Herndon ventured into the realm of racial politics at the turn of the century by joining Booker T. Washington in establishing the National Negro Business League. } .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } He also became the president of this company. } } 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. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. background:#f4c85e; In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. His success in barbering was spectacular, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate in Atlanta and in Florida. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt. Retrieved Jul 14, 2020, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. Norris eventually settled down and earned an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1921, where he was one of two blacks in his class. . Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? .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, The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. 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. Spaulding, Charles Clinton 18741952 Herndon also used his wealth to support local institutions and causes, such as the Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA), Atlanta University, the First Congregational Church, the Southview Cemetery, and the Atlanta State Savings Bank. Blake Sims. His son took over his businesses and . Birthdate: November 08, 1866. .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ The article emphasizes his competence and success as a businessman. In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. color:#ddd; 3. Alexa Benson Henderson, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Economic Dignity (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1990). border: 1px solid #f4c85e; At the time of his death Herndons real estate holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. Alonzo Herndon moved to Atlanta in 1883, bought a stake in a barbershop on Marietta Street, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. In 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County. In 1910 Alonzo and Jessie Herndon built the Herndon Home which at the time was one of the largest mansions in Atlanta. 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. She was the decorator. n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; ." } Alonzo Herndon. The couple had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death. In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). background:#f4c85e; Alonzo was born on June 26, 1858 in Georgia. } He also had a younger brother, Thomas, as well as a number of half-brothers and half-sisters born to other slave women on the Herndon farm. Alonzo Herndon rose to prime prominence as a Entrepreneur. .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ Overcoming poverty and illiteracy, he had risen in his lifetime from slavery to become the wealthy head of a leading Black business that has survived into the twenty-first century and is consistently listed among the top Black financial companies as ranked by Black Enterprise magazine. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. 260 14th St. NW With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. The Herndon House is located at 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 1925. abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. The job opened the door to his future. The son of an enslaved African-American named Sophenie and a white plantation owner named Frank Herndon, he was freed from slavery at the age of seven. In 1910, the house was built. 1. A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. } .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { Read more Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages Language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. "Alonzo Herndon." She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. Alonzo Herndon was born in Georgia. }.footer-wrapper { As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. }); } font-size:14px; color:; /*margin-digbar*/ However, the date of retrieval is often important. New Georgia Encyclopedia, 20 September 2004, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/. } .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{ Henderson, Alexa. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. Herndon died at home in Atlanta on July 21, 1927, at the age of 69. He began by buying a failing mutual aid association in 1905, when the state of Georgia increased capital requirements for such businesses. Total Assets: $114.35 billion (1994) Herndon set out to make the Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association into a leading provider of life insurance for African Americans in the South. @media screen and (max-width: 550px){body,p{ Here are some interesting facts about him for you: Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. Herdon was a former slave raised in a sharecropping family after the Civil War. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright{ ." Encyclopedia of World Biography. )- (Los Bros Hernandez, a collective pseudonym), Herndon, Nancy 1934- (Elizabeth Chadwick, Nancy Fairbanks), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, The Mixed Legacy of the Reconstruction Era. His son was more reluctant to follow in his footsteps, however, for Norris Herndon had inherited Adrienne's passion for the stage. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. Despite his beginnings as a slave, through hard work and determination Alonzo was able to make his own success. 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. [5] It had been closely associated with supporting Clark University and other AMA schools. 2. .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright .copyright { #menu .has-mega-sub-blog-menu .mega-sub-menu ul li a:hover{ His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits. border-left: 3px solid #f4c85e; Take a virtual tour of Georgia's museums and galleries, Fashion and politics from Georgia-born designer Frankie Welch. 1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. .footer-wrapper li, In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. color:#5a5d5a; Herndon supplemented the family income by working as day laborer and peddler of peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. background:#494bbc; "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Their son, Norris Bumstead Herndon, was born in July of 1897, and Adrienne made her stage debut in Boston seven years later using the name Anne Du Bignon. The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. Luckily, Herndon had already gone home for the day. 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. li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:hover, li.mega-sub-item> ul.sub-menu >li >a:focus, . When he turned 20, Herndon left the farm with just $11 dollars and a year of schooling. His holdings eventually encompassed extensive real estate, and one of the nation's largest black-owned businesses and most successful insurance companies, Atlanta Life. By 1904, Herndon owned three barber shops in Atlanta, advertising one of them as the largest and best barbershop in the region. Herndon quickly found employment in one of the citys most important black- owned barbershops, and just as quickly, developed a loyal clientele among the members of Atlantas white elite who patronized the establishment. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. He was considered. 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. } } He also invented his money in real estate. 31. Alonzo Herndon with his mother, Sophenie, and his brother, Thomas, ca. United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. As the founder and President of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Herndons empire began small but grew to become an inspiration for Black business. James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. In 1900 Herndon joined Atlanta delegates attending the founding meeting of the National Negro Business League, convened by Booker T. Washington in Boston. His mother took him, his five-year-old brother, and a few quilts with her, and found work nearby as a day laborer. Herndon soon opened his first business, a barbershop, in Jonesboro. Get facts about Alan Sugar here. He was succeeded as head of his financial empire by his second wife, Jessie Gillespie, then later by his son Norris. 1. What Is The Herndon Foundation? } Herndon was born on July 21, 1858, to Sophenie Herndon, a slave. His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; The Company rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. } William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} Henderson, Alexa. It also was in 1905 that Herndon made the significant decision to enter the world of insurance finance, and purchased the struggling Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, which had been founded by a local African American pastor. 1890. Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. A 1916 reorganization made Herndon's company a shareholder-owned one, but he held the majority of stock. Herndon's early life and family history represent a fascinating microcosm of black American life in the pre-and post-Civil War South. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. See whats poppin in the ATL! His new venture became the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia. He took his presumed father's surname. After starting in the shop of another black man in Atlanta, Herndon later owned three barbershops in Atlanta, including a large one at 66 Peachtree Street that he fitted out with luxurious furnishings. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); [3], In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University who helped him gain an education and refinement. After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. (2004). Telephone: (215) 761-1000 When W. E. B. Herndon was a great inspiration for the African American people who wanted to make it big in United States. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. It was located 40 miles to the east of Atlanta. He decided to open his barbershop here. His business was very great and he could expand it. font-size:38px; In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. background:#fff; He was born on 9th July 1819 and, Facts about Bernie Mac tell you about the notable American actor, stand-up comedian and voice artist. #main-menu-wrapper nav .mega .thunk-widget-menu .menu a:hover { At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. } } In 1893, he was married to Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, an Atlanta University drama instructor, scion of one of the citys most important black families and widely regarded as a great beauty. [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. Du Bois called a meeting of selected Black leaders to organize the Niagara Movement, Herndon was among the twenty-nine men who attended the founding meeting in 1905. Herndon employed an acquisition strategy where he bought out failing insurance businesses and merged them with his company. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Life Project. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. DuBois-led Niagara Movement. 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. He was a member of W.E.B. }. Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. Steve Jobs. 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. never acknowledged paternity. Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. In 1922, the name was changed to the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and expanded to several states in the south such as Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and other states. .flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{ .flex-slider li .caption-content p{color:#fff;} "My aim," he explained in a speech that year delivered at the Tuskegee Institute and quoted in the Merritt book, "has been for several years to try to get as many of our people together to cooperate in business and along all other lines. The great trouble in establishing insurance companies among our people is that it is difficult for our people to understand the advantage of pulling together for the common and for their own good." 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