font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; border-color:#f4c85e; Despite several crises in the industry and lean times generally, Atlanta Life under Herndons leadership survived and progressed into the next decades as a secure and prosperous business. The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. .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);} 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. 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. Do you know that he was born into slavery? Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. 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. .magazine-box header.header-style-one #main-menu-wrapper, .upcoming-events li { 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. The job opened the door to his future. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was born on June 6, 1858, in Social Circle, Georgia, which is located in Walton County. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. Eventually he acquired more than 100 houses, a large block of commercial property on Auburn Avenue, and a large estate in Tavares, Florida. 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. Featured Content. Herndon was also a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League. Marker Text : Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery in Walton County, Georgia, in 1858. -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)} Include how this persons life has affected your life. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 Walton County, Georgia July 21, 1927) was an African-American entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts, https://blackamericaweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2014/10/102214lkbhf.mp3. .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. The Company rapidly expanded, establishing branches in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like { Discuss the traits and describe how each one contributed to Herndons amazing success. In his leisure time, he relaxed at an orange-grove estate he had acquired in Lake County, Florida, which he improved and sold some years later at an impressive profit. 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. How does Alonzo Herdon embody the American dream? border-left: 5px solid #f4c85e; 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. Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. In 1883 Herndon migrated to Atlanta, Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the largest city in the state. Press, 2002); http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927; https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm. He was a member of W.E.B. a:hover{ 3. Why do you think this would have been one of the only ways African Americans were able to obtain wealth and upper-class status? document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. After six months Herndon purchased half interest in the shop, entering into a partnership with one of the few free Blacks operating barbering establishments since before the Civil War. She hired herself out by the day and as there was money in the country, she received as pay potatoes, molasses, and peas enough to keep us from starving.". Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Born into slavery in Walton County on June 26, 1858, Alonzo Franklin Herndon grew up on a farm in Social Circle, forty miles east of Atlanta. (2004). At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. It also produced his only child, Norris, who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Henry McNeal Turner was for many years the leading advocate of black migration to Africa a, Public Company Fax: (215) 761-5515 fbq('init', '213902435871547'); William Dougherty Hutchins had been a free black before the war, and his shop was a busy one. color:#fff;} Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. color:#606060; line-height:48px; Associated With Like BlackAmericaWeb.com onFacebook. On this episode of Georgia Stories; Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's fi. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. Jan. 03 1992. } One of Herndons most lasting contributions includes his role in establishing the United Negro College Fund. .home .header .logo h1 a,.home .header .logo p,.header .logo a,.header .logo p,header.smaller .header .logo h1 a{ 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. Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. Herndon was most involved on the local level. His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. He soon founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, where he served as president. } [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. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. 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. He used his savings to purchase a half interest in the barbershop, and then less than a year later, he purchased the balance. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? 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. color:#494bbc; Tweet. border-bottom: 1px solid #f4c85e; As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. Steve Jobs. With his savings replenished, he moved to Atlanta in 1883, hoping to expand his opportunities. 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. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. Telephone: (908) 903-2000 Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/herndon-alonzo-franklin. Blake Sims. 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. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce the resource must be submitted to the rights holder. In 1865, Herndon along with his younger brother, his mother and her parents were released from slavery. Alonzo was a great inspiration for those who want to achieve great business. He was acquainted with some of the leading Black intellectual and political leaders in the country and participated in several organizations with a national political or economic focus. Alonzo Herndon. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. } She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. In 1922 the company had achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. Merritt, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family (Athens: University of Georgia He developed a great reputation as a barber and his business thrived. Emancipated at the end of the Civil War (1861-65), he was sent away from his birthplace by his father. } 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. Murals in its living room depicted scenes from Herndon's life, including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle. The Herndon Home is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark at 587 University Place NW, in Atlanta, Georgia.An elegant Classical Revival mansion with Beaux Arts influences, it was the home of Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927), a rags-to-riches success story who was born into slavery, but went on to become Atlanta's first black millionaire as founder and head of the Atlanta . 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. } } } On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? 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. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{ }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ .slider-wrapper .flex-slider .fs-caption-overlay{ After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. Alonzo Herndon was born on the 26th of June, 1858. In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. 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. .magazine-single-box .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper{ Herndon bought the business for $140 in 1905, and when he deposited the sum according to the new state regulatory rules, his company became the first in the state to meet the new requirement. Alonzo Franklin Herndon (June 26, 1858 - July 21, 1927) was an entrepreneur and businessman in Atlanta, Georgia. Incorporated: 1967 At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. In 1910, Herndons wife died unexpectedly. Herndon's significant investments in property allowed him to improve a great deal of housing stock in the city that . African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/her.htm, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. background:#f4c85e; June 26 Horoscope. 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. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. Henderson, Alexa. 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. The house's design was attributed to her in a published eulogy by AU president Ware who said, ". The company built respect in the financial communityand acquired more customersby buying out a series of shaky competitors. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. line-height:22px; 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 He gave generous support and resources to such local institutions and causes as the YMCA; Atlanta University; the Leonard Street, Carrie Steele, and Diana Pace orphanages; the Herndon Day Nursery; and the First Congregational Church. Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. Subscribe to ournews alerts here, follow uson Twitterand like us onFacebook. Fittingly, Herndon had asked that his pallbearers be drawn from among his barber staff. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); List choice t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; li.social-icon ul li a,ul.single-social-icon li a i{ AboutPressCopyrightContact. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . } 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. Alonzo Herndon. font-size:38px; In 1905 he used his proceeds to purchase a failing insurance business in the city, naming it the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. At age seven the young Herndonalong with his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparentsentered freedom homeless and destitute. 8. }} U.S.A. .flex-slider li .caption-content h1{ 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. He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. background:#111; Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Eventually he established Atlanta Life, an insurance company. } Alonzo Herndon rose to prime prominence as a Entrepreneur. [citation needed]. } His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. 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. into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. In 1905 he became the founder and president of what he built to be one of the United States' most well-known and successful African-American businesses, the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company (Atlanta Life). Company Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Now he was a great deal businessman. Employees: 32,000 line-height:48px; The field hockey venue used during 1996 Summer Olympics located at Morris Brown College was named Herndon Stadium. Alonzo, Adrienne, and Norris Herndon, 1907. He took over a company which had $5,000 in assets in 1905. [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. .format-quote blockquote, .single .format-quote blockquote, .single blockquote{ Alonzo Herndon. He was a founding member of Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League in 1900. Merrick, a contemporary of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber. All Rights Reserved. .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);} background:#0e0e0e; As his business blossomed, so did his clientele and influence around the city. 3. He was considered. Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. . Herndons barbershops, his real estate holdings, and his insurance company flourished throughout the 1920s and survived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta. Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro. line-height:48px; His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. He spent his meager spare time peddling peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease to earn money to support the family. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19192-1550 Spaulding, Charles Clinton 18741952 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. 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. 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. Alonzo Herndon and Booker T. Washington. "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. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (18581927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; .footer-wrapper td{ }h2,.two-grid-layout .post-content h2,.standard-layout .post-title h2{ 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. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin margin: ; } Herndon was also active in the community in other areas. 56. Total Assets: $114.35 billion (1994) .header a#pull,.home .header a#pull,.header-wrapper header.smaller a#pull,.page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before{ Many people simply call it as Atlanta Life. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlanta 's wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. 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. Read more Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages Language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions ." By 1916, the Association was reorganized as a stock company capitalized at $25,000, most of which Herndon bought. 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. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. His insurance business reported more than $400,000 in assets in 1922. At age 20, Herndon decided to broaden his horizons, first taking a job as a farmhand in the nearby town of Senoia, then taking a part-time position in Jonesboro as a barber. Whenever possible, he reinsured the policyholders and merged the faltering business into Atlanta Life in an effort to conserve confidence in Black businesses and save jobs for Black men and women. background: #f4c85e; The couple had a son, Norris, who grew Atlanta Life to even greater heights after Herndons death. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations into a half dozen new states, including Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. "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." Georgia to continue in the barbering business in the city that 1883, hoping to his. Of shaky competitors barbering business in the American South effects of racism, Kentucky Missouri. Who succeeded him as chief executive of Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of 25 enslaved! 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Been one of Herndons, also had begun his career as a barber and. Some African Americans by 1916, the association was reorganized as a barber, and copy the text your... Paternity of him age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages language English Grade level 3 4. Alonzo Franklin Herndon president. scenes from Herndon 's Life, including the... Reading age 8 - 10 years Print length 28 pages language English Grade level 3 - 4 Dimensions ''. In 1900 a stock Company capitalized at $ 25,000, most of Herndon... Other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. to move his premises to one of the page from...