Morris, May (1862–1938)
Morris, May (1862–1938)
English designer. Born Mary Morris, Mar 25, 1862, in England; died 1938 in London; dau. of William Morris (early proponent of Arts and Crafts movement) and Jane Burden Morris; sister of Jenny Morris (embroiderer); studied with father, mother and aunt, Bessie Burden.
Accomplished embroiderer and designer of jewelry, wallpaper and fabrics as well as central figure in Arts and Crafts movement, took over direction of Morris & Co.'s embroidery department (1885); assisted father in promoting cause of socialism (1880s–90s) and was active in Socialist League; taught embroidery at Central School of Arts & Crafts in London and at Birmingham's Municipal School of Art, becoming leading figure in male-dominated Arts and Crafts movement (late 1800s); lectured on embroidery and jewelry in US as well; devoted much of later career to documenting work of father. Edited and published The Collected Works of William Morris (24 vols., 1910–15), and William Morris, Artist, Writer, Socialist (2 vols., 1934).
See also Jan Marsh, Jane and May Morris: A Biographical Story, 1839–1938 (Rivers Oram Press, 1986).