In 1933, Jessie and Norris Herndon turned the ownership of the Crystal Palace over to its employees. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
Called "The Crystal Palace," it was a lavishly appointed barbershop, with chandeliers and marble floors, and served Atlanta's judges, politicians, and business elite. Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company (Atlanta Life), "Alonzo Herndon, pioneering businessman | African American Registry", Who left what behind: wills of famous blacks; while some left millions, others left nothing but legal problems |, The New Georgia Encyclopedia; Alonzo Herndon, National Park Service--Register of Historic Places; Herndon Home, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alonzo_Herndon&oldid=1114544299, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 October 2022, at 01:36. [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. All Rights Reserved. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. } color:#f4c85e; Emancipated at seven years old in 1865, his family worked as sharecroppers in rural Georgia near Social Circle, some 45 miles east of Atlanta. Read more Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages Language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Fax: (908) 580-3402 .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright .copyright { United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. .page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin, "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Alonzo Herndon Stadium, home to Atlanta Beat, Georgia Mustangs - Football Ground Map Football Ground Map Home Buy Rob a Pint CHEERS! HERNDON HOME. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. Alonzo Herndon is one of the most well-known black businessmen in Atlanta and Georgias history. All Rights Reserved.
Holla:CJ@AtlantaFi.com. "No story, no tragedy, no epic poem will be read with greater wonder or followed by mankind with deeper feeling than that which tells the story of his life and death," Lee said, according to Merritt's book. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; 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. } Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. AboutPressCopyrightContact. The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. .last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { By the time he was 20, Herndon had managed to save the sum of $11, and ran away from Social Circle with it. 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 1: life span Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. His shop at 66 Peachtree Street, outfitted with crystal chandeliers and gold fixtures, was advertised as the largest and best barbershop in the region. Their marriage had a far-reaching impact on Herndons life, greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth. 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. Later, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro, Georgia. Atlanta's Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery, became one of the first African-American millionaires in the U.S., founding Atlanta Life Insurance Company, among At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. He called it the Crystal Palace after the famous structure built for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ 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. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington - Atlanta Life Project. The Company rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. In the next quarter-century, his business empire grew to include three barbershops, which catered to some of the richest white clientele in Atlanta. The family attended the First Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and AMA schools. 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. #move-to-top, .th_more_posts a#more_posts:hover, .widget .search-submit:hover, .search .search-submit:hover, #commentform #commentSubmit:hover, #commentform input#submit, .tagcloud a, .mc4wp-form input[type=submit], ul.paging li a:hover, ul.paging li a.current, input[type=submit]:hover{ border-color:#f4c85e; Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born on June 6, 1858, in Social Circle, Georgia, which is located in Walton County. At that time, he was 7 years old. The job opened the door to his future. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . In New Georgia Encyclopedia. They were homeless and living in poverty. 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. Web site: http://www.cigna.com Birthdate: November 08, 1866. Eventually he acquired more than 100 houses, a large block of commercial property on Auburn Avenue, and a large estate in Tavares, Florida. He was a member of W.E.B. 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. "Alonzo Herndon." American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Do you know of anyone whose life has followed a pattern similar to that of Alonzo Herndon? never acknowledged paternity. Atlanta, GA 30318 There he opened his first barbershop. Now he was a great deal businessman. letter-spacing:0.7px; Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. In 1893, Herndon married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University, who influenced his cultural and educational growth. });
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} Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. .header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a:hover{ On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. border-bottom: 1px solid #f4c85e; alonzo herndon in 1905 herndon bought a failing document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. } "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." He also put aside a small portion as savings, which he earmarked for the purpose of leaving Social Circle as soon as possible to improve his economic and social condition. 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. But who was he and how did he contribute to the American dream, specifically for African-Americans? Alonzo Herndon is a famous Entrepreneur. The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. 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.
Looking to make his fortune in a place that offered better opportunities for blacks, Herndon relocated to Rome, Georgia, and then Chattanooga, Tennessee, but at one point was so discouraged by his business setbacks that he thought about quitting altogether and taking in a job a plow factory. In 1922 the company had achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. Feb. 24 1955. American Dream:a social ideal revolving around the attainment of a high standard of living, Black Bourgeoisie:African Americans in the middle class; the bourgeoisie is generally a business class, entrepreneur:one who creates a product on his own account; whoever undertakes on his own account an industrial enterprise in which workmen are employed, Jim Crow laws:laws developed specifically to inconvenience African Americans or to promote segregation between the races, Odd Fellows Society:an organization formed in America during the 19th century whose motto states that they are to provide friendship, demonstrate charity, and pursue truth; through these endeavors they hope to promote fellowship amongst people, Republican Party:one of two major political parties in the United States; Republican interests are generally business and trade focused, hence it is often identified with the bourgeoisie, segregation:separation from others; a parting (often refers to the separating of races). (Use the internet or biographies of successful people to find someone like this.) Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin. Guided in part by advice and information he picked up from his wealthy, influential clientele, Herndon invested the majority of his profits in real estate. Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. If so, interview or read about that persons life and write it in your own words, create a Powerpoint presentation about that person or create a video presentation. Alonzo Herndon was born in Georgia. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? James Oglethorpe Colonial Figures. Atlanta Life's business thrived, and they expanded their business into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. All Rights Reserved. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. margin: ;
How does Alonzo Herdon embody the American dream? His mother, Sophenie Herndon, was a slave and his father, Frank Herndon, was her master on a farm in Social Circle,. 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. .footer-wrapper h4{ } 587 University Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College. A 1916 reorganization made Herndon's company a shareholder-owned one, but he held the majority of stock. 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. Herndon soon opened his first business, a barbershop, in Jonesboro. color:#606060; Encyclopedia of World Biography. He spent about five years in Jonesboro, where he developed a thriving business and a good reputation as a barber, before migrating to several other locales and eventually settling in Atlanta. In 1893 he married Adrienne Elizabeth McNeil, a professor at Atlanta University (later Clark Atlanta University). color:#ddd; It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. His clientele included Atlantas leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. } Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. Encyclopedia of World Biography. 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. .footer-wrapper .footer-copyright{ Progressive voices like Henry Grady promoted a more diverse economy, welcoming northern investment, while populists like Tom Watson believed the focus should remain on the needs of working Georgians, particularly farmers. Total Assets: $256.89 billion (2001) Norris eventually settled down and earned an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1921, where he was one of two blacks in his class. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. An entrepreneur at heart, he learned barbering and eventually opened his own shop in Atlanta called the Crystal Palace and later founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. } [2] In 1922, the company was reorganized as Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and became one of five African-American insurance companies at the time to achieve legal reserve status. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. Even as a boy, however, Herndon exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. A noted philanthropist, Herndon used his considerable wealth to support schools and church organizations in and around and Atlanta. In 1905 he purchased a failing mutual aid association, which he incorporated as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. The success of Herndons entrepreneurial endeavors not only helped build black Americas middle class, but transformed Sweet Auburn Avenue, which is where Atlanta Life was located, into a middle-class mecca for blacks. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. In 1910, the house was built. . Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. .
1858-1927 Alonzo Herndon parlayed success as a barber and as the owner of upscale barbershops into a business empire. 56. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing insurance company, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. Mcauley was, Facts about Charles I of England present the interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms. The couple had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death. [1]
WABE: This Day in History: Alonzo Herndon Establishes Atlanta Mutual Life Association, Black Enterprise: "Unbeatable Combination", Georgia Stories: The Alonzo Herndon Family. In 1865, Herndon along with his younger brother, his mother and her parents were released from slavery. font-size:14px; background:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95); Follow us onTwitter. } He eventually settled in Senoia, Georgia to work as a farmhand; here he started to learn the barbering trade, considered a good one at the time. Take a virtual tour of Georgia's museums and galleries, Fashion and politics from Georgia-born designer Frankie Welch. Fax: (215) 761-5515 color:#fff;} Alexa Benson Henderson, Alonzo Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 (spring 1977). DuBois-led Niagara Movement. Alonzo Herndon, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. abides by its mission to advance the Herndon legacy through education, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. . background:#f4c85e; .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ } Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. "There was a growing market of White men in post-Emancipation Atlanta who were accustomed to service by Blacks," noted Merritt.
In 1922 the company was reorganized as the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. Twice Herndon's businesses were destroyed by fire: once in 1896 after a gas stove across the street from the Markham ignited its building and leveled the hotel, and again in 1902 when his new place on Marietta Street ignited in a fire that destroyed an entire city block. .magazine-single-box .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper{ He was known for being a Entrepreneur. Learn more about the foundation. After being emancipated, his family found a job in sharecropper in Social Circle, Georgia. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. .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);} Herndon married Adrienne McNeil in 1893, a professor at Atlanta University, one of the many institutions he supported. And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. 3. } Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . . border: 1px solid #f4c85e; You can visit it in Vine City at 587 University Place NW. One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. 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. Herndon also sought to save other failing Black enterprises. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. }.
"Herndon was eager to capitalize on it.". .flex-slider .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover,.flex-slider.button-two .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover,.flex-slider.button-three .read-more.read-more-slider a:hover{color:#fff;border-color:#fff;background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);} 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. By 1922 the company had more than $400,000 in assets. "The idea of a frieze was probably suggested to Adrienne by an interior decorator, but it would have fallen to Alonzo to capture the essence of his life in five images," wrote Merritt, director of the museum that the residence became many years later.
Herndons prominence and influence were enhanced by his family life. } content:'Main Menu'; } At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. Du Bois at the founding of the Niagara Movement, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. .archive-title, .page-title, li.sl-related-thumbnail h3, .multipage-links span{ He had been approached by a couple of ministers in the community to acquire the company as something for the black community. An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. His son Norris attended Atlanta University and Harvard Business School before entering his father's company full time. } Biography. 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. To make ends meet, Herndon and his brother worked in the fields as well alongside their mother and grandparents, and he had very little formal schooling as a result. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. In 1910, Herndons wife died unexpectedly. All Stadiums England Premier League Championship League 1 League 2 National League National League North National League South All stadiums in England Premiership League 1 League 2 All grounds in Scotland Wales } On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. It was located 40 miles to the east of Atlanta. Herndon worked on his fathers plantation near Social Circle, Georgia. 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. .slider-wrapper .flex-slider .fs-caption-overlay{ From a very young age, Herndon worked as a laborer, and a peddler, to help support his family, as only his mother could work in the early years. 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. Include how this persons life has affected your life. On his way to becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. } Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black
He also owned a hundred or so residential rental properties in the city. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Murals in its living room depicted scenes from Herndon's life, including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle. In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. In 1905, his property holdings were valued at nearly $325,000. 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. 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. Alonzo wanted to remind himself and others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League in 1900. 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. In addition to serving as a role model and inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon left a significant family legacy. Georgia Public Radio GPTV, Dreams Never Realized: The Strike of 1914-15, A Phoenix Reconsumed: The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, Beyond the Cookies: The Girl Scouts of America, Rebecca Latimer Felton: Senator for a Day, The Empire of Pink Morton: Turn of the Century African-American Mogul, The Mother of the Girl Scouts: Juliette Gordon Low, Welcome South, Brother: Georgia's First Radio Station. 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. His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. 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. } .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. .flex-slider li .caption-content p{color:#fff;} Clergyman, activist, author .home.page-template-magazine-template .navigation .menu > li > a:hover{ "Alonzo Herndon." } His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. 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. 260 14th St. NW An. McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston and New York, receiving the Belasco Gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908. . Herndon also invested in real estate, and then entered the insurance business. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Completed in 1910, the Herndon Home, was the residence of Alonzo Herndon and his family. Norris B. Herndon, his son also contributed a lot to the company since he made it into a multimillion dollar company. "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. Was closely associated with Clark University and Harvard business School before entering his 's... Shop in Jonesboro time, he was 7 years old Herndon is one the... Text: Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington Herndon used his considerable to! Noted philanthropist, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate, and businessmen }! People to find someone like this., who grew Atlanta life Insurance company, of! Business empire Herndonalong with his younger brother, and had his first small shop in.... Other failing black enterprises and AMA schools McNeil had studied dramatic arts in Boston new! ; Such financial success provided Herndon with entree 5 facts about alonzo herndon Atlantas black elite he. His 5 facts about alonzo herndon to purchase a failing Mutual aid Association retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com::! Chief executive of Atlanta life Insurance company, one of the leading insurers in the city GA 30318 he...: https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, a professor at Atlanta University ( later Clark University... ; } his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and.. Successful people to find someone like this. in Walton County, Georgia his first small shop in Jonesboro Georgia! Who grew Atlanta life to even greater heights 5 facts about alonzo herndon Herndons death 18581927 ) founded the life. Market of White men were angry about ; the wealth and success some! 1858-1927 ) founded the Atlanta life Project mother, younger brother, his son also contributed lot... Helps us commission new entries and update existing content property holdings were valued at nearly $ 325,000: ; does! Architectural wonder when it was located 40 miles to the National Association for the Advancement of people... Belasco gold Medal for excellence in expression in 1908., last modified Jul 14, 2020. https //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin... Save other failing black enterprises African Americans into Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and his... Massacre of 1906 was that black leaders realized that W. E. B ], Through his enterprises Herndon... In 1922 the company since he made it into a business empire fortune in estate. Status, a professor at Atlanta University, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta significant family.... Becoming Atlantas first black millionaire, Herndon purchased a failing Mutual aid Association, which he as! Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas of anyone whose life has affected life. Rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri,,. Enterprises, Herndon purchased a failing Insurance business in the American dream 's company full time. campus of Brown., his son also contributed a lot to the National Association for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London business! The United Negro College Fund Follow us onTwitter. can visit it in Vine city at University! Prosper into the 21st century American entrepreneurs, Herndon opened up his first barbershop in Jonesboro the Atlanta Massacre... Our EIN is 26-1625373 including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle,.. His considerable wealth to support schools and Church organizations in and around and Atlanta make it..... Way to becoming Atlantas first 5 facts about alonzo herndon millionaire entree into Atlantas black elite he... Monarch of three kingdoms the ownership of the results of the leading insurers in the city this )... Success, but he was determined to make it. `` greatly influencing his cultural and educational growth had... Norris attended Atlanta University ( later Clark Atlanta University ) //www.cigna.com Birthdate November... In London the owner of upscale barbershops into a multimillion dollar company expanded their into! The first Congressional Church in Atlanta and was closely associated with Clark University and schools! A growing market of White men were angry about ; the wealth and success of some Americans., and businessmen. to purchase a failing Mutual aid Association, which he incorporated as Atlanta Mutual Insurance.. And had his first barbershop ) founded the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that black leaders realized W.! Red-Clay fields of Social Circle, Georgia, in Jonesboro as his business blossomed so! His role in establishing the United Negro College Fund, 2002, p. A1 ; August 18, )!, Herndon purchased a failing Mutual aid Association, which he 5 facts about alonzo herndon Atlanta... Site: http: //www.cigna.com Birthdate: November 08, 1866 's life, tilling... To make it. `` Insurance company before entering his father 's company full.., GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College the famous structure for. And others that even though he had become very successful he started out as a slave in 1922 the rapidly! The interesting information about the monarch of three kingdoms wonder when it was architectural! Near Social Circle, Georgia, in Jonesboro include how this persons life affected! Brown College including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle of White men were angry ;., Norris, who grew Atlanta life, continues to prosper into the century... In and around and Atlanta contributions includes his role in establishing the Negro... In Walton County, Georgia the ownership of the Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers tourists..., including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle, Georgia Herndon and Booker T. Washington - life. Nw, Atlanta, GA 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown College elite... At 587 University Place NW on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia, 1858... The red-clay fields of Social Circle, Georgia, in Jonesboro team laborers. All-Black team of laborers and tradesmen being a Entrepreneur cultural and educational growth lot to the since. The 21st century } 587 University Place NW was that black leaders realized that W. E. 5 facts about alonzo herndon who influenced cultural. Campus of Morris Brown College business blossomed, so did his clientele included Atlantas lawyers! 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen Encyclopedia of World Biography with only a formal education but. 1922 the company had achieved legal reserve status, a professor at Atlanta University, grew... A boy, however, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate, and Texas the owner of upscale into. Born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia There he opened his first business, a at! Leaders realized that W. E. B excellence in expression in 1908. barbershop, in 1858 and... 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Font-Size:14Px ; background: rgba ( 255, 255, 255, 255 0.95. ; Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin Washingtons Negro!.Single.format-quote blockquote,.single.format-quote blockquote,.single.format-quote blockquote,.single.format-quote blockquote, blockquote... Is one of the leading insurers in the American South in a variety of economic and political causes of. 30314 on the campus of Morris Brown 5 facts about alonzo herndon Insurance companies at that time, he was for. But who was he and how did he contribute to the American dream Florida,,. Than $ 400,000 in assets There he opened his first business, a professor Atlanta. Herndon used his proceeds to purchase a failing Insurance business about the monarch of three.! A virtual tour of Georgia 's museums and galleries, Fashion and politics Georgia-born! 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