Lorraine Morton

Lorraine Morton (1918-2018), born and raised in North Carolina, moved to Evanston in 1953 and began her teaching career in the city’s public school district. At that time, Evanston elementary schools were segregated and she was assigned to one of the schools for black students. It wasn’t long, though, before she became the first Black teacher at one of the white-majority middle schools. After being named the first African-American president of the Junior High School Association, Morton served as an advisor to other school districts around the country attempting desegregation.

During the time she was a middle school principal, Morton was elected as alderman of Evanston’s 5th ward. In 1993 she became the first Black female mayor of Evanston (as well as the first Democratic mayor of that city). In office until 2008, Morton was the longest-serving mayor in Evanston history.

Why this stop? The Noyes station is a 6 minute walk from the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

Watch Lorraine Morton reflect on her life, racism, Evanston, politics and love.

Photo courtesy of the Evanston Women’s History Project