"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

James at home Photo of James O. Allen on his front porch in Peoria, Illinois.	AAHM "Honoring our Heritage" Honorees 2018	Plaque, Elise Ford Allen AAHM Plaque for Honoree Elise Ford Allen for 2018 "Honoring our Heritage" 7th Annual Gala for the AAHM in Springfield, Illinois.	AAHM 7th Annual Gala Award Acceptance for Elise Ford Allen for the 7th Annual Gale "Honoring our Heritage". From left to Right Ocheng Jany, Linda Allen B. Hollis, and Ernestine Lawrence. Photo credit...
Ford Family Reunion Ford Family Reunion, Peoria Illinois.	Siblilngs at 2018 AAHM Gala The siblings at the the 7th Annual Gala "Honoring our Heritage" in support of honoree, Elise Ford Allen, October 25th, Springfield, Illinois. Attendees left to right: Front, Joy...	Florence Harrison Ford Florence, wife of Dr. Cecil Bruce Ford, in memoriam.	James' siblings James O. Allen and his immediate family.
Young Zephaniah Allen Photo of a young, Zephaniah Allen, father of James O. Allen.	Sally Allen Wife of Zephaniah Allen, and mother of James O. Allen.	James and brother Garry Photo of James O. Allen and his brother Garry in their print shop Peoria, Illinois.	Zephaniah Allen, James' father Zephaniah Allen, father of James O. Allen.
Zephaniah Allen, 99 Older photo of Zephaniah Allen, father of James O. Allen.	Proclamation From the Illinois Governor Proclamation from Governor Pritzker for recognition of Elise Ford Allen's work in the community of Peoria.	Proclamation from the Mayor Proclamation from Mayor, Rita Ali, of Peoria, Illinois for Elise F. Allen's service to the City, 2021.