Norton, Lorenze Smythe, 1911-1999.

Dates:
Birth 1911
Death 1999

Biographical notes:

Information for the chronology was compiled from the collection.

1911 June 9. Lorenze Smythe Norton, generally known as Smithy Norton, born in Opelousas, Louisiana to Samuel and Nancy Norton. 1924 1925 Attended school in Beaumont, Texas. 1925 1926 Moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Attended Franklin Junior High School, from which he was promoted to high school. 1926 1930 Attended and graduated from North High School, where he was a member of the football and track teams and the art club. 1930 Occupation listed as caretaker, settlement house in the 1930 federal census for Minnesota; Nancy Norton's marital status is given as widow. ca. 193 Studied commercial art at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago, Minneapolis Extension Division. Worked as director of boys athletic and recreational activities at the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House. 1935 1941 Moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he began a public and community relations career. Established the firm Lorenze and Associates and undertook work directed primarily at Chicago's African American community as an advertising sales representative; publicity campaign manager for commercial enterprises, civic organizations, and entertainment events; business window and radio broadcaster; newspaper commentator and advertising tabloid newspaper publisher; commercial artist; and art advertiser. He also began to create photo-story mural exhibits depicting the community life of groups with differing racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. 1942 1945 Enlisted (February 1942) and served in the United States Army during World War II. Posted to bases in the American South, including Fort Benning, Georgia (1942-1943), Camp Swift, Texas (1943-1944), and Camp Claiborne, Louisiana (1944-1945), where his duties involved public relations and special services assignments relating to African American troops. His final posting was to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where he was honorably discharged (July 1945). 1946 1947 Employed at the Minneapolis office of Western Union Telegraph Company as a maintenance worker. 1948 1951 Resumed public and community relations career in Chicago and founded the firm Lorenze-Smith and Associates. In addition to doing commercial work, he continued to produce and exhibit community life photo-story mural displays. ca. 1952 Returned to Minneapolis. 1954 197 Employed at Greyhound Lines, Minneapolis terminal, initially as a baggage clerk and later as a dispatcher/announcer; was an active member of Amalgamated Transit Union (earlier known as Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway, and Motor Coaches Employees), serving as shop steward 1959-1961. ca. 1954 1968 Continued to develop and exhibit educational photo-story murals under the name Community Life Exhibits U.S.A. Established (1956) an office and display studio where he presented his exhibits and conducted workshops. The exhibits increasingly focused on national and Minnesota African American community life and history. Was a pioneer in promoting an awareness and knowledge of national and Minnesota African American history in the Twin Cities and elsewhere in the state. 1968 1969 Served as information specialist for the Urban Coalition of Minneapolis while on a one-year leave of absence from Greyhound Lines; his duties included coordinating the coalition's community relations program, "What Do You Care Anyway?" Established the public and community relations agency Lorenze Smythe Norton and Associates to formalize his growing involvement with African American community life and history projects. 1969 1979 Actively involved in state and Twin Cities annual observances of Negro/Afro-American/Black History Week/Month, including participating in proclamation signings and other official events, mounting his exhibits, and in some years serving as the event's coordinator. 1980 199 Operated his public and community relations firm at least into the early 1980s. During retirement remained interested and involved in activities relating to public and community relations, black history and culture, religion, and politics. 1999 March 18. Smithy Norton died in Minneapolis at the age of 87.

From the guide to the Smithy Norton papers., [ca. 1918]-1999 (bulk 1924-1983)., (Minnesota Historical Society)

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Subjects:

  • African American art
  • African American art
  • African American History Month
  • African American History Month
  • African American military personnel
  • African American military personnel
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African American soldiers
  • African American soldiers
  • Black History Week
  • Black History Week
  • Public relations firms
  • Public relations firms
  • Public relations firms
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945

Occupations:

  • African American public relations personnel
  • African American public relations personnel
  • African American radio broadcasters

Places:

  • Minnesota (as recorded)
  • Davis, W. Harry, 1923- . (as recorded)
  • Middle West (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Moore, Wenda. (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Minnesota--Minneapolis (as recorded)
  • Newman, Cecil E., 1903- . (as recorded)
  • Warren, Lillian. (as recorded)

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