Great Americans

Helen Morrison’s portraits of Great Americans never appeared in book form, though Sybil Shearer tried to find a publisher after Helen’s death. A few of these remarkable portraits have appeared in books and magazines, but until now they have remained a “hidden collection.”

Sybil has said that Helen was a great “thrower-awayer” and it must be so, as almost no documentation about these portraits has been found. It appears that Helen’s way of working was to contact notable individuals – perhaps currently in the news — and show them references and a sampling of her work. Satisfied sitters often recommended her to their friends. And in some cases, the sitter may never have seen their portrait. Sybil once said, “I think she didn’t like her prints to get away. That’s why so many of the people never saw their picture.” (Chicago Tribune Magazine, 1991) Sometimes payment was involved, but often not. Helen was “collecting” people – and friends.

The wide scope of the collection includes artists, sculptors, architects, city planners, dancers, choreographers, critics, educators, business leaders, journalists, lawyers, medical doctors and researchers, musicians, poets, scientists, writers, playwrights, academics, philosophers, adventurers, and pioneer social activists.

These photos are at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

M O R E