Dempsey Travis (February 25, 1920 – July 2, 2009) was a real estate entrepreneur and civil rights activist who, later in life, became a prominent historian and author, writing extensively on African-American history, politics, social issues, and music.
Don’t Stop Me Now An Autobiography of Black Chicago An Autobiography of Black Jazz An Autobiography of Black Politics The Victory Monument I Refuse to Learn to Fail Views From the Back of the Bus
As an entrepreneur, Travis sought to revitalize African-American neighborhoods in Chicago. Travis Realty Company, which he founded in 1949, and Sivart Mortgage Company, which he founded four years later, increased the availability of mortgages for African Americans. Together, the two companies worked to sell properties located in the Chicago area to African Americans who were being displaced by urban renewal projects.[2] In 1961, Travis founded the United Mortgage Bankers of America and served as its president until 1974. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Travis served on President Richard Nixon’s Housing Task Force and President Gerald Ford’s Task Force on Urban Renewal.[3]
Activistedit
Travis was also involved with the civil rights movement, and while serving as president of the NAACP Chicago chapter in 1959 he coordinated Martin Luther King Jr.'s first civil rights march in Chicago on July 24, 1960.[1]
Authoredit
Travis’ career as an author began when he founded Urban Research Institute, later renamed Urban Research Press, in 1969. The Press was initially established to publish two studies on socioeconomic issues affecting urban African Americans, but later evolved into a literary press, publishing 21 of Travis’ books. Travis’s first book was the children’s book, Don’t Stop Me Now (1970). In 1981, he wrote An Autobiography of Black Chicago and became the first African-American author to have a book listed on the Chicago Tribune non-fiction bestsellers list.[4] Travis would later publish An Autobiography of Black Jazz (1983) These three books exemplify Travis’ writing style, which weaves historical research and information gathered from in-depth interviews with biographical anecdotes. Travis also published An Autobiography of Black Politics (1987), The Victory Monument, I Refuse to Learn to Fail, and Views from the Back of the Bus.[5]
Honors and awardsedit
Travis is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, and Who’s Who in the World. He was also listed among the "People Who Have Made a Difference" by the Chicago Sun-Times and was one of Ebony’s "100 Most Influential Black Americans". He was also the subject of numerous television programs: five of these shows have received Emmy nominations. He also received Black Enterprise magazine’s "First Annual Finance Achievement Award" on February 21, 1975.[1]
Archival collectionsedit
The Dempsey Travis Papers exist in three locations: Roosevelt University Library, Chicago Public Library Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, and Chicago History Museum. The papers showcase Travis’ career as an author, as opposed to his career as a real estate entrepreneur, and contain an extensive collection of interviews with prominent African-American figures in various fields including politics, business, and entertainment. The papers are arranged in series based on individual books, or subject of books, with the majority of series containing edited drafts, transcribed interviews, and general research.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcDempsey Travis Biography. The Historymakers, Interview date 1-11-2000.
^"Dempsey J. Travis, 1920-2009: Author, Real-Estate Magnate and Longtime Chicago Activist Businessman", Chicago Tribune, July 3, 2009.
^ abDempsey Travis Papers. Roosevelt University Library, Chicago Illinois.
^Page, Clarence. "Black Politics: Black American History, Chicago Style Politics", Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1986.
^Dempsey Travis author search at abebooks.com, retrieved December 29, 2013.
External linksedit
Dempsey Travis Papers at Roosevelt University
Dempsey Travis Papers at Chicago Public Library
Dempsey Travis Papers at Chicago History Museum
Demspey J. Travis at The Historymakers
Dempsey Travis page at AbeBooks
Chicago Tribune Book Review
"Dempsey J. Travis, 1920-2009: Author, Real-Estate Magnate and Longtime Chicago Activist Businessman", Chicago Tribune, July 3, 2009.
February 16, 2024
dempsey, travis, february, 1920, july, 2009, real, estate, entrepreneur, civil, rights, activist, later, life, became, prominent, historian, author, writing, extensively, african, american, history, politics, social, issues, music, borndempsey, jerome, travis,. Dempsey Travis February 25 1920 July 2 2009 was a real estate entrepreneur and civil rights activist who later in life became a prominent historian and author writing extensively on African American history politics social issues and music Dempsey TravisBornDempsey Jerome Travis 1920 02 25 February 25 1920Chicago Illinois USADiedJuly 2 2009 2009 07 02 aged 89 EducationRoosevelt UniversityNotable credit s Don t Stop Me NowAn Autobiography of Black ChicagoAn Autobiography of Black JazzAn Autobiography of Black PoliticsThe Victory Monument I Refuse to Learn to Fail Views From the Back of the Bus Contents 1 Early years and education 2 Businessman 3 Activist 4 Author 5 Honors and awards 6 Archival collections 7 References 8 External linksEarly years and education editDempsey Jerome Travis was born in 1920 in Chicago IL and served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946 before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Roosevelt University in 1949 1 Businessman editAs an entrepreneur Travis sought to revitalize African American neighborhoods in Chicago Travis Realty Company which he founded in 1949 and Sivart Mortgage Company which he founded four years later increased the availability of mortgages for African Americans Together the two companies worked to sell properties located in the Chicago area to African Americans who were being displaced by urban renewal projects 2 In 1961 Travis founded the United Mortgage Bankers of America and served as its president until 1974 During the late 1960s and early 1970s Travis served on President Richard Nixon s Housing Task Force and President Gerald Ford s Task Force on Urban Renewal 3 Activist editTravis was also involved with the civil rights movement and while serving as president of the NAACP Chicago chapter in 1959 he coordinated Martin Luther King Jr s first civil rights march in Chicago on July 24 1960 1 Author editTravis career as an author began when he founded Urban Research Institute later renamed Urban Research Press in 1969 The Press was initially established to publish two studies on socioeconomic issues affecting urban African Americans but later evolved into a literary press publishing 21 of Travis books Travis s first book was the children s book Don t Stop Me Now 1970 In 1981 he wrote An Autobiography of Black Chicago and became the first African American author to have a book listed on the Chicago Tribune non fiction bestsellers list 4 Travis would later publish An Autobiography of Black Jazz 1983 These three books exemplify Travis writing style which weaves historical research and information gathered from in depth interviews with biographical anecdotes Travis also published An Autobiography of Black Politics 1987 The Victory Monument I Refuse to Learn to Fail and Views from the Back of the Bus 5 Honors and awards editTravis is listed in Who s Who in America Who s Who in Finance and Industry and Who s Who in the World He was also listed among the People Who Have Made a Difference by the Chicago Sun Times and was one of Ebony s 100 Most Influential Black Americans He was also the subject of numerous television programs five of these shows have received Emmy nominations He also received Black Enterprise magazine s First Annual Finance Achievement Award on February 21 1975 1 Archival collections editThe Dempsey Travis Papers exist in three locations Roosevelt University Library Chicago Public Library Vivian G Harsh Research Collection and Chicago History Museum The papers showcase Travis career as an author as opposed to his career as a real estate entrepreneur and contain an extensive collection of interviews with prominent African American figures in various fields including politics business and entertainment The papers are arranged in series based on individual books or subject of books with the majority of series containing edited drafts transcribed interviews and general research 3 References edit a b c Dempsey Travis Biography The Historymakers Interview date 1 11 2000 Dempsey J Travis 1920 2009 Author Real Estate Magnate and Longtime Chicago Activist Businessman Chicago Tribune July 3 2009 a b Dempsey Travis Papers Roosevelt University Library Chicago Illinois Page Clarence Black Politics Black American History Chicago Style Politics Chicago Tribune December 28 1986 Dempsey Travis author search at abebooks com retrieved December 29 2013 External links editDempsey Travis Papers at Roosevelt University Dempsey Travis Papers at Chicago Public Library Dempsey Travis Papers at Chicago History Museum Demspey J Travis at The Historymakers Dempsey Travis page at AbeBooks Chicago Tribune Book Review Dempsey J Travis 1920 2009 Author Real Estate Magnate and Longtime Chicago Activist Businessman Chicago Tribune July 3 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dempsey Travis amp oldid 1148309695, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
