A new exhibit at Baltimore's Reginald F. Lewis Museum explores the life of the museum's namesake.
BALTIMORE -- The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture announced a new exhibition in celebration of its 20th anniversary.
For the first time, visitors can learn more about the life of the museum's namesake through the "Titan: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis" exhibition.
Known as the "Jackie Robinson of Wall Street," Reginald F. Lewis made history as the first Black man to build a billion-dollar company. The Baltimore native went on to run TLC Beatrice International, the largest Black-owned U.S. company at the time.
On Saturday, the museum held a community day and invited everyone inside to learn more about Lewis' story.
"We give people a free opportunity to come in and see the new exhibit along with everything else we have here at the Lewis Museum," Museum President Terri Lee-Freeman said.
Lewis was a graduate of Virginia State University and Harvard Law School and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., a historically Black Greek-letter organization. His fraternity brothers Don Ervin and Joshua Crockett both worked with the museum to help bring his story to life.
"All of his friends, when they speak of him with reverence, they would say he was just an ordinary guy. Even after he made millions of dollars, he would still come back to Baltimore to hang out with his friends," said Don Ervin, Polemarch of Baltimore Kappa Alpha Psi Alumni.
"He was one of those role models for me as well, and so when you ask me who is Mr. Lewis, to me, I would say inspiration," said Joshua Crockett, Second Vice Polemarch of Baltimore Kappa Alpha Psi Alumni.
Imani Hayes is a curator at the museum. She worked with a team and Lewis' family to collect items for the exhibit.
"We have a replica of his corporate jet and we also have a replica of his '99 Wall Street office," Hayes said.
As the museum marks two decades of amplifying African American history and culture in Maryland, their hope is that the Titan exhibit stands as a testament to the possibilities for generations to come.
"And when I walk into this museum, I can see and feel what I can be and do," Crockett said.
The "Titan: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis" exhibition will be available until April 2026.
