Clifton Van Brunt Lewis and her husband George Lewis II advocated for civil rights, arts and cultural institutions, and world peace through world government. They were both born in Tallahassee, Florida, to well-established families in Florida's capital city.
After graduating from the Florida State College for Women, Clifton wed George and they began their life's work: offering interracial meeting spaces during the 1950s and 60s, helping to found institutions for art, dance, education, and environmental advocacy, and appealing to their local government for equal rights.
Visitors to the exhibition on the life work of Clifton Van Brunt Lewis will find many of the place names familiar, the institutions beloved, and the extent of her work inspiring. Local Tallahasseeans will enjoy the links between the museums they grew up going to, the art galleries they saw, and the parks they visited.
Newcomers will learn much about the change in Tallahassee over time as activists like Clifton and George reshaped the landscape of a small southern town.
Featured Item
Clifton Lewis standing in front of a hand-painted sign promoting art - Tallahassee, Florida.
Clifton Lewis standing in front of a hand-painted sign promoting art - Tallahassee, Florida. The sign reads "Art is good for the soul and the pocket…
Featured Collection
No featured collections are available.
Featured Exhibit
Painters, Potters, Dancers & Designers: Artists in Residence at the Randall-Lewis House
Clifton Van Brunt Lewis purchased the Randall-Lewis House in the late 1950s and adapted its reuse into a residence for...
Recently Added Items
Clifton Lewis standing in front of a hand-painted sign promoting art - Tallahassee, Florida.
A black and white photograph of Clifton standing with arms outstretched at the top of a staircase. She wears a black smock and her hair pulled back…
Group of students standing around a cake.
From Diginole: "Black and white photograph of six students of different ethnicities, who are part of the Florida State University International…
Clifton Lewis holding up her sign in support of the ERA during demonstation at the Capitol in Tallahassee.
A color photograph of Clifton holding a round sign that says “ERA YES.” She is surrounded by other demonstrators. The Florida Capitol Complex is…
The Kneadle, May 14, 1968
In this radical magazine, students reported on censorship protests on Westcott Plaza, the formation of the Inner City Development Council to assist…
George and Clifton Lewis with Patricia Stephens Due and two of her daughters.
From Florida Memory: "Patricia Stephens Due was an African-American civil rights leader and activist. She was an educator, public speaker, author and…