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Lewis Adams was an African American slave in Macon County, Alabama who is best remembered for his work, following his emancipation, in helping found the normal school which grew to become Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Little is known of his early life. However, despite having no formal education, Adams could read, write and speak several languages. He was an experienced tinsmith, harness-maker and shoemaker. He was also an acknowledged leader of the African-American community in the county.

Adams was especially concerned that, without an education, the recently freed former slaves (and their children) would not be able to support themselves. However, at the time, there were no institutions to teach them essential skills.

In 1880, Adams was approached on behalf of two white candidates seeking election to the Alabama Senate. He was wanted asked what it would take to get the votes of the community's black citizens. Rather than requesting and/or accepting personal gifts, a common practice, he made a deal with the Democratic Party in Montgomery, promising to secure the African-American vote if funding would be provided for a normal school for African Americans at Tuskegee. His skillful political negotiation, leadership and vision of a school worked, and funding of US$2,000 annually for a "Negro Normal School in Tuskegee" was made available by the state legislature beginning in 1881. (Normal schools were so named because they taught future teachers educational standards or norms).

Another former slave, Booker T. Washington, was recruited upon recommendation of Samuel C. Armstrong, the founder and principal of another normal school for blacks in Hampton, Virginia, to become the first principal. From a beginning in borrowed space in a local church on July 4 1881, the school moved in 1882 to 100 acres of plantation farmland, purchased with a $200 personal loan from the treasurer of Washington's former school (which eventually grew to become Hampton University).

Like Lewis Adams, Dr. Washington also embraced the concept that former slaves needed practical job skills to support themselves and their families. In addition to building Tuskegee, he became a famous orator and secured major funding from wealthy American philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie, Collis P. Huntington, John D. Rockefeller, and Henry Huttleston Rogers. Despite his travels and widespread work, Dr. Washington remained as principal of Tuskegee until his death in 1915 at the age of 59. At his death Tuskegee's endowment exceeded US$1.5 million.

Another famous African-American who attended the school of Lewis Adams' dreams was Dr. George Washington Carver.

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-'''Lewis Adams''' was an [[African American]] former [[slavery|slave]] in [[Macon County, Alabama]] who is best-remembered for helping found the [[normal school]] which grew to become [[Tuskegee University]] in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]].
+'''Lewis Adams''' was an [[African American]] [[History of slavery in the United States|slave]] in [[Macon County, Alabama]] who is best remembered for his work, following his emancipation, in helping found the [[normal school]] which grew to become [[Tuskegee University]] in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]].
-Little is known of his early life. However, despite having no formal education, Adams could read, write and speak several languages. He was an experienced [[tinsmith]], [[harness-maker]] and [[shoemaker]]. He was also an acknowledged leader of the African-American community in the county.
+Little is known of his early life. However, despite having no formal education, Adams could read, write and speak several languages. He was an experienced [[tinsmith]], [[horse tack#Harness|harness-maker]] and [[shoemaking|shoemaker]]. He was also an acknowledged leader of the African-American community in the county.
-Adams was especially concerned that, without an education, the recently freed former slaves (and their children) would not be able to support themselves. However, at the time,  there were no institutions to teach them essential skills.
+Adams was especially concerned that, without an education, the recently freed former slaves (and their children) would not be able to support themselves. However, at the time, there were no institutions to teach them essential skills.
-In 1880, Adams was approached on behalf of two white candidates seeking election to the Alabama Senate. He was wanted asked what it would take to get the votes of the community's black citizens. Rather than requesting and/or accepting personal gifts, a common practice, he made a deal with the [[Democratic Party]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], promising to secure the African-American vote if funding would be provided for a normal school for African Americans at Tuskegee. His skillful political negotiation, leadership and vision of a school worked, and funding of US$2,000 annually for a "Negro Normal School in Tuskegee" was made available by the state legislature beginning in 1881. (''Normal schools'' were so named because they taught future [[schoolteacher|teachers]] educational standards or ''norms'').
+In 1880, Adams was approached on behalf of two white candidates seeking election to the [[Alabama Senate]]. He was wanted asked what it would take to get the votes of the community's black citizens. Rather than requesting and/or accepting personal gifts, a common practice, he made a deal with the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], promising to secure the African-American vote if funding would be provided for a normal school for African Americans at Tuskegee. His skillful political negotiation, leadership and vision of a school worked, and funding of US$2,000 annually for a "Negro Normal School in Tuskegee" was made available by the state legislature beginning in 1881. (''Normal schools'' were so named because they taught future [[schoolteacher|teachers]] educational standards or ''norms'').
-Another former slave, [[Booker T. Washington]], was recruited upon recommendation of [[Samuel C. Armstrong]], the founder and principal another normal school for blacks in [[Hampton, Virginia]] to become the first principal. From a beginning in borrowed space in a local church on [[July 4]], [[1881]], the school moved in 1882 to 100 acres of plantation farmland, purchased with a $200 personal loan from the treasurer of Washington's former school (which eventually grew to become [[Hampton University]]).
+Another former slave, [[Booker T. Washington]], was recruited upon recommendation of [[Samuel C. Armstrong]], the founder and principal of another normal school for blacks in [[Hampton, Virginia]], to become the first principal. From a beginning in borrowed space in a local church on [[July 4]] [[1881]], the school moved in 1882 to 100 acres of plantation farmland, purchased with a $200 personal loan from the treasurer of Washington's former school (which eventually grew to become [[Hampton University]]).
-Like Lewis Adams, Dr. Washington also embraced the concept that former slaves needed practical job skills to support themselves and their families. In addition to building Tuskegee, he became a famous orator and secured major funding from wealthy American [[philanthropist]]s such as [[Andrew Carnegie]], [[Collis P. Huntington]], [[John D. Rockefeller]], and [[Henry H. Rogers|Henry Huttleston Rogers]]. Despite his travels and widespread work, Dr. Washington remained as principal of Tuskegee until his death in 1915 at the age of 59. At his death Tuskegee's endowment exceeded US$1.5 million.
+Like Lewis Adams, Dr. Washington also embraced the concept that former slaves needed practical job skills to support themselves and their families. In addition to building Tuskegee, he became a famous orator and secured major funding from wealthy American [[philanthropy|philanthropist]]s such as [[Andrew Carnegie]], [[Collis P. Huntington]], [[John D. Rockefeller]], and [[Henry H. Rogers|Henry Huttleston Rogers]]. Despite his travels and widespread work, Dr. Washington remained as principal of Tuskegee until his death in 1915 at the age of 59. At his death Tuskegee's endowment exceeded US$1.5 million.
 Another famous African-American who attended the school of Lewis Adams' dreams was Dr. [[George Washington Carver]].