Dan Francis photographs, 1951-1990 | The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South FL, Inc.

By Danielle Colona, supervised by Emily Gibson

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Collection Overview

Title: Dan Francis photographs, 1951-1990

ID: 01/BAF MS_00132

Primary Creator: Francis, Daniel R. (1911-1990)

Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet

Subjects: African Americans -- Segregation, African American youth, Black entertainers, Blacks -- Segregation, Boxing, Education - Booker T. Washington Jr./ High, Overtown (Miami, Fla.)

Forms of Material: Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.), Death notices, Pamphlets, Photographs, Programs

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

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.

Biographical Note

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)

Subject/Index Terms

African Americans -- Segregation
African American youth
Black entertainers
Blacks -- Segregation
Boxing
Education - Booker T. Washington Jr./ High
Overtown (Miami, Fla.)

Administrative Information

Repository: The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South FL, Inc.

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

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.

Separated Materials:

-Newspaper article "Rudy Crew:'Lets be Honest Here'," Miami Herald Aug.26,2007 (about Miami Dade Public Schools)

-Program catalog,"Creating a climate of Excellence," School Board of Miami Dade County 1955-1956

-Title page / table of contents "Executive and teacher Personnel" Dade County School System.

-Pamphlet, "Division of Life Skills Really Made the Grade," School Board of Miami Dade

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

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Photographs, circa 1951-1990],
[Series 2: Documents, circa 1986-1990],
[All]

Series 1: Photographs, circa 1951-1990

This series consits of original photographs and xeroxed copies of photographs accumulated by Dan Francis. Captions in square brackets were supplied by the archivist.

Sub-Series 1: Original Photographs, circa 1951-1990

This subseries consists of the following 17 original photographs:

1. F.E.C baseball team - 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 14 cm.

2. Professor Dobbs presides over a baccalaureate sermon for Dorsey's graduates - 1 photograph : b&w ; 25 x 21 cm.

3. Latanya Griffin, fashion model at Virginia Beach (John Diaz taking picture for Pittsburg Courier) 1951 - 1 photograph : b& w ; 22 x 27 cm.

4. [Trophy presentation with Dan Francis, podium reads "come unto me"] - 1 photograph : b&w ; 22 x 27 cm.

5. [Three men in suits posing] - 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 19 cm.

6. Booker T. Washington graduates - 1 photograph : b&w ; 27 x 22 cm.

7. Cwest Club [at Harlem Square Club, women in gowns at banquette table]- 1 photograph : b&w ; 27 x 22 cm.

8. Overtown labor - 1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm.

9. Neonta Club [Dan Francis sitting on stage with women in gowns] - 1 photograph : b&w ; 27 x 22 cm.

10. Adelphia Club meeting at Dorsey Hotel discussing topics of the day on WMBM. Editor Francis, guest - 1 photograph : b&w ; 22 x 27 cm.

11. Several pressmen, Miami, Florida. Tropical dispatch, The Whip and Pittsburgh Courier wait for the arrival of President Trumen to Miami - 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 14 cm.

12. Fran William- portraying Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Johnnie McMillian, MCEE Caleb center- 12/28/1984 National Council for Negro Women (NCNW) in celebration of its 49th Anniversary - 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 13 cm.

13. Bethel AME church [ Miami, FL.] - 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 14 cm

14. Inside Rockland Palace a night club on NW 22 ave - 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 11 cm.

15. [Three men in front of house] - 1 photograph : b&w ; 22 x 14 cm.

16. [man in front of house] - 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm.

17. Paradise Hotel - 1 negative ; b&w ; 13 x 11 cm.

Sub-Series 2: Xeroxed Copies of Photographs, circa 1951-1990

This sub-series consists of 42 xeroxed copies of photographs containing the following subjects:

[Shotgun houses in Overtown], 1C-10C

[Men at podium that reads "Come Unto Me,"] 11C-16C

[Sailors on a ship and sailors at fairwell party], 17C-21C

[Young man with projector and projection screen], 22C-23C

[Man working with machines in factory], 24C-25C

[Factory with workers], 26C

[Graduation ceremony], 27C

[Teenagers working with machines], 28C

[Choir], 29C

[Rockland Palace], 30C

[White Belt Laundrymat and Dry Cleaning], 31C

[Thurgood Marshall, Garth Reeves John Johnson and G.E. Graves sitting in an office], 32C

[Men next to a shotgun house in Overtown], 33C

[Mother, father and triplets], 34C

[Pre-boxing match], 35C

[Parade], 36C-39C

[Three men in front of house], 40C

[Group of people entering through a doorway], 41C

[Booker T. Washington High School and students], 42C