Black Beaches Collection

Item set

Title

Description

American Beach and Money Beach (Bayou) were two beaches opened to Blacks during the period of segregation. American Beach in Jacksonville, Florida was founded in 1935 as a summer haven for Blacks by Abraham Lincoln Lewis, the first black millionaire in the state of Florida. Money Bayou, located in Port St. Joe, Florida, was established later in 1951 when Daman Peters and Raymond Driesbarch purchased the land. The collection is made up of historical facts on Black Beaches; the histories of both American Beach and Money Beach are included. There are newspaper clippings, copies of deeds, postcards, touring information, obsequies of the late Damon P. Peters, Sr., and photographs.

Physical Location

Black Beaches Collection, John G. Riley House Archives, Tallahassee Community College Library, Tallahassee, Florida.

Items

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Landscape images of Money Bayou

Two landscape photographs of Money Bayou beach. One picture is a scene from a car window, the other is of the water as seen from the sand.
Damon P. Peters Jr. at Money Bayou with family and friends

Color photographs of Money Bayou Beach, featuring Damon P. Peters Jr., as well as his friends and family. It includes an image of him with his classmate, Lloyd Powell, on top of the tallest sand dune on Money Bayou. There are also pictures of Lloyd Powell collecting sea shells, him and two other women, and Damon Peters' daughter, Fay, with the beach cottages in the background. There are also pictures of one of the women throughout the beach, with one labeled "Jumpin' for joy!"
Money Bayou Dwellings

Two photographs of dwellings on Money Bayou Beach. One is of the caretaker's quarters, which no longer exists. The other is a picture of some of the old beach cottages with a car in front.
Money Bayou recreation pictures

Photographs of some of the recreational activities in Money Bayou beach. They include people lounging on the sand, bathing in the water, one of Damon P. Peters, Jr.'s kids playing in the sand, and pictures of beachcombers.
Film postcard: an American Beach

A postcard of "an American Beach" film by Kathleen Donaghy sent from MaVynee Betsch (pictured in the postcard) to Althemese Barnes. In addition to the printed description of the film, the postcard also contains notes from Betsch. The film itself connects the beach's beginnings, originally founded by Abraham Lincoln Lewis in the Jim Crow era, to the modern day efforts of his great-granddaughter, MaVynee Betsch, also known as the "Beach Lady," a name she uses for herself and writes in the return address of the postcard.
Butler's Beach

Note: The location of the original copy of this item is unknown. An image and description of Butler's Beach in Florida in the early 1950s. It states how Butler Beach was the only beach African Americans were allowed to use between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, and how it was developed by Frank B. Butler, a notable businessman at the time.
Early map of Money Bayou Beach

A copy of an old map of Money Bayou Beach. It includes a dedication of the land to the public, which was executed on November 13th, 1961, as well as block descriptions.
Children playing in sand dunes, Money Bayou

A photograph of two children playing in sand dunes at Money Bayou Beach.
A woman crabbing on Money Bayou

A photograph of a woman crabbing on Money Bayou Beach.
The old restaurant on Money Bayou

A photograph of the old restaurant on Money Bayou, Money Bayou Cottages Grill, also featuring the old water tower on the left.