Dana Albert Dorsey (1872-1940) was a businessman, banker, and philanthropist who became south Florida's first African-American millionaire. A businessman (sometimes businesswoman, female; or businessperson, gender neutral) is a generic term for a wide range of people engaged in profit-oriented enterprises, generally the management of a company. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... A philanthropist is someone who devotes his or her time, money, or effort towards helping others. ... African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans, Black Americans, or simply blacks, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to West and sub-Saharan Africa. ...

Childhood, education

Dana Albert Dorsey was born in Quitman, Georgia. He was the son of former slaves and the first child in his family not be born into slavery. He received only a fourth grade formal education, teaching himself after that. Quitman is a city located in Brooks County, Georgia. ... The word slaves has several meanings and usages: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ...

Carpenter, businessman, philanthropist

Dorsey came to the Miami area of south Florida around 1896. He worked as a carpenter for Henry M. Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. During that time he recognized the need to provide housing for black workers. He purchased one parcel of land at a time, and he designed and constructed one rental house per parcel, reinvesting the rental income to build more and rent more, eventually expanding as far north as Ft. Lauderdale. The Miami skyline, as it is seen from the northeast on Biscayne Bay. ... State nickname: Sunshine State, Everglade State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... A carpenter is a skilled craftsman who performs carpentry -- a wide range of woodworking that includes constructing buildings, furniture, and other objects out of wood. ... Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was a United States tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and Rockefeller partner. ... The Florida East Coast Railway (AAR reporting mark FEC) is a Class II railroad operating in the US state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad. ... Fort Lauderdale, known as the Venice of America, is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ...

In 1917, he and his wife Rebecca sold land to the City of Miami for a park for African-Americans (during an era of segregation). Dorsey Park is located on northwest 17th street and First avenue. Segregation means separation. ...

In 1919, Dorsey sold a small barrier island east of Miami accessible only by water to automotive pioneer Carl G. Fisher who was developing of Miami Beach, and named it Fisher Island. In 1925, Fisher traded the island to William Kissam Vanderbilt II in return for a 200 foot yacht. Vanderbilt's improvements created what is today one of the wealthiest and most exclusive residential enclaves in the area. In geography, a bar is a linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water. ... Carl Graham Fisher (1874-1938) of Indiana, an American automotive and real estate entrepreneur. ... Miami Beach is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. ... link titleLink titlelink title An early aerial photo of Fisher Island at southern end of Biscayne Bay near Miami, Florida, with the South Beach area of Miami Beach at the upper left Florida Photographic Collection Fisher Island is a census-designated place (CDP) and town located on a man-made... William Kissam Vanderbilt II (March 2, 1878 – January 8, 1944) was a motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family. ...

The first black-owned hotel in Miami was his Dorsey Hotel, and he was the owner of the Negro Savings Bank. Dorsey was a firm believer in education and he donated a large quantity of land for black schools. He gained great respect and admiration from the white community.

Legacy

When Dorsey died in 1940, flags were lowered to half-staff all over Miami.

Miami's Dorsey Memorial Library, which was opened on August 13, 1941, was built on land he donated shortly before his death.

He donated to Dade County Public Schools the property at NW 71st Street and 17th Avenue on which Dorsey High School was later built.

D. A. Dorsey Educational Center has a rich and positive tradition in the Liberty City area of Miami as a fully operational adult education center.

External links

• Miami Herald profile Dana Albert Dorsey
• Miami Public Library
• Historic Preservation Miami Dorsey Library
• Historic Preservation Miami Dorsey House
• Dade County Public Schools Dana A Dorsey bio