About

Elizabeth Morris is an Artist, and soon to be Digital Librarian, who has spent her life meeting, and problem solving with a wide variety of people. Whether she is taking portraits, designing organization, or researching information, she loves learning and the discovery of knowledge, that empowers people to find what they need, and improve their lives.

Ms. Morris grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and took her first solo EL ride down to State St. when she was in fourth grade. The trip downtown was to meet her mother at Marshall Field’s to buy a new winter coat. The excitement of embarking on adventure, meeting new people, and the feeling of independence and accomplishment derived from, “making it there on my own”, was what in later years became the Howard EL Project. The adventure was to meet new people and form a connection of common humanity.

Reflecting back on the images from the Howard EL Project Ms. Morris says, “I was amazed at the sense of emotion that arose from revisiting these images, remembering not particular conversations, but the sense of connection with each of the people, that allowed them to trust my intention and project. Being a student is always helpful when trying to get people to let their guard down. In light of the 32 years since the projects completion, I found some full circle moments, or coincidences that, in hindsight, seem like a bit of a crystal ball to the future. One man has on a Minnesota shirt, and my first-born ended up going to the University of Minnesota. Another is the portrait of a Nun, and I ended up starting a Masters at Dominican University in 2015, 30 years after the project. But really, in reviewing the project, there is a sense of love and reconnection with my people, the family I gathered, of familiar faces and I wonder how many have passed away, or how the young lives turned out. I collected people for five weeks, and grew a lifetime of affection for humanity.”

September 2017