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Florence Lewis (activist)

{{Short description|American activist}}

{{for| the American mathematician and astronomer|Florence Lewis}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Florence Lewis

| image = Florence Lewis, 1965.jpg

| alt = Portrait of a smiling short-haired woman in a dark square-necked dress wearing a pearl choker.

| caption = Lewis, 1965

| birth_name = Florence B. Axelrod

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1905|11|05}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, US

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1990|11|26|1905|11|05}}

| death_place = North Lauderdale, Florida, US

| other_names = Florence Axelrod Lewis

| occupation = activist, civic worker, and interior decorator

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| children = 1

}}

Florence Lewis (November 5, 1905 – November 26, 1990) was an American activist, civic worker, and interior decorator. She was active in the women's poll tax repeal movement and encouraged school integration through her membership in the National Council of Jewish Women. She served as president of the Miami chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women and was also on the board of the national organization. She was honored with their inaugural Hannah G. Solomon Award for public service in 1967.

Early life and education

Florence B. Axelrod was born on November 5, 1905, in Chicago, Illinois, to Esther (née Leitchinger) and David Axelrod.{{sfn|Birth Records|1905}}{{sfn|The Chicago Tribune|1965|p=54}} Her parents were immigrants from Ukraine, at the time part of the Russian Empire.{{sfn|U.S. Census|1910|p=23B}} Her father was from Kremenchuk and her mother was from Kyiv.{{sfn|Birth Records|1911}} They moved to the United States in 1904, settling in Chicago, where her father operated a tailor's shop.{{sfn|U.S. Census|1910|p=23B}} She was the oldest child and had three younger sisters, Jeanette, Myrtle, and Harriet, all of whom spoke Yiddish.{{sfn|U.S. Census|1910|p=23B}}{{sfn|U.S. Census|1920|p=14B}}{{sfn|U.S. Census|1930|p=5A}}

After graduating from Carl Schurz High School in 1922, Axelrod entered Northwestern University and graduated with a degree in secondary education.{{sfn|Schurzone|1922|p=4}}{{sfn|Countryman|Duncan|1925|p=356}}{{sfn|Naunton|1963|p=44}} In the early 1930s, she married Sidney L. Lewis with whom she had a son James.{{sfn|U.S. Census|1930|p=5A}}{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1990a|p=47}} They moved to Miami, Florida where Sid owned and operated a furniture business.{{sfn||The Miami Herald|1954|p=37}}{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1990a|p=47}}

Activism

Lewis became an active clubwoman in the 1940s, joining the Miami chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi, and serving as a Dean of the organization in 1952;{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1946|p=55}}{{sfn|Gee|1952a|p=8}} the Women's Division of the American Jewish Congress, for which she was elected vice president in 1947;{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1947|p=10}} and the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW).{{sfn|Daffron|1954|p=3}} She became president of the Miami chapter of the NCJW in 1960 and served two years before being elected in 1963 to the national board.{{sfn|Naunton|1963|p=44}} From the end of the war until the early 1950s, she worked as chair of the NCJW's Good Neighbor Committee, trying to assist newly arriving Jewish settlers in refugee camps.{{sfn|Naunton|1963|p=44}}{{sfn|Gee|1952b|p=22}} As a linguist, she was able to assist them in learning English and acclimatizing to life in the United States.{{sfn|Naunton|1963|p=44}}{{sfn|Gee|1952b|p=22}}{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1953|p=39}}

In the 1950s, Lewis worked on women's rights and civil rights issues, including testifying to the US Congress on poll tax repeal and integration of schools in the United States.{{sfn|Naunton|1963|p=44}}{{sfn|Daffron|1954|p=3}} She was involved in planning and organizing the opening of the first Dade County senior citizen's center, the Malcom Ross Senior Day Center, in Miami in 1960, and also served as the first secretary of the Coral Gables Jewish Center.{{sfn|Dixon|1960|p=33}}{{sfn|The South Florida Sun-Sentinel|1990|p=18}} In 1963, she was one of 250 clubwomen invited by President John F. Kennedy to the White House for a discussion on how women's organizations could help solve civil rights issues in the country; her opinion was that women volunteers could assist schools in bringing educational levels to a more equal status.{{sfn|Naunton|1963|p=44}}

Lewis served on the regional board for the Anti-Defamation League and the United Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1967|p=D1}} In 1965, she directed the program Women in Community Service, Inc., which recruited girls for participation in the federal Job Corps program and offered them other opportunities to overcome poverty.{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1967|p=D1}}{{sfn|Gee|1965|p=14}} She was also involved in the anti-poverty Wider Horizons Program. In 1967, the Miami chapter of the NCJW awarded her their inaugural Hannah G. Solomon Award for public service, particularly regarding her work with young women.{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1967|p=D1}}{{sfn|The Columns|1967|p=6}}{{sfn|NCJW Miami|2019}} In addition to her clubwork, Lewis worked as an interior decorator and helped her husband in the furniture store until it closed in 1980.{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1990a|p=47}}{{sfn|Gee|1965|p=14}}

Death and legacy

Sidney died in January 1990 and Lewis died 10 months later on November 26, 1990.{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1990a|p=47}}{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1990b|p=111}} At the time of her death, she was living in North Lauderdale, Florida, with her son.{{sfn|The South Florida Sun-Sentinel|1990|p=18}} She was buried at Mt. Nebo Kendall Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Miami.{{sfn|The Miami Herald|1990b|p=111}}

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist|30em}}

=Bibliography=

{{Refbegin|30em}}

  • {{cite journal |last1=Countryman |first1=Ralph L. |last2=Duncan |first2=Andrew |title=ΑΕΦ: Omicron Chapter |url=https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/40392_b074960-00364?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=235059677 |journal=The Syllabus |volume=XL |publisher=Northwestern University |location=Evanston, Illinois |pages=356–357 |date=1925}}{{subscription required|via=Ancestry.com}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Daffron |first1=John F. |title=Joint Hearing Held on Poll Tax Repeal (pt. 1) |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/politics-clipping-feb-05-1954-2060037/ |accessdate=November 10, 2020 |agency=Associated Press |date=February 5, 1954 |newspaper=The Daily News-Record |location=Harrisonburg, Virginia |pages=[https://newspaperarchive.com/politics-clipping-feb-05-1954-2060037/ 1], [https://newspaperarchive.com/politics-clipping-feb-05-1954-2060041/ 3] |via=Newspaperarchive.com}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Dixon |first1=Eleanor |title=A Place to Gild the Golden Years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63646928/the-miami-herald/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=December 5, 1960 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Gee |first1=Connie |title='Spare' Time Left for Profession |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63646856/the-miami-news/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=June 1, 1965 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Gee |first1=Connie |title=May Breakfasts Are Legion as Groups Install Officers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63788412/the-miami-news/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=May 9, 1952a |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Gee |first1=Connie |title=Jewish Women Tell Plan for 'An Evening of Fun' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63787643/the-miami-news/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=August 7, 1952b |newspaper=The Miami News |location=Miami, Florida |page=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Naunton |first1=Ena |title=Kennedy Invites Miamian: Clubwomen Gather for 'Rights' Talk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63741255/the-miami-herald/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=July 5, 1963 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=44 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|U.S. Census|1910}}|author= |title=1910 U.S. Census: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (Akselrod) |url=https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4328152-00982?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=130174300 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=23B |id=NARA microfilm publication T624, Roll #257, lines 68–71 |date=April 29, 1910}}{{subscription required}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|U.S. Census|1920}}|author= |title=1920 U.S. Census: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR6W-JV5?i=27&cc=1488411&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMJQG-RC5 |website=FamilySearch |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=14B |id=NARA microfilm publication T625, Roll #338, lines 66–71 |date=January 14, 1920}}{{subscription required}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|U.S. Census|1930}}|author= |title=1930 U.S. Census: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RH9-N3J?i=8&cc=1810731&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXS5K-2YD |website=FamilySearch |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=5A |id=NARA microfilm publication T626, Roll #493, lines 8–12 |date=April 3, 1930}}{{subscription required}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Chicago Tribune|1965}}|author= |title=Axelrod |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63766368/obituary-for-axelrod-david-axelrod/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=April 12, 1965 |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, Illinois |page=54 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Birth Records|1905}}|author= |title=Chicago Birth Index: Baby Axelroot |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7WR-R65 |website=FamilySearch |publisher=Cook County Clerk |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |location=Cook County Courthouse, Chicago, Illinois |date=November 5, 1905 |id=FHL microfilm 1288097, image 298, certificate #397}}{{subscription required}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Birth Records|1911}}|author= |title=Chicago Birth Index: Myrtle Axelrod |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQBN-1J9 |website=FamilySearch |publisher=Cook County Clerk |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |location=Cook County Courthouse, Chicago, Illinois |date=January 12, 1911 |id=FHL microfilm 1288207, image 410, certificate #90}}{{subscription required}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1953}}|author= |title=English Students to Be Feted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63787998/english-students-to-be-feted-feburary/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=February 19, 1953 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=39 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite web |ref={{harvid|NCJW Miami|2019}}|author= |title=Hannah G. Solomon Award |url=https://ncjwmiami.org/about/awards-recognition/hannah-g-solomon-award/ |website=NCJW Miami |publisher=National Council of Jewish Women |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |location=Miami, Florida |date=2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021193915/https://ncjwmiami.org/about/awards-recognition/hannah-g-solomon-award/ |archivedate=October 21, 2020 |url-status=live}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1954}}|author= |title=Honeymoon in New York |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63742971/the-miami-herald/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=March 26, 1954 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=37 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite journal |ref={{harvid|The Columns|1967}}|author= |title=Honored by NCJW |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VvvlAAAAMAAJ |journal=The Columns |volume=51 |issue=4 |year=1967 |publisher=Alpha Epsilon Phi |location=Menasha, Wisconsin |page=6 |oclc=243887201}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1946}}|author= |title=Invite Guests to Luncheon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63785980/invite-guests-to-luncheon-june-9/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=June 9, 1946 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=55 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The South Florida Sun-Sentinel|1990}}|author= |title=Lewis, Florence A. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63767240/obituary-for-florence-a-lewis-aged-85/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=November 27, 1990 |newspaper=The South Florida Sun-Sentinel |location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1990b}}|author= |title=Lewis, Florence Axelrod |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63765680/obituary-for-lewis-florence-axelrod/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=November 28, 1990 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=111 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1990a}}|author= |title=Lewis, Sidney |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63776559/the-miami-herald/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=January 22, 1990 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=47 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1947}}|author= |title=Miami AJC to Install Wednesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63786078/miami-ajc-to-install-wednesday-may-26/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=May 26, 1947 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Miami Herald|1967}}|author= |title=Mrs. Lewis Wins Solomon Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62945182/mrs-lewis-wins-solomon-award-12/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020 |date=January 12, 1967 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |page=D1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • {{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Schurzone|1922}}|author= |title=Senior Class: 19 June 1922 |url=https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/30757_078367-00007?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=0f9ad79546767361ce02eccadef194d4&pId=181380951 |journal=Schurzone |volume=X |issue=8 |publisher=Carl Schurz High School |location=Chicago, Illinois |page=4 |date=June 1922}}{{subscription required|via=Ancestry.com}}

{{refend}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Florence}}

Category:1905 births

Category:1990 deaths

Category:Activists from Chicago

Category:Northwestern University alumni

Category:Jewish women activists

Category:American anti-poll tax activists

Category:American civil rights activists

Category:American women civil rights activists

Category:American women's rights activists

Category:Activists from Florida

Category:Jewish American activists

Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent

Category:Yiddish-speaking people

Category:20th-century American women

Category:20th-century American people

Category:20th-century American Jews