Hazel A. Lewis Collection (MC191)

Biographical Note

Hazel Allen was born on 4 December, 1911 in Allenville, Berrier County, Georgia. She graduated from Bahira High School in 1928 and from Valdosta State College. She received her M.S. from Auburn University in 1954 and later a degree from the University of Georgia. She married Joe D. Lewis (May 10, 1907-1968) on February 7, 1936. They moved to Columbus, Georgia in 1951. She was a life-long teacher, beginning her career as a teacher in Ray City, Lakeland, Whigham and Muscogee County. She was a Language Arts consultant in Muscogee County, a Director of Instruction in Crisp County, a consultant for the Georgia Accrediting Commission, and served as a member of the Muscogee County Board of Education. She retired in 1975 and died in 2009 in Cordele, Georgia. Besides her work in classroom teaching and educational consulting, she was also active in teaching-related professional organizations, both before and after her retirement. She served as president of the Muscogee Educational Association, the Georgia Classroom Teachers, the Georgia Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma, and served as chairperson of the Teacher Education Council, the Georgia Education Coordinating Committee, and the the Georgia Public Relations Committee.

Mrs. Lewis was the first recipient of the Award for Excellence to Public Education given by Kappa Delta Pi, University of Georgia; and was invited by the U.S. Office of Education to tour the schools of Cuba during the celebration of their 50th Anniversary of Public Schools. She was listed in Who's Who of American Women and in Personalities of the South, as well as selected as a Gracious Lady of Georgia. She received the 1990 Ernestine Aurelia Mack Service to Mankind Award and the Golden Apple Award for distinguished service tot he Muscogee County School District, and in 1996 was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Georgia Association of the International Reading Association.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of scrapbooks of teaching-related activities, including a trip to Havana, Cuba in 1950 to meet with Cuban teachers and school administrators. There are also framed photographs, certificates and loose papers and newspaper clippings. 1930s-1980s 7 boxes (7 l.f.)

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the Hazel A. Lewis Collection must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required: Hazel A. Lewis Collection (MC 191) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia

Provenance

Gift of Mrs. Hazel Allen Lewis in January of 2004.

Box and Folder List

Pending