Lewis, John, 1940 February 21-2020

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John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician, statesman, and civil rights activist and leader who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020. He was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1963 to 1966.

Lewis was one of the "Big Six" leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. He fulfilled many key roles in the civil rights movement and its actions to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. In 1965, Lewis led the first of three Selma to Montgomery marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In an incident which became known as Bloody Sunday, state troopers and police attacked the marchers, including Lewis.

A member of the Democratic Party, Lewis was first elected to Congress in 1986 and served 17 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district he represented included most of Atlanta. Due to his length of service, he became the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. While in the House, Lewis was one of the leaders of the Democratic Party, serving from 1991 as a Chief Deputy Whip and from 2003 as a Senior Chief Deputy Whip. John Lewis received many honorary degrees and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Pendergrast, Nan, 1920-. Nan Pendergrast papers, 1935-1993. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Records of the 1976 Campaign Committee to Elect Jimmy Carter . 1976 - 1976. Sam Bleicher's Subject Files. 1976 - 1976. Voter Registration Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Bernice V. Robinson papers, 1957-1985 (bulk 1960-1980). Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
creatorOf Salvatore, Nick, 1943-. C. L. Franklin oral history project sound recordings, 1998-2002. [sound recording] Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (U.S.). Atlanta Office. Chairman's files, 1960-1969. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Center
referencedIn Rabin, Jack, 1945-. Jack Rabin collection on Alabama civil rights and southern activists, 1941-2004 (bulk 1956-1974). Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Maloof, Manuel,. Manuel Maloof oral history interviews, 1994 June 13 and 15. Georgia State University
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 5/13/77 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Good, Paul. Paul Good papers. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Lewis, John, 1940 Feb. 21-. John Lewis : commercials , 1986. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Brayboy, Ella Mae, 1919-. Ella Mae Brayboy papers, 1935-1994 (bulk 1970-1991). Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, Central Library
referencedIn Records of District Courts of the United States. 1685 - 2009. Civil Cases. 9/1938 - 11/26/1968. Hosea Williams, John Lewis, and Amelia Boynton et al. v. Honorable George C. Wallace, as Governor of the State of Alabama et al., Civil Action No. 2181-N. 9/1938 - 11/26/1968. Testimony from Hosea Williams, John Lewis, and Amelia Boynton et al. v. Honorable George C. Wallace, Governor of Alabama et al. National Archives at Atlanta
referencedIn Branch, Taylor. Taylor Branch papers, 1865-2009 (bulk 1958-2009). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Papers of Julian Bond 1897-2006 University of Virginia. Small Special Collections Library
referencedIn March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Records of District Courts of the United States. 1685 - 2009. Civil Cases. 9/1938 - 11/26/1968. Hosea Williams, John Lewis, and Amelia Boynton et al. v. Honorable George C. Wallace, as Governor of the State of Alabama et al., Civil Action No. 2181-N National Archives at Atlanta
creatorOf Papers of Julian Bond 1897-2006 University of Virginia. Small Special Collections Library
referencedIn Civil rights collection, 1960-1972 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Yancy, Roberta,. Civil rights collection, 1960-1972. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Salvatore, Nick, 1943-. C.L. Franklin oral history project, 1998-2002. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn C. L. Franklin Oral History Project, 1998-2003 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn May Potential Appearances: 21st William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Hamilton, Grace Towns, 1907-. Grace Towns Hamilton oral history interview, 1977 July 16. Georgia State University
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with The Honorable John Lewis The HistoryMakers

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Relation Name
associatedWith Bond, Julian, 1940- person
associatedWith Branch, Taylor. person
associatedWith Brayboy, Ella Mae, 1919- person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Fisk University corporateBody
associatedWith Good, Paul. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Grace Towns, 1907- person
associatedWith Lawson, James M., 1928- person
associatedWith Maloof, Manuel, person
participantIn March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963 : Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963 : Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Pendergrast, Nan, 1920- person
associatedWith Rabin, Jack, 1945- person
associatedWith Robinson, Bernice, 1914-1994. person
associatedWith Salvatore, Nick, 1943- person
associatedWith Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (U.S.). Atlanta Office. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
associatedWith Vivian, C. T. (Cordy Tindell), 1924-2020 person
associatedWith Voter Education Project, Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Yancy, Roberta person
associatedWith Yancy, Roberta, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Nashville TN US
Troy AL US
New York City NY US
Brundidge AL US
Atlanta GA US
Subject
Advertising, political
Political science
Television advertising
Occupation
City council members
Civil Rights Leader
Civil rights workers
Legislators
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1940-02-21

Death 2020-07-17

Male

Americans

English

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