Ira F. Lewis

Not to be confused with the American actor Ira Lewis.

Ira F. Lewis
Born	August 25, 1883 Lexington, North Carolina
Died	September 4, 1948
Occupation	Business manager of the Pittsburgh Courier

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]

Biography

Lewis was born in Lexington, North Carolina on August 25, 1883.^[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". The New York Times. 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. S2CID 224831158 – 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. ISBN 9780160019258 – 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.