Ira F. Lewis

Ira Foster Lewis (August 25, 1883 - September 4, 1948) was an American sportswriter, executive editor, president, and business manager of the Pittsburgh Courier. He was involved in the Double V campaign to grant full citizenship rights to African American soldiers serving in World War II and helped integrate major league baseball.[1]

Not to be confused with the American actor Ira Lewis.

Lewis was born in Lexington, North Carolina.[2][3] He studied at Biddle Academy for one year.

Along with Robert L. Vann and Bill Nunn, he helped lead the paper.[4]

He was a leader in the National Negro Publishers Association.[5] In 1937 he corresponded with W. E. B. Du Bois.[6]

Lewis was photographed with his family in Homewood by Charles "Teenie" Harris.[7]

References
  1. "IRA F. LEWIS DIES; 'NEGRO PUBLISHER; Head of Pittsburgh Courier Since 1940 Was Its General Manager Many years". August 29, 1948 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. Andrew Bunie (June 1974). Robert L. Vann of the Pittsburgh courier: politics and Black journalism. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-8229-3274-1.
  3. "Ira Foster Lewis". The Journal of Negro History. 33 (4): 503–504. October 1, 1948. doi:10.1086/JNHv33n4p503 – via journals.uchicago.edu (Atypon).
  4. "Black History...The Trinity that led the Pittsburgh Courier to greatness". New Pittsburgh Courier. February 20, 2015.
  5. MacGregor, Morris J.; History, Center of Military (December 18, 1981). "Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965". Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
  6. "Letter from Pittsburgh Courier to W. E. B. Du Bois, April 19, 1937". credo.library.umass.edu.
  7. "CMOA Collection". collection.cmoa.org.


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