Black-and-white bust-length studio portrait of a smiling elderly Black woman wearing a blazer and a beret.

ONLINE EXHIBIT: Wilma Morrison: Champion of Niagara’s Black History

Wilma Morrison: Historian at heart

Wilma Morrison dedicated much of her life to the preservation and promotion of Black History in the Niagara region. She spent decades accumulating and raising awareness about the rich histories of Black people in Niagara and throughout Ontario.

"A whole different world”

Reflecting on her life at age 82, upon receiving the prestigious Order of Ontario in 2011, Morrison said, “when I grew up it was a whole different world. It didn’t matter what you did . . . we were invisible people.” Born in London, Ontario, race only became an issue for Morrison after she moved to Hamilton at age 10 and began to be treated differently. She recounts the racism she experienced first-hand when a landlord hung up the phone when she inquired if he was renting to Black people, and when a roller-skating rink manager rejected Morrison and her friends when they tried to book an event. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 inspired her to take action, focusing on the important but as-yet untold history of the Underground Railroad and the development of Black communities in the Niagara region. In 1993, the City of Niagara Falls—Morrison’s hometown—officially recognized March 21 as the Day to Eliminate Racism and Racial Discrimination, an achievement aided by Morrison’s efforts.

Cream-coloured certificate bearing calligraphic printed text, a gold seal at the bottom of the page and the heraldic insignia of the City of Niagara Falls, Canada, at the top.

A revealing collection

The Wilma Morrison fonds is full of her handwritten and typewritten notes, alongside many collected items that make up her research into Black communities in Niagara, Southern Ontario, Canada, the US and beyond. These include photos, publications, pamphlets, society meeting minutes, genealogical and census records, newspaper articles, provincial and municipal government events and announcements, historical postcards, community group notices and events, information about monuments and historic sites, letters received from personal and professional contacts, oral history recordings (see below) and many other items.

Black-and-white photocopy of a handwritten letter bearing six signatures at the bottom of the page.

Colour printed cover of a comic book, depicting hand-drawn illustrations of a young Black man in torn clothing surrounded by illustrated vignettes of five scenes from the book. The title on the cover reads “Classics Illustrated. Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

Comic book opened to a two-page spread, with hand-drawn illustrations of figures engaged in various scenes, printed in colour.

Small sheet of white paper bearing black typewritten text.

Oral history recordings

The Wilma Morrison fonds includes an oral history interview with Wilma herself, recorded on April 11, 2019, in which she shares reflections on her life while looking through photographs from her collection. Conducted by the Ontario Heritage Trust, the interview was captured in 7 digital video recordings.

Note: the first recording has been omitted from this exhibit as it is only 41 seconds long and consists of the interview team setting up the video and sound recording devices.

Transcript

Here is a complete transcript of the interview (pdf).

Wilma Morrison oral history recording 1

Wilma Morrison oral history recording 2

Wilma Morrison oral history recording 3

Wilma Morrison oral history recording 4

Wilma Morrison oral history recording 5

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Wilma Morrison: Champion of Niagara’s Black History

Next up: Chapter 02

“Mrs. Black History of Niagara”: Knowledge keeper and storyteller

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