Wright Morris portfolioMorris, Wright, 1910-19981981.engAn artist's proof of a portfolio containing mounted photographic prints printed and signed by Wright Morris in 1981, of interior and exterior locations in Nebraska, Indiana, Kansas, New Jersey, and New Mexico, 1940-1941, and 1947. Many of the images in these photographs appeared in his "photo-text" works, including The Inhabitants (1946), The Home Place (1948), and God's Country and My People (1968). This portfolio is the third of five artist's proofs. The portfolio includes an oversize pamphlet with a statement by Morris and portrait of him by Lee D. Witkin, 1980. Mugell Sealfon designed the portfolioExterior images of locations in Nebraska include "House in Winter, eastern Nebraska, 1941", a exterior view of an unpainted wooden house surrounded by a snow-covered prairies and a wooden snow fence; "Model T in Shed, the home place, near Norfolk, Nebraska, 1947" shows the rear portion of a Model T Ford automobile with trees reflected in the rear window; "Barber Pole, Weeping Water, Nebraska, 1947", shows a weather-beaten barber's pole on a cement sidewalk advertising baths; and "Uncle Harry, the home place, near Norfolk, Nebraska, 1947", shows the back of an older man walking through the open door of a wooden buildingInterior images of locations in Nebraska include "Ed's Place, near Norfolk, Nebraska, 1947", depicting an arrangement on the top of a clothes dresser consisting of an oil lamp, El Roi-Tan cigar box, and envelopes, in front of a window; "Front Room Reflected in Mirror, the home place, near Norfolk, Nebraska, 1947", an image of a round mirror reflecting family photographs on a table and wall and a wooden door; "Barbershop, Weeping Water, Nebraska, 1947", showing a barber's chair in a barbershop in front mirrors with the reflection of a man and ornamented wooden shelves; "Dresser Drawer, near Norfolk, Nebraska, 1947", an overhead view of a dresser drawer containing flashlights, a box of shotgun shells, medicine boxes, and part of the dresser top and a pocket watch, jackknife, and hairbrushImage of a location in Indiana consists of "Juke Box, Southern Indiana, 1950", an interior view of a jukebox below a wall containing pictures, a ceramic fish, and a sign that reads, "No Dancing".Image of a location in Kansas consists of the "Gano Grain Elevator, western Kansas, 1940" depicting the large wooden grain elevator next to a railroad with a train from the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe Railroad CompanyImage of a location in New Jersey consists of "Church Facade, near Rathway, New Jersey, 1940," reflecting the architectural details of the wooden Methodist Episcopal Church of Lebanon, established in 1871Image of a location in New Mexico consists of "Powerhouse and Palm Tree, near Lordsburg, New Mexico, 1940", view of a wooden building with a tall smokestack with a palm tree and railroad tracks beside it and mountains in the distanceWright Morris was the author of over thirty novels and volumes of short stories, essays, and criticism, and a photographer. He created the idea of "photo-text," joining pictures with short, lyrical passages of prose related in spirit, but not illustrative or interpretive of the image.Photographs 19.0 x 24.1 cm. on mounts 35.2 x 43.1 cm.Portfolio labels and numbers on versos of mounts.