909-2002) | University of Illinois Archives

Morris Nathan Young (1909-2002) was an opthalmologist, author, and collector of books and artifacts on magic, mnemonics, and old sheet music. Young was born July 20, 1909 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Young earned a bachelors degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1930 and a masters degree from Harvard University in 1931. In 1935, he earned a medical degree from Columbia University.

Young became an opthamologist at the Harlem Eye and Ear Hospital during the late 1930s. During WWII he joined the US Army Reserve, serving in the Medical Corps. Following his service, he opened a private practice at University Hospital in New York City. In 1958 he became a professor of opthamology at French and Polyclinic Medical School and Health Center in New York City. In 1970 he became the chief opthamologist at the Beekham Downtown Hospital, where he worked until 1993.

Having seen Harry Houdini as a child, Young was fascinated with magic throughout his life. Given his brother Barnard's interest in music, he also collected sheet music. Young served in an ancillary role to within his brother Barnard's music publishing companies and performer organizations such as Bomart Music Company, Ferris Records, National Juke Box Records, Godell Music, International Songwriters Association, and the Denton & Haskins Music Corporation. Young died November 13, 2002 in Norwich, Connecticut at the aged of ninety-three