UNT Special Collections is excited to announce the completion of processing on the Winn Morton Collection. Acquired in 2023, the collection contains approximately 2,000 theatrical illustrations, sketches, and personal papers of Dallas designer, John “Winn” Winniford Morton. Materials are available for research use and can be viewed upon request in the Sarah T. Hughes Reading Room in Willis Library.
Winn Morton was born in Lancaster, Texas in 1928 and spent the early part of his life in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex developing his skills as an artist and designer under the tutelage of Texas realist artist Alexandre Hogue and his wife, painter Maggie Joe Watson. After graduating from high school and attending one year at Southern Methodist University, Morton left Texas to attend the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida inspired by his love of the circus.
By the late 1940s, Morton had moved to New York City to attend the Parsons School of Design. He soon shifted plans to join the United Scenic Artists, beginning a career as a scenic artist and costume designer. After a few years of part time work, Morton returned to Dallas as an associate designer for Peter Wolf Designs, where he designed costumes for the San Antonio Fiesta Battle of the Flowers parade, State Fair Musical Productions at Fair Park, and built window displays for Neiman Marcus. It was while working on a display for Neiman Marcus that he would meet his life partner and constant creative collaborator, Harry Lewis.
Morton and Lewis moved back to New York in 1953 and from there, his career expanded to designing eye-catching costumes for dancers, ice skaters, and performers for the Roxy Theatre, Jones Beach Theatre, Broadway and Off-Broadway, live television productions, and the 1964 New York World’s Fair. In 1975, David Blackburn, then-president of Six Flags Show Productions, contracted Morton to assist in planning revue-style musicals for the Arlington park’s bicentennial celebration. He was hired on full-time as art director for the company and over the next ten years, designed elaborate costumes and sets for six theme park locations including Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Over St. Louis, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey), Six Flags AstroWorld (Houston), and Six Flags Magic Mountain (California).
After settling back in Dallas, Winn Morton became a highly sought-after designer for institutional galas, charity balls, and private parties hosted by wealthy members of the Dallas social scene in the 1980s and 1990s. Memorable events include the Cattle Baron’s Ball, Crystal Charity Ball, the Dallas Museum of Art’s (DMA) Beaux Arts Ball, Lady Bird Johnson’s 75th birthday party gala, the Mayor’s International Ball, and many lavish weddings and birthday parties.
In 1982, nearing 40 years in the design industry, a point when most would begin to consider retirement, Morton took on designing one-of-a-kind gowns for the Texas Rose Festival in Tyler, Texas until 2019. Morton would work with up to 60 debutantes participating in the Queen’s Coronation, creating highly customized, opulent gowns to fit with the year’s extravagant theme.
Winn Morton passed away in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, professionalism, and love of a craft that he dedicated seven decades of his life to.
Costume and set design subjects in this collection include:
- Live Television
- San Antonio Fiesta
- Texas State Fair
- Roxy Theatre
- Industrials
- 1964 New York World’s Fair
- Jones Beach Theatre
- Broadway and Off-Broadway
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
- Six Flags
- Dallas Social Scene
- Texas Rose Festival
For more information about the collection, please visit the finding aid.
View digitized items from the Winn Morton Collection in The Portal to Texas History.
