Browse Exhibits (4 total)
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 local artists, writers, photographers, and intellectuals in Tallahassee, Florida. Find out about Clifton, the artists, and the founding of the residence here.
A Call to Action
"Girls, take a vital interest in government in all its details. You won't like it very much. You may think it isn't a clean game, but we women, if we keep our ideals, can do much to improve politics."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt, February 17, 1940, address to Florida State College for Women
Clifton Van Brunt Lewis's journey in civic activism began at the cusp of her graduation from the Florida State College for Women in 1940.
Supporting Civil Rights in the Capital City
Clifton and George supported the Tallahassee Civil Rights demonstrators by different means: visiting the jailed students, sitting with the defendants during trial and defying segregated courtroom seating, and by providing funds to Tallahassee CORE. They also hosted interracial meetings in their home and participated in committees for good government and human relations.
Leaving a Legacy
Clifton continued active work with her alma mater after graduation, whether by sponsoring student underground newsletters, establishing lodging for international students, or lobbying for integrated meeting space for FSU and FAMU students. She also worked for transparency in government meetings, appealing for increased public access through the Government-in-the-Sunshine amendment in the early 1990s.