"I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids--and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me."
- Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man"
Elise Ford and James O. Allen
Allen Family Photo - standing left to right, James Jr., Gregory, Melvin Adams. Sitting on floor left to right: Linda, Barbara, Joy, Angela, Janet (forward). Sitting on couch Left to right:...
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In another first, Elise Ford Allen became the first Afircan American female to run for mayor of Peoria, Illinois in 1973. She ran with the intention of bringing to light the plights...
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A photo of Elise and one of her oppents at a panel discussion when she ran for May in 1973.
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Family Photos, late 1960's. Standing Left to right back row: Carol, Melvin, Gregory, James Jr. Standing middle row, left to right: Florence Harrison Ford, Elise and James Sr. Sitting...
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Plaque detailing Elise F. Allen receiving the African American Hall of Fame award in Journalism, 1991.
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Photo of Elise at Roosevelt Magnate School where the Elise F. Allen Award is presented for students who exhibit high academics, leadership, community service and high academics. Photo by Elijah...
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Elise became the first black Girl Scout board member, Peoria Girl Scouts (1968-1973);
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Elise and James Allen with daughters, left to right: Janet, Angela, James O. Allen, Elise F. Allen, Cynthia, Barbara.
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Photo of Elise at board meeting for the Girl Scout Troop she founded in Peoria, Illinois..
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Elise and James Allen at a formal event, Peoria, Illinois. The couple is in the front row, third and fourth from the right.
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James and Elise dressed for church. James was always known to wear a bow-tie. They are the parents of Carol Allen Adams, James Allen Jr., Gregory Allen, Linda Allen B. Hollis, Joy Allen Stone,...
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Picture was taken in 1980 on the front lawn of the family's home in Peoria, Illinois. Top left to right, Barbara Allen Randle, Janet Allen, Greg Allen, Carol Adams Allen, James Allen Jr.,...
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Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hooks (Executive Director of NAACP 1972-1992), Elise F. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. John Gwyn (President of the NAACP in Peoria) and Timothy Allen at an NAACP event.
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Photo of 50th Wedding Aniversary of Elise and James Allen. Front left to right standing: Carol, Linda, Joy, Janet, Barbara, Timothy, Angela, Gregory and James Jr.
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Photo of Elise and James O. Allen at their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Peoria, Illinois.
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Elise Ford Allen and Bruce Ford with their mother, Florence at a Ford Family reunion Norman Allen sitting and Carol Allen Adams in the background.
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Photo of Florence Ford Pickett and Elise Ford Allen in the home of Allen in Peoria, Illinois.
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Photo of brother and sister at Elise's 50th wedding anniversary.
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Elise and James at a school function.
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