Marshall in Harrison County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Fred Lewis
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, March 20, 2023
1. Fred Lewis Marker
Inscription.
Fred Lewis. . Educator, NAACP officer and civil rights activist Fred Lewis (1912-2002), managed Ruth Starr Blake's estate after he returned from world war two. Lewis was influential in restoring voting rights for African American Texans. The first White Citizens Party was formed in 1878 in Harrison county by several officiers of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, including Amory Starr (1847-1906). In 1923, the Texas legislature passed a law that excluded African Americans from voting in the Democratic Party primary. Fred Lewis advanced the case, Perry v. Cyphers, to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by raising funds and partnering with statewide NAACP leadership. In 1951, the court decision ended the white primary system and restored the vote to African Americans in Harrison county.
Educator, NAACP officer and civil rights activist Fred Lewis (1912-2002), managed Ruth Starr Blake's estate after he returned from WWII. Lewis was influential in restoring voting rights for African American Texans. The first White Citizens Party was formed in 1878 in Harrison county by several officiers of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, including Amory Starr (1847-1906). In 1923, the Texas legislature passed a law that excluded African Americans from voting in the Democratic Party primary. Fred Lewis advanced the case, Perry v. Cyphers, to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by raising funds and partnering with statewide NAACP leadership. In 1951, the court decision ended the white primary system and restored the vote to African Americans in Harrison county.
Erected 2019 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 22648.)
Location. 32° 32.521′ N, 94° 22.249′ W. Marker is in Marshall, Texas, in Harrison County. Marker is at the intersection of West Travis Street and South Fulton Street, on the right when traveling west on West Travis Street. Located in Starr Family Home State Historic
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Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 407 West Travis Street, Marshall TX 75670, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 23, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
