Allen, Elmer Lucille, 1931- Photographs, ca. 1930-2021
Collection held by the Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky
Creator: Allen, Elmer Lucille, 1931-
Title: Photographs, ca. 1930-2021
Rights: For more information regarding literary and copyright interest for this collection, contact the Collections Department at gro.lacirotsihnoslif@hcraeser.
Size of Collection: 1 cu. ft. and 1 wrapped album
Location Number: 020PC19
Finding aid created by: Alanna Parham
Date finding aid created: 4 June 2026
Date finding aid last updated: 4 June 2026
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of photographs and one photograph album related to Elmer Lucille Allen and her family, as well as documentation of her life, including prom and graduation, her parents and grandparents, and images of her receiving different awards in the arts field and for her art. This collection also includes a rolled group copy photograph of the Central High School Class of June 1949 and a wrapped album documenting her retirement from Brown-Forman on 1997 February 28.
Related collections:
Elmer Lucille Allen Museum Collections [2019.54, 2020.15, 2023.7, 2024.6]
Hammonds-Morton Family Photograph Collection [022PC21]
Biographical Note
Elmer Lucille Allen was born on August 23, 1931, to Ophelia Guinn Hammonds and Elmer Hammonds, in Louisville, Kentucky. She had a close relationship with her stepmother and step-aunt, Thelma and Hattie, and frequently visited them at their home, even after the passing of her father.
Born in a highly segregated Louisville, Elmer Lucille attended Madison Street Junior High School, Central High School, and Louisville Municipal College (now UofL) from 1949 to 1951. She graduated from Nazareth College (now Spalding University) in 1953. became the first African American chemist at Brown-Forman in 1966. It was at Brown-Forman that she met her future husband, Ray Allen.
In 1997, Elmer Lucille retired from the company and began studying art at the University of Louisville. She had always had an interest in crafting, and in 2002 she received her Master of Creative Arts, with a focus on ceramics and fiber. Since the early 2000s, she has been a large figure in the Louisville art scene, both as a creator herself, and as a supporter of other local artists.
Folder List
Box 1
Folder 1: Family and ancestors, ca. 1930s-2010s
Includes early photographs of the Morton-Hammonds family
Folder 2: Elmer Lucille Allen, ca. 1940s-1960s
Includes a loose rolled copy photograph of the Central High School graduating class of June 1949
Folder 3: Elmer Lucille Allen, ca. 2010s-2020s
Folder 4: Treyton Oaks Towers – residents, ca. early 2000s- 2016
Folder 5: Birthday celebrations, ca. 2020s
Folder 6: Miscellaneous education, art classes, and workshops, ca. 1993-2020s
Folder 7: Miscellaneous art, art shows, and exhibitions, ca. 1980s-2020s
Folder 8: G.C. Coxe Exhibition, ca. 1991
Folder 9: Ed Hamilton Installment, ca. 2021
Folder 10: Booker T. Washington Monument by Ed Hamilton, ca. 1984
Folder 11: Vic Hellard, Jr. dedication – Frankfort (Ky.), ca. April 2000
Folder 12: Elmer Lucille Allen mural, ca. October 12, 2019
Folder 13: Surface Design in African Arts #1-39, ca. Nov.-Dec. 1979
Exhibition from the collection of Roy and Sophia Sieber. #1-39. November 10-December 1, 1979. Louisville School of Art Gallery.
Folder 14: Surface Design in African Arts #40-60, ca. Nov.-Dec. 1979
Exhibition from the collection of Roy and Sophia Sieber. #40-60. November 10-December 1, 1979. Louisville School of Art Gallery.
Folder 15: Misc. artist, ca. late 1980s-2020s
Folder 16: Brown-Forman, ca. late 1960s-early 2020s
Folder 17: Sankofa, ca. 2006
Folder 18: Events and awards (part one), ca. 1990s-early 2020s
Folder 19: Events and awards (part two), ca. 1980s-early 2020s
Folder 20: Civil rights, ca. early 2000s-2020s
Folder 21: LMC (Louisville Municipal College) photographs, ca. 2010s
Folder 22: 2001 Fiber Artists (deconstructed album), ca. 2001
Caroline Dahl Fiber Workshop – UofL, 2001
Nazareth Home Exhibition, 2001
Philis Alvic Exhibition, 2001
Denise Furnish
Ashi Eruoa-Bey, 2001
Folder 23: Hattie and Thelma Morton-Hammonds (deconstructed album), ca. 2010s
Folder 24: Brandon Gala Marshall Mural album, ca. 2021
Folder 25: Memories with Elmer Lucille album by Patricia Lucille, ca. 2021
Album 26: Brown-Forman Retirement album, 28 Feb. 1997