James D. Newton (1905-1999) was a prominent twentieth century entrepreneur and author of Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel, and Charles Lindbergh, which recounts his friendship with these visionary figures. The Uncommon Friends Foundation, established in 1993 and named after Newton's memoir, is dedicated to lifelong character building among today's youth and business leaders, and the historic preservation of James D. Newton's papers, photographs, and artifacts in the City of Fort Myers. The Foundation and collection reside in the Burroughs Home (1901), located in the historic district of Fort Myers, Florida. In 2012, the Uncommon Friends Foundation and Florida Gulf Coast University Library partnered to digitally preserve and provide public access to this captivating collection of materials.