Dedicated to the life and work of
William Morris
Founded in 1971, the William Morris Society in the United States is a group of scholars and enthusiasts brought together in fellowship by our shared interest in the life and works of the nineteenth-century writer, designer, and political thinker William Morris.
Images: Portrait of William Morris by Frederick Hollyer, 1884. William Morris, Jasmine, wallpaper, 1872. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Announcements
Call for Applications: 2026 Joseph R. Dunlap Memorial Fellowship
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 2, 2026 The William Morris Society in the United States calls for applications for the 2026 Joseph R. Dunlap Memorial Fellowship. The Dunlap Fellowship supports scholarly and creative work about William Morris. The fellowship offers...
Call for Papers: “The Materiality of Text in Nineteenth-Century Art”, CAA 2026
The William Morris Society in the United States (WMS-US) is sponsoring a session at the CAA conference in Chicago, February 18–21, 2026. You are warmly invited to submit a proposal for the session, which is titled "The Materiality of Text in Nineteenth-Century...
MLA 2026 – Session Announcements
The William Morris Society in the US will host two sessions at the 2026 Modern Language Association Annual Convention, to be held January 8-11, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. Art and Smoke: Ruskin, Morris, Art, and Industrialism Chair, Florence S. Boos, University of Iowa...
A brief introduction to
William Morris
William Morris (1834–1896) is remembered for his contributions to literature, political and social thought, historic preservation, and the history of art and design.
Widely recognized as the leader of the Arts and Crafts movement, Morris advocated for the importance of craft. Believing that art was the expression of ‘pleasure in labour’, Morris’s passion for the arts of everyday life and abhorrence of Victorian industrial society led him to political activism. Influenced by Marxism, anarchism and revolutionary socialism, Morris co-founded the Socialist League, campaigned for workers’ rights, and lectured widely on art, labor, and politics.
Morris was himself a prolific designer in a variety of media. His printed textiles, tapestries, carpets, tiles, and wallpapers transformed Victorian interiors. As founder of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Morris has had a lasting impact in the field of heritage preservation. Towards the end of his life, his creative energies were focused on book printing.
Morris’s legacies survive today in myriad forms—in his poetry and prose, in his widely reproduced pattern designs, and in artistic, environmental, and political activism inspired by his life and work.
Image: William Morris, “Woodpecker” tapestry. Morris & Co., 1885.
join the society
membership
The William Morris Society in the United States is open to all residents of the US.
Members of the William Morris Society US are also members of the William Morris Society in the UK. They receive our magazine, Useful and Beautiful, and the Journal of William Morris Studies.
We hope you’ll join our community of engaged enthusiasts and scholars.
Upcoming
Events
WMS Canada Event: Nordic Arts & Crafts Symposium
On May 10, 2025, the William Morris Society of Canada will be holding a Symposium on Nordic Arts & Crafts. The WMSC hopes William Morris Society of the US members may be interested in attending. Nordic Arts & Crafts Symposium Scandinavian and Finnish Art,...
Save the Date: “From Seams to Stripes: Textiles and Abstraction” with Cora Chalaby, May 21 2025
Mark your calendars for a virtual event this spring! WMS-US VIRTUAL EVENT: "From Seams to Stripes: Textiles and Abstraction," by Cora Chalaby Wednesday, May 21, 3:00 - 4:00 pm 1:30-2:30pm Eastern Time - NOTE TIME CHANGE! Join us for a talk on textiles and abstraction...
Event: “The Stained Glass Windows of William Morris and Friends” with Geri Parlby
On Wednesday, November 6th at 3pm Eastern, 12 noon Pacific, the William Morris Society in the United States will host a digital event with Dr. Geri Parlby, "The Stained Glass Windows of William Morris and Friends." At the height of the great Gothic revival in church...
Image: William Morris, Fruit, wallpaper, c. 1866. Victoria and Albert Museum.
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