Contents
- Descriptive Summary
- Processing Information note
- Related Archival Materials note
- Conditions Governing Use note
- Biographical note
- Cited Sources
- Scope and Contents note
- Indexed Terms
- Inventory
Collection Access
Lorraine Morton Papers
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Lorraine Morton Papers
- Identifier
- BMRC.SHOREFRONT.MORTON_L
- Repository
- Shorefront Legacy Center
- Language
- English
- Size
- 4.4 Linear feet
- Predominant Dates
- Bulk, 1980-2000
- Dates
- 1942-2013, (bulk 1980-2000)
- Abstract
- Lorraine Morton is known as an educator and the first African American Mayor in Evanston, Illinois. She worked with many non-for-profit groups to advocate for the education of Evanston residents. This collection spans from 1942-2011 and contains Morton’s personal and professional papers.
Processing Information note
Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processor: Angelique Schuler.
Conditions Governing Use note
none
Biographical note
In 1919, Lorraine Morton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Morton received her teaching certification from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina in 1938. In 1942, she received her M. A. from Northwestern University in Curriculum (Education). She received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service from Kendall College. In 1957, she began teaching at Foster School, and continued as a middle school teacher at Nichols and Chute, and principal of Haven Middle School.
In 1984, Morton was elected as Alderman for the 5th Ward for Evanston’s City Council. She served in this position for nine years. In 1993, Morton was elected as the first African American Mayor of Evanston. Morton was re-elected in 1997, 2001 and 2005. Additionally, Morton is involved in various civil service, and non-for-profit organizations.
Lorraine Morton is married to James Morton. Together they had one child, Elizabeth Brasher. Morton retired in 2009 and currently lives in Evanston, Illinois.
Cited Sources
"Mayor Lorraine H. Morton." City of Evanston. 2007. Accessed September 27, 2013. http://web.archive.org/web/20071218071320/http://www.cityofevanston.org/government/mayor.shtml.
Scope and Contents note
The Lorraine Morton Collection is organized in six series: “Family and Personal Papers,” “Professional Papers,” “Photographs,” “Realia,” “Research Files,” and “Newspaper Clippings.” The collection contains documents related to Morton’s career as a teacher and as her time serving as Mayor for Evanston.
Indexed Terms
- African American politicians
- African American--History.
- African Americans--Illinois--Evanston.
- Evanston (Ill.)
- Mayors, African American
- Politics
- Women politicians--Illinois--Biography
- Women--Societies and clubs.
Inventory
This series contains Lorraine Morton’s personal papers. Included are biographies, personal writings from Morton that do not fall within a school or work context. Other family documents are also included within this series.
- Title
- Lorraine Morton Biography,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- Works written by Lorraine Morton,
- Dates
- 1990, undated
- Title
- James Morton high school notebooks,
- Dates
- undated
The series Professional Papers contains three subseries, “Education,” “Political Papers,” and “Programs and Events.”
This subseries contains Morton’s documents from her time in the education field, with the majority being correspondences to Morton while Principle at Haven Middle School.
- Title
- School Correspondence,
- Dates
- 1967-2011
- Title
- School Appreciation Award,
- Dates
- undated
This series contains political papers related to Morton’s time as an Evanston alderman and as Mayor of Evanston. Documents include, correspondence, election information, a certificate of application, and PowerPoint presentations from speaking engagements.
- Title
- Political correspondence,
- Dates
- 1978-1984
- Title
- Statement of candidacy,
- Dates
- 1987 April 18
- Title
- Election results,
- Dates
- 2001 April 04
- Title
- Certificate of appreciation,
- Dates
- 1991 May 28
- Title
- PowerPoint presentation printouts,
- Dates
- 2005, 2007, undated
This subseries contains the professional programs and events that Morton attended that fall outside the direct relationship to her time as a teacher or in politics. Most of these programs and events are related to the Evanston community, which Morton attended or was a member.
- Title
- Community and church events,
- Dates
- 1993-2013
- Title
- Delta Chi Omega programs,
- Dates
- 1982-1994
- Title
- Women in government programs and events,
- Dates
- 1993-2012
- Title
- Community event fliers,
- Dates
- 1994-2013, undated
- Title
- Bound programs,
- Dates
- 1998-2009
This series contains photographs of Lorraine Morton. Most of the photographs appear to be related to her time as mayor and several others appear to be personal family photographs.
- Title
- Black and white photograph album,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- Booklets with 14 loose photographs,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- Booklets with 24 loose photographs,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- 12 large loose photographs,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- Oversized scrapbook
- Dates
- undated
This series contains the campaign realia. These items were used to help elect Morton as Mayor of Evanston.
- Title
- Booklet with magnet, matches, business card, and pin,
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- Calendars,
- Dates
- 2003, 2007
- Title
- Oversized Posters,
- Dates
- 1987 April 7
This series contains research materials that are supplemental to Morton but not directly related to her work as a teacher or mayor. Some of the various papers, printouts, and articles mention her, while others focus on issues or people in the Evanston community.
- Title
- Original research papers not written by Lorraine Morton,
- Dates
- 1942-1997, undated
- Title
- Internet articles - printouts,
- Dates
- circa 1964-2003
- Title
- Journals and articles,
- Dates
- circa 1942-1997
- Title
- Poem print outs,
- Dates
- 1984-1996
- Title
- Charlotte H. Brown,
- Dates
- 1950, undated
- Title
- Barbara Jordan,
- Dates
- 1974-1996, undated
- Title
- 18 magazines,
- Dates
- circa 1966-2007
This series contains newspaper clippings related to the life of Lorraine Morton. Some of the clippings are related to her time as an educator and as Mayor of Evanston.
- Title
- Newspaper clippings, 1 of 2,
- Dates
- circa 1967-1993
- Title
- Newspaper clippings, 2 of 2,
- Dates
- circa 1994-2007