A preliminary inventory of photographs taken by Helen Balfour Morrison intended for a “Great Americans” series of portraits. The Morrison-Shearer Foundation describes the history of the project as follows: “While preparing to photograph Jensen, Helen was already making portraits of other notable individuals as well – sometimes doing four or five portrait sittings a day in Chicago. Rockwell Kent sat for her and introduced her to Bill Kittredge at the Lakeside Press, who suggested she do a book on Great Americans. She began more actively seeking out notables and asking to photograph them…”

The collection includes over 900 prints, with over 550 unique images. Individuals represent a wide range of professions including visual and performing artists, educators and academics, architects, journalist and literary writers, scientists, social activists, and business and government leaders. Many of the photographs were exhibited throughout the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.

The majority of the photographs are black and white prints between 11” x 14” and 14” x 18”. Due to varying sizes of the prints, small prints have been separated out and are listed separately. Also included is a portfolio of portraits compiled by Morrison, with many inscribed prints. Other photographs by Helen Balfour Morrison along with slides and negatives are still unprocessed and will be added to the inventory once completed.