Photo Record
Images
Additional Images [69]
Metadata
Title |
Hammonds-Morton Family Photograph Collection |
Collection |
Hammonds-Morton Family Photograph Collection |
Catalog Number |
022PC21 |
Date |
ca. 1880-2018 |
Location |
Kentucky / Jefferson County / Louisville |
Collection Finding Aid |
Click to view Hammonds-Mortont Family Photograph Collection Finding Aid |
Description |
This collection consists of 46 folders of various photographic formats, and 5 photograph albums. Several photograph albums were dismantled for preservation and are notated. The collection documents the lives of the Hammonds and Morton families from the late 19th and early 20th century, to after the lines joined in the 1950s. Most of the late 19th century images are of the Morton family. The collection heavily features Thelma Morton Hammonds, her husband Elmer Johnson Hammonds, Sr., and Thelma's sister Hattie Marie Morton. There is also a run of photographs of the Evans family, and photographs taken in the Evans Photography Studio. Mattie Jones (b. 1845) and Franklin Hampton wed on October 26, 1871. Franklin worked as a plasterer and fought in the 109th United States Colored Infantry in the Civil War. At some point before his passing in November of 1899, Franklin and Mattie had a daughter named Hattie Ann Hampton. Their daughter Hattie married Charles E. Morton, a cook, in Bowling Green, KY around 1903. Charles had one previous marriage to an Emma McCutchen, the couple had two children: Joanna Morton and Charles Morton, Jr. Charles and Emma's daughter Joanna married Arthur Pickett Evans, Sr., connecting the Morton and Evans families. Arthur P. Evans, Sr. ran a photography studio which was located at 819 West Chestnut Street. At some point he wed a woman named Mattie Wright, and in 1945 Evans Sr. retired and passed the business on to his son, Arthur Pickett Evans, Jr. Charles E. Morton later married Hattie Ann Hampton and moved to Louisville, KY in the early 1920s. The couple had three children: Thelma Morton Hammonds (1904-2008), Clifford Ivanhoe Morton (1912-1977) and Hattie Marie Morton (1919-2018). Clifford moved to Washington D.C., in 1940, and he married Christine Hawkins a year later, on August 8, 1941. They had one son, Clifford I. Morton, Jr. Morton, Sr. worked for the U.S. government in the Veteran's Administration and the United States Postal Service until his retirement in December 1973. The youngest child, Hattie Marie Morton, graduated from Central High School in 1936, and earned her BA in Sociology from Louisville Municipal College in 1940. She was an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and even served as the President of the Richmond, VA chapter later in life. She earned a master's degree in social work from Atlanta University, and worked as a social worker for the Department of Public Welfare in Richmond, VA. She began her career as a Case Worker and retired in 1985 as Senior Supervisor in the Service Department. After retirement, Hattie volunteered for both the American Red Cross and the Board of Education in Richmond, before moving back to Louisville to live with her older sister, Thelma. Thelma Morton Hammonds, the eldest daughter, also graduated from Central High School and the Louisville Municipal College (1937), but she pursued a Master of Science degree from Indiana University-Bloomington School of Education. Thelma went on to teach at Madison Junior High, a Louisville public school, until her retirement in 1971. In 1959, she married Elmer Johnson Hammonds, Sr. She was a faithful member of the Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, located at 1901 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., for over 80 years, and aided in the church's historic preservation efforts. After the death of her husband, she lived with her sister Hattie Marie at the Treyton Oaks Apartments in Old Louisville. Elmer Johnson Hammonds, Sr. was born in Bardstown, Nelson County, KY on February 27, 1903, to William Hammonds, a coal-yard laborer, and Emma Hammonds, a cook for a private household. He had one older brother, Charles Henry Hammonds (1897-1961), and a sister named Martha Williams. By the 1920s, Elmer was working as a Pullman Porter in Louisville, KY. At some point, he met and married Ophelia Doyle Guinn (December 8, 1899 - September 16th, 1964). The couple had three children, Elmer Lucille (later known as Elmer Lucille Allen), Elmer Johnson "Bud", and Mary Elizabeth. Elmer, Sr. divorced Ophelia in 1951, and remarried once more to a woman named Minnie May Gibson, who passed in 1958. Elmer married his third and final wife, Thelma Morton, in 1959. He was a member of the Adelphi Club and worked as a porter for 39 years until his retirement in 1968. He passed away in Louisville on December 26, 1987. Elmer's daughter Elmer Lucille Allen had a close relationship with her stepmother and step-aunt, Thelma and Hattie, and frequently visited them at their home, even after the passing of her father. Elmer Lucille was born in 1931 in a highly segregated Louisville. She attended Madison Street Junior High School, Central High School, and graduated in 1953 from Nazareth College (now Spalding University). She became the first African American chemist at Brown-Forman in 1966. It was at her job that she met her future husband, Ray Allen. In 1997 Elmer Lucille retired from the company and began studying art at the University of Louisville. She had always had an interest in crafting, and in 2002 she received her Master of Creative Arts, with a focus on ceramics and fiber. Since the early 2000s, she has been a large figure in the Louisville art scene, both as a creator herself, and as a supporter of other local artists. The collection has been arranged at the folder level as follows. See the full collection Finding Aid for additional information. Folders 1-4 contain late 19th and early 20th century photographs, varying in format, of the Hammonds family. Folders 5-17 contain mid to late 20th century photographs of the Morton family, specifically Clifford Ivanhoe Morton, Sr., Clifford Ivanhoe Morton, Jr., and Hattie Morton. Folders 18-26 contain 20th century photographs of the Hammonds family, with particular reference to Elmer J. Hammonds, his wife Thelma Morton-Hammonds, and his daughter Elmer Lucille Allen. Folders 27- 28 contain 20th century photographs of the Evans family, as well as photographs of unidentified individuals which were taken in the Evans family photography studio. These folders prominently feature Arthur P. Evans, Sr., and his son Arthur P. Evans, Jr. Folders 29- 34 contain photographs from miscellaneous events and locations. This series features the church of the Morton, Hammonds, and Evans family, Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. There are also two folders which cover the time Hattie and Thelma spent living at the Treyton Oaks apartments. Folders 35-36 comprise the deconstructed Album 1. This album mainly features the Hammonds family, ca. 1970s. Folders 37-39 comprise the deconstructed Album 2. This album mainly features the Hammonds family, ca. 1950-1980. Folders 40-42 comprise the deconstructed Album 3. This album mainly depicts the Hammonds family, but it also heavily features Hattie Morton's life in Richmond, VA, 1960-1990. Folders 43-44 comprise the deconstructed Album 4. This album mainly depicts the Hammonds family, but it also heavily features Hattie Morton's life in Richmond, 1950-1980. Folders 45-46 comprise the deconstructed Album 5. This album mainly depicts the Evans family, ca. 1970s. One oversized photograph removed and placed in Oversized Boxed Collection. Photograph of Ophelia Helen Hammonds and Ella Edelen Guinn standing in front of 611 East Finzer Street, Louisville, KY, September 1955. A portion of the collection has been described and digitized: Fld. 23: Thema, Elmer, Sr., and Elmer Lucille Hammonds pose for a picture at Thelma and Elmer Sr.'s wedding day. Album 6.001: Photograph album page including images of Thelma Hammonds, Hattie Morton, Elmer Lucille Hammonds Allen, Michael Allen, Clifford Morton, and Hattie Ann Hampton. Album 6.002: Photograph album page including images of Will Hammonds, Elmer Johnson Hammonds, Jr. "Bud," Elmer Hammonds, Sr., Thelma Hammonds, and Michael Allen. Album 6.003: Photograph album page including images of Thelma Hammonds, wedding photos of Elmer, Hammonds, Sr., and Thelma Morton in 1949, and Hattie Ann Hampton. Album 6.004: Photograph album page including images of Hattie Ann Hampton, Hattie Morton, Elmer Hammonds, Sr., and Thelma Morton cutting wedding cake in 1949. Album 6.005: Photograph album page including images of Elmer Hammonds, Sr., and Thelma Morton's wedding in 1949 posing with Elmer Lucille Hammonds Allen, Hattie Morton, Clifton Morton, and various photos of Thelma Hammonds and her sister Hattie. Album 6.006: Photograph album page including images of Clifford Morton, Thelma Hammonds, Elmer Hammonds, Jr. "Bud," Elmer Hammonds, Sr., and Hattie Morton. Album 6.007: Photograph album page including images of Thelma Hammonds on the steps of Indiana University, Connie and JoAnn Evans, and Hattie Morton. Album 6.008: Photograph album page including images of Thelma Hammonds, a photo of Elmer Lucille Hammonds Allen in her white, Brown Forman chemist uniform, Hattie Morton and Elmer Hammonds, Sr. sitting on a car. Album 6.009: Photograph album page including images of Hattie Morton, Thelma Hammonds, Arthur, and Joanna Evans at a party in addition to some unidentified photos. Album 6.010: Photograph album page including snapshots of Hattie Morton and Thelma Hammonds. Album 7.001: Photograph album page including snapshots of Thelma Hammonds and her sister Hattie Morton. Album 7.002: Photograph album page including a real photo postcard of Arthur Evans, Sr. in his military uniform, head shot of Hattie Morton and miscellaneous unidentified snapshots. Album 7.003: Photograph album page of snapshots of Thelma Hammonds and Hattie Morton. Also, a photo of Thelma Hammonds posing with a church or school group. Album 7.004: Photograph album page of snapshots of Hattie Morton, Thelma Morton, and Arthur Evans, Sr. along with a snapshot of a man holding a camera (possibly Arthur Evans, Sr. as an older man). Album 7.005: Photograph album page of snapshots of Hattie Morton and her sister Thelma Hammonds, JoAnne Evans in an evening gown (possibly prom), and a few unidentified photos. Album 7.006: Photograph album page of snap shots of Hattie Morton, Thelma Hammonds, and a few unidentified photos. Fld. 27.001: Headshot of Arthur Evans, Sr. Fld. 19.005: Snapshot of Charles Morton, Thelma Hammonds, and Hattie Morton posing with their mother (?). Fld. 6: Photograph of Christina Morton holding her son Clifford, "Baby Cliff" (7 months old), 1943. Fld. 5: Clifford Ivanhoe Morton, Sr in military uniform standing in doorway Fld. 22.001: Elmer Hammonds Sr. (3rd from left) in a tuxedo poses with other men of the Epicurean Club. Fld. 22.002: Photograph of Elmer Hammonds, Sr. Fld. 24.007: Elmer Lucille Allen and her children. Album 7.007: Photograph album page with a photograph of Elmer Lucille Allen working in the laboratory at Brown-Forman. Fld. 24.005: Snapshot of Elemer Lucille Allen. Fld. 25: Photograph of Elmer Lucille Allen posing with a group of men, her son Michael sits behind her in an orange t-shirt. Fld. 24.004: Elmer Lucille Allen and Hattie Morton pose with unidentified man. Fld. 24.001: Elmer Lucille Allen poses in a gallery. Fld. 18: Elmer Hammonds, Sr. (center back) poses with group, possibly family. Fld. 1.001: Carte-de-visite of an unidentified child. Fld. 1.002: Carte-de-visite of an unidentified child. Fld. 1.003: Carte-de-visite of unidentified man standing in a coat, tie and holding a hat. Fld. 1.004: Carte-de-visite of unidentified man in suit. Fld. 1.005: Photograph of unidentified group of children with woman sitting in center, possibly a school group. Fld. 1.006: Real photo postcard of two men in chef's uniforms, one of the men is possibly Charles E. Morton. Fld. 1.007: Tintype of an unidentified couple. Fld. 1.008: Cabinet card of three unidentified children, taken by Brush, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fld. 1.009: Photograph of an unidentified man posing in a three-piece suit and hat. Fld. 1.010: Real photo postcard of an unidentified young girl in all white. Fld. 27.002: Evans family photograph. Fld. 7.008: Snapshot of three unidentified women playing cards in a living room. Fld. 7.009: Group of unidentified women posing in living room. Hattie Morton, possibly sitting in the center of the couch. Fld. 7.011: Two unidentified women sitting at a card table, one woman opening gifts. Fld. 8.006: Central High School class reunion photograph of the 1935 ½ and 1936 graduating classes at the Howard Johnson's, September 1, 1984. Hattie Morton sits in the front row, fourth from the right wearing a brown dress. Fld. 8.007: Central High School class reunion photograph of 1935 ½ and 1936 graduating classes at the Galt House East, August 30, 1986. Hattie Morton sits in the front row, second from the right wearing a light pink dress. Fld. 7.010: Hattie Morton, center, stands among a group of women. Fld. 7.006: Head shot of Hattie Morton. Fld. 10.001: Hattie Morton stands aboard the Scandinavian Sun cruise ship, 1988. Fld. 10.002: Hattie Morton stands in pink suit with unidentified woman aboard the Annabell Lee cruise ship. Fld. 30: Hattie Morton receiving an award at church. Fld. 31: Hattie Morton celebrating her birthday with Thelma at Treyton Oaks, Old Louisville, KY, ca. 2003-2011. Fld. 7.001: Photograph of Hattie Morton. Fld. 7.002: Hattie Morton standing outside a brick building. Fld. 7.003: Hattie Morton standing in front of a car wearing a skirt suit. Fld. 7.005: Hattie Morton standing in front of a brick house. Fld. 7.007: Hattie Morton at Log Cabin beach in Virginia. Log Cabin Beach was a waterfront recreational space for African Americans during segregation in the mid-20th century. It was also a stop on the Chitlin' Circuit, a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper Midwest that provided commercial and cultural acceptance for African American musicians, comedians, and other entertainers during the era of racial segregation. Fld. 8.001: Hattie Morton poses with a fair in the background. Fld. 8.002: Hattie Morton stands on the front porch of a house. Fld. 8.003: Hattie Morton stands in front of a tour bus on one of her many trips around the United States. Fld. 8.004: Hattie Morton stands in front of a shop. Fld. 8.005: Hattie Morton stands with a friend in front of a Greyhound bus on one of her many trips around the United States. Fld. 17.001: Hattie Morton (left) and Thelma Hammonds (right) posing in the front yard of Thelma's house at 2703 W. Madison Street in the Russell Neighborhood in Louisville, KY, June 1960. Fld. 24.006: (Left to right) Hattie Morton, Elemer Lucille Allen, Thelma Hammonds. Fld. 2.002: Mounted photograph of Mattie Jones. Fld. 24.003: (Left to right) Thelma Hammonds, Charles Morton, Elmer Lucille Allen stand in yard. Fld. 24.002: Thelma Hammonds and Elmer Lucille Allen stand in the yard together. Fld. 9.001: Head shot of Thelma Morton Hammonds, taken by Evans Studio, Louisville, KY. Fld. 19.002: Thelma Hammonds stands in yard by rose bushes. Fld. 19.003: Thelma Hammonds sits on a stone wall. Fld. 19.004: Thelma Hammonds (left, in checkered skirt suit) stands next to an unidentified woman in front of a white car. Fld. 19.007: Thelma Hammonds sits on a couch holding papers and a pen. Fld. 17.002: Thelma Hammonds (sitting) and Hattie Morton (standing) smile and pose at Treyton Oaks, Louisville, KY. Fld. 19.006: Thelma Hammonds stands in front of her home at 2703 W. Madison Street, in the Russell Neighborhood, Louisville, KY. |
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