103:. African Americans were not permitted on most beaches in Jacksonville, and it was Lewis' dream to create a community where African Americans could visit and own reasonably-priced homes along the ocean. This community, which he named American Beach, was a thriving vacation spot throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Summers at American Beach were known for being jammed with families, churches and children. The beach included hotels, restaurants and nightclubs as well as homes and other businesses.
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A.L. Lewis died in 1947 and was interred in the family crypt in a historic black
Jacksonville cemetery. The grave is along the road with a plaque marker placed by the city inscribed with his biography. There is a street as well as a youth center named in his honor. Lewis married Mary Kingsley Sammis,
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of the day, African
Americans were not allowed to enjoy many basic recreational amenities. A.L. Lewis realized the need for African Americans to have recreational activities for their families, so he founded the Lincoln Golf and Country Club, which featured a clubhouse and facilities. In 1935, Lewis
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In the present day, American Beach has only retained half of its original size, due to developments leading to land loss. However, current property owners, preservationists and historians work to preserve
American beach and the history behind it.
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In
September 5th, 2014, American Beach on Amelia Island revealed a new sign to the newly renamed A. L. Lewis Museum (formally known as the American Beach Museum). This date was chosen specifically to honor American Beach activist
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Along with seven other business associates, Lewis founded the Afro-American
Insurance Association in 1901. The company headquarters burned down in the
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His Great-Great
Granddaughter Renee Lewis Glover is Executive Director of the Atlanta Housing Authority
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was known for educating the public on their family history and her efforts to preserve
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and became the state's first
African-American millionaire. He also founded the
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became the first woman to serve as president of two major universities,
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Lewis biography at the
Governor's Office Black History Month site
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Lewis helped to found both the Negro
Business League and the
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Ethnohistorical Study of the
Kingsley Plantation Community
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188:Jackson, Antoinette; Burns, Allan (January 2006).
345:African-American history in Jacksonville, Florida
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335:History of Jacksonville, Florida
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256:"A. L. Lewis Museum"
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117:Kingsley Plantation
113:Anna Magjigine Jai
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