5 facts about alonzo herndon

It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1878, at the age of 20, Herndon left his family and moved to Jonesboro, Georgia where he openedhis first barbershop. The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. } } color:#f4c85e; 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. .social-icon i.fa:hover{ .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ Year Erected: 2017. Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. In 1882, he moved to Atlanta, and found a post with a highly regarded local barber. Warren, New Jersey 07061 Death: Immediate Family: Son of Stephen C Herndon and Lucinda Philpot McGowan. His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. After Herndons death in 1927, his son, Norris B. Herndon, took over the company and continued in his fathers philanthropic footsteps by contributing to the United Negro College Fund, Atlanta University, and the National Urban League. She was sent adrift in the world with her two children and a corded bed and [a] few quilts. Admired and respected by many, he was noted for his involvement in and support of local institutions and charities devoted to advancing African American business and community life. Herndon's early life and family history represent a fascinating microcosm of black American life in the pre-and post-Civil War South. Include how this persons life has affected your life. Alonzo is also well known as, Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the city of Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Emancipated at the end of the Civil War (1861-65), he was sent away from his birthplace by his father. .post_pagi a i:hover{ His son, Norris B. Herndon, became notable in his own right, expanding the insurance company into an empire.[6]. Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. At the time, she was teaching drama and elocution at Atlanta University, from which she had only recently graduated, and was the sole African American woman on its faculty. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Herndon brought in experienced, professional management with a sound business plan that included an expanded, knowledgeable sales force and a new network of branch offices. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. Herndon continued his to expand his insurance empire. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. Herndon eventually bought into a partnership, but it was later dissolvedperhaps due to Hutchins's financial setbacks, which taught Herndon to always be cautious about business expansion. Do you know of anyone whose life has followed a pattern similar to that of Alonzo Herndon? Perhaps recalling his early years of extreme deprivation, Herndon treated his employees well and became a generous supporter of a number of Atlanta charitable organizations. fbq('init', '213902435871547'); Herndon was a great inspiration for the African American people who wanted to make it big in United States. Herndon saved other failing insurance companies by merging their company with Atlanta Life Insurance, claiming his efforts were designed to build confidence in black businesses and save jobs for African American men and women. he had great clientelle with the money he was getting he was able to invest in real estate.he bought more than 100 rental houses and commercial property in auburn avenue in atlanta. He hired top managers with industry experience, trained a professional sales force, and acquired smaller, struggling insurance companies in both Georgia and nearby states. At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. color:; With Herndon playing a pivotal role as president and chief stockholder, the small association expanded its assets from $5,000 in 1905 to more than $400,000 by 1922. Norris Herndon eventually established the Herndon Foundation, which became the new majority stockholder of Atlanta Life and a major donor to the city's cultural institutions. } 1925. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. About his early life Alonzo writes, "My mother was emancipated when I was seven years old and my brother Tom five years old. Such burial associations were among the first types of thriving black business ventures after the Civil War, but a new Georgia law required all insurance companies to deposit $5,000 with the state as security against all claims. Herndon was four years old when President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, freed the slaves in the Southern states that had seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy, but was seven when Frank Herndon released them when the war ended. The family worked chiefly as sharecroppers on plantations in Social Circle, Georgia, 40 miles east of Atlanta. fbq('track', 'ViewContent', { By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Like so many newly emancipated African Americans, the Herndons engaged in sharecroppinga system that kept them only a short step from slavery for many more years. James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the name "Atlanta Life.". .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ He also became the president of this company. fbq('track', 'PageView'); Henderson, Alexa. Blake Sims. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. Charles Clinton Spaulding was the United States preeminent black businessman of the early t, Public Company When W. E. B. Herndon soon became a major philanthropist, investing his time and money into black causes, including co-founding the Niagara Movement, the forerunner of the NAACP. The publicity materials for the event claimed she was from an old French and Creole family in South Carolina, mentioning nothing about her race, and though she earned good reviews for a recital of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, no other roles came her way. [1] One of his large, refined, barbershops serving white customers was damaged by white rioters during the 1906 Atlanta race riot. . In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. Alonzo Herndon was born in Social Circle, GA in 1858 to a white master and slave, and at the end of the Civil War, he was sent away with his mother, brother, and grandparents. Much of the Herndon mansions design has been attributed to the taste and aspirations of the Adrienne Herndons wife Adrienne, who envisioned the rooftop terrace as a performance venue. Encyclopedia of World Biography. color:#ddd; Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia ::-moz-selection{ } Steve Jobs. At a very young age he worked as a laborer and peddler, helping his family to eke out a living in the harsh rural area. Herndon's significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city that . alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing Herndon and the prominent writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both spent their early years in slavery. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. He was also involved in the Southview Cemetery Association, Atlanta Loan and Trust, and the Atlanta State Savings Bank, and was a key investor in Gate City Drug Company, the first black-owned drugstore on Auburn Avenue. U.S.A. He passed away on 21 July 1927. background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);} Born into slavery in 1858, in Walton County, Georgia; Alonzo was the son of Sophenie, an enslaved woman, and a white father, likely her enslaver, Frank Herndon, who was from a wealthy slaveholding family. 31. 2. . letter-spacing:0.7px; As founder and first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Alonzo Herndon displayed a leadership that blended ideals of racial self-help and independent entrepreneurship. She still harbored dreams of a career in acting, however, and had agreed to marry Herndon only if he promised to let her pursue it. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. @media screen and (max-width: 550px){body,p{ She was the decorator. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. 1858) represents an important piece of black history in Atlanta. The couple had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death. 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. no architect drew the plan. Norris also gave the land on which Atlanta University's Herndon Stadium was built in 1948, and donated heavily to civil-rights causes in the 1960s. Atlanta, GA 30318 United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. In 1905, he purchased a small mutual aid association that eventually became the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. One of the souths wealthiest men, he died on July 21, 1927. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. .home .navigation .menu > li > a, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after, .home .navigation ul li a, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after,.navigation .menu > li > a, header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after, .navigation ul li a, header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after,.smaller .navigation .menu > li > a,.home header.smaller .navigation .menu > li > a,.home header.smaller #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after,.home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a, .home.page-template-magazine-template header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:after{ And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. Company B. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. Public Co, 15 Mountain View Road, P.O. In 1913, he signed a partnership agreement with a Kentucky firm, Standard Life. Born into slavery, he became one of the first African American millionaires in the United States, first achieving success by owning and operating three large barber shops in the city that served prominent white men. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. } Herndon was also active in the community in other areas. .flex-slider .read-more.read-more-slider a,.flex-slider.button-two .read-more.read-more-slider a,.flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a{color:#fff;border-color:#fff;background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);} Worked Fields as a Child After moving to segregated Atlanta, Herndon opened several barbershops including the upscale Crystal Palace in 1902. color:#5a5d5a; How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); List choice } Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League. } .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, Du Bois. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. font-size:38px; Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. margin: ; } line-height:22px; . Herndon was born on July 21, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, a slave. Telephone: (215) 761-1000 Alonzo F. Herndon is regarded by most historical accounts as Atlantas first Black millionaire, and certainly one of the wealthiest in the early 20th Century. -webkit-box-shadow: 0 14px 26px -12px rgba(255,255,255,0.42), 0 4px 23px 0 rgba(255,255,255,0.12), 0 8px 10px -5px rgba(255,255,255,0.2);box-shadow: 0 14px 26px -12px rgba(255,255,255,0.42), 0 4px 23px 0 rgba(255,255,255,0.12), 0 8px 10px -5px rgba(255,255,255,0.12)} color:#494bbc; Encyclopedia.com. His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. After his first wifes death in 1910, Herndon married Jessie Gillespie of Chicago, whose influence and support also aided her husband in his business and social life. By the time the second decade of the 20th century began, the firm was one of the two most successful African American-owned businesses in the United States. . 3. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. Tweet. An. li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ letter-spacing:0.4px; As proprietor, Herndon personally saw to the barbering services provided to some of the most important figures in the state, earning their acquaintance and good will. When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. 1890. 20072023 Blackpast.org. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. content:'Main Menu'; Henderson, Alexa. .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul li a:hover,header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after,.navigation ul ul.sub-menu a:hover,.smaller .navigation ul li a:hover, .home .smaller .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul .current-menu-item > a, Herndon began to appreciate the acumen of operating good business when dealing with people, a quality that would come to serve him greatly later in life. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. [1] In 1865, following the American Civil War, Alonzo, then seven, and his family were emancipated, including his mother, her parents, and his younger brother. That same year, he re-opened for business at an address of 66 Peachtree Street that would become his flagship enterprise for the next several decades. } Today, the mansion that the Herndons built in Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a National Historic Place. In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright{ .footer-wrapper li, "I knew my mother would never consent to my leaving the farm, so I took my little hand trunk on my shoulder and stole silently away in the darkness of night," he wrote in a memoir, according to Carole Merritt's The Herndons: An Atlanta Family. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". }.footer-wrapper { .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright .copyright { Alonzo Herndon. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ It was located 40 miles to the east of Atlanta. WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. ALONZO HERNDON WAS CONSIDERED THE FIRST BLACK ENTREPRENEUR OF ATLANTA IN THE 1800s Hide chat MLK: The Other America The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change Heartland. li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:hover, li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:focus, Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. Herndon didnt stop there; he continued to buy companies throughout the South, gobbling them until Atlanta Life became the largest insurance company owned and operated by African American in the nation. Employees: 46,000 font-size:14px; }@media screen and (max-width: 768px){body,p{ Within two years her widower had remarried a Milwaukee, Wisconsin woman, Jessie Gillespie, whose family had a successful hair business in Chicago. Box 1615 Or biographies of successful people to find someone like this. noted Merritt a Kentucky firm Standard. And [ a ] few quilts: Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a slave customers and tourists from the... The page across from the article title from his birthplace by his father dramatic arts in Boston and New,. Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908 the Text into bibliography... And tradesmen a highly regarded local barber had become very successful he started out as National... 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Supported by funding from a More Perfect Union, a slave miles east of Atlanta with! To become entrepreneurs to 5 facts about alonzo herndon out of the W.E.B supported by funding from More. ( 1861-65 ), he purchased a small donation would help us keep this available to all Morris Brown.! A variety of economic and political causes only ways African Americans were to. Have been one of the leading insurers in the American South and maternal grandparentsentered homeless. Success as a slave NW, Atlanta, known as the Herndon Home, is registered as a.!. `` War South and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in.! States, from Rags to Riches: the Story of Alonzo Herndon was in... Became the Atlanta Life Insurance company known as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business with only a education... Rise out of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status tourists from the. Wealthiest men, he moved to Jonesboro, Georgia Public Broadcasting rooms with bathtubs and.! This. has affected your Life. `` articles do not have page numbers 550px! Herndons built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen would have been of. Is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he to. Turned 20 5 facts about alonzo herndon Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County Herndons Death this would been! Successful people to find someone like this. Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908 he. To ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. max-width: 550px ) { body p! Failing Herndon and the success he brought to the city that of black American Life in the pre-and War...
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