Brief Description: This collection consists of the photographs of Dan Francis, publisher of the "Dispatch" newspaper, radio show host, and chairman of the Miami-Dade County Model Cities Program. The collection spans 1951 to 1989 and contains many early images Overtown. It contains original photographs and xeroxed copies of photographs of events, people and landmarks important to black South Florida, such as: the F.E.C baseball team; the Rockland Palace; the Neonta club; photographers awaiting the arrival of President Truman, and shotgun houses in Overtown. The original photographs have been digitized; however, the collection contains many paper copies of photographs that have not been digitized. The collection also contains two newspaper articles about Dan Francis (one of which references the forced relocation of Rail Road Shop residents during the building of Allapattah Middle School), and his funeral program. It does not include radio broadcast transcripts.

Record Series Number: 01/BAF MS_00132

Created by: Francis, Daniel R. (1911-1990)

Volume: 0.25 Linear Feet

Biographical Note for Francis, Daniel R. (1911-1990) :

Daniel Ricardo Francis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to the Reverend and Mrs. Richmond Francis on July 8, 1911. He was the youngest of five children. He attended public school in Jacksonville and graduated from Staton High School where he served as class president from the ninth through twelfth grade. He entered Edward Waters Junior College and graduated as class president.

In 1937, Mr. Francis earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Agricultural and Manufacturing University (Florida A&M University, FAMU) in Tallahassee, and in 1954 he earned a Masters degree in Guidance from New York University.

On August 14,1939, Daniel married his college sweetheart, Susie Beatrice West, from Tampa, Florida. They then moved to Miami, Florida.

Shortly after graduating Florida A&M Daniel went to work as a printer for the Miami Journal. Two years later he became editor of the Dispatch, whose publisher was influential civic activist James E. Scott. He became publisher when Scott died in 1948. He dedicated his efforts at the Dispatch to educating the white and black communities about the plight of Black Miami during segregation. He also hosted the first regularly schedualed black affairs radio show in Miami.

In 1949, Dan Francis became the first of two black coordinators of Diversified Cooperative Training in Dade County. Working at Dorsey and Jackson High Schools, he was responsible for placing black jobs throughout the city. His efforts at training and encouraging black youth resulted in many job placements.

Mr. Francis was a member of Greater Bethal AME Church for thirty-four years. For nineteen years he was a dedicated member and stewart at St. James AME Church. Dan Francis was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., former president of Kappa Delta Pi Honorary Society, former Vice-President of Dade-County Retired teachers Association, King of Clubs, Inc., and a former member of the Masons, Elks and Shriners. He was also honored as an originator and one of the first chairmen of the Miami-Dade Model Cities Program. Mr. Francis passed away on April 25,1990.

Source for biographical history: collection (funeral program and obituary)

Access Restrictions: There are no access restrictions on this material.

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Rights/Use Restrictions: Finding Aid © 2011 The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Director of The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation, Inc. An image license must be signed prior to recording or copying images.

PreferredCitation: Dan Francis photograph collection, The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., Miami, Florida, www.theblackarchives.org.