"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
Photo of Elise Ford Allen, first African American woman to edit and publish a newspaper in the state of Illinois - The Traveler Weekly. |
James O. Allen is the husband of Elise. The couple had ten children: Carol, James Jr., Gregory, Linda, Joy, Janet, Norman, Angela, Barbara, Timothy and Matthew. James was a printer and... |
Dr. Cecil Bruce Ford was the son of Major Geroge W. Ford. He married Florence Harrison and the couple had four children: Elise, Florence, Bruce and Harrison. His life is detailed in... |
Photo of Florence Ford, married to Dr. Cecil Bruce Ford. The couple had four children, Elise, Florence, Bruce and Harrison. Florence Ford was a well-known seamtress in Peoria, Illinois.... |
Elise Ford Allen and Florence Ford Pickett at Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois as children. The mansion house on the cemetery was the home of Major George Ford. Annual family... |
Photo of Elise early 20's. |
The couple right before they were married. |
Elise and James O. Allen |
Elise and James Allen |
Photo of the married couple's first child, Carol. The picture was taken at her parent's home in Peoria, Illinois. |
.thumbnail.jpg "James in the Military")
Photo of James O. Allen, left, and T. Morgan, United States Army at Fort Huachuca. |
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.thumbnail.jpg "Elise and James formal function")
Elise and James with friends at a formal ball and dinner in Peoria, Illinois. |
Photo of Elise and James at 1963 wedding of their daughter, Carol. |
 Hallie Ford Goins (daugther of George Ford) Garfield Goins, husband to Hallie.thumbnail.JPG "Ford Family Dinner")
Florence Ford (married to Cecil Bruce Ford), Harriett "Hallie" Ford Goins (daugther of George Ford), Garfield Goins, husband to Hallie, and Janet Allen at a Christmas dinner at the... |
Elise and James with friends and family at a dinner party. From left to right: Elise and James O. Allen, Florence and Charles Pickett, Sam and Herschel Mackey |
Old newspaper front page of The Traveler Weekly, 1968. The paper was established in the fall of 1966 as a single 8 1/2 x 11 sheet with local news items and Elise's editorials... |
Peoria Today magazine article on Elise Ford Allen and the Traveler Weekly page 1. |
.thumbnail.JPG "Peoria Today, page 2")
Article on Elise Ford Allen and the Traveler Weekly, page 2. Top Photo left to right: Janet Allen, Barbara Allen Randle, Joy Allen Stone, Angela Allen Henry, Carol Allen Adams, Linda... |
Elise and James with daughter Carol and husband, Melvin and friends. |
