Letter from Randall Chase to Sydney Chase, Joshua Chase, Sydney Chase, Jr., and William A. Leffler (November 9, 1935)
Holland, Spessard L. (Spessard Lindsey), 1892-1971
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and a group of business partners from Chase & Company. A portion of the letter discusses the issue surrounding Florida citrus growers and coloring adding. The color-added process involved spraying oranges with edible food coloring to make the citrus products more appealing to consumers. Similar coloring was used in butter, ice cream, and candy. In 1936, L.P. Kirkland, mentioned in the letter, wrote an article for the Florida State Horticultural Society entitled, "The 'Color Added' Situation." According to the letter and the report Kirkland wrote, he and other Florida citrus growers supported coloring their oranges since consumers usually associated oranges with the color added stamp with a higher quality product. Other topics discussed in the letter include information collected during a citrus meeting in Lakeland regarding the Federal Marketing Agreement, and the disagreement between Florida citrus growers and Chase & Company Sales Manager, W.H. Mouser, on increasing the unit of sale of citrus products in New York City. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Sydney Chase, Joshua Chase, Sydney Chase, Jr., and William A. Leffler, November 9, 1935: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.48, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr., William A. Leffler, and Sydney Octavius Chase, Jr. (January 9, 1934)
An original letter of correspondence from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr., William A. Leffler, and Sydney Octavius Chase, Jr. A portion of the letter discusses Harold Mowry and Arthur Forrest Camp's experiments using zinc sulphate on soil to help absorb fertilizers. In 1934, Mowry and Camp wrote a detailed report on their findings called, A Preliminary Report of Zinc Sulphate as a Corrective for Bronzing of Tung Trees. Other topics discussed in the letter include issues surrounding packaging and shipments in the Florida citrus industry and innovative cooling systems used to ship fruits and vegetables out of Jacksonville. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr., William A. Leffler, and Sydney Octavius Chase, Jr., January 9, 1934: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.48, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Randall Chase to Sydney Chase (May 12, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Randall Chase to his father and Chase & Company business partner Sydney Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the marketing of the Sunniland brand, selling celery, and company shipments. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Sydney Chase, May 12, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.48, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Randall Chase to A. Q. Lancaster (August 9, 1919)
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and A. Q. Lancaster. Topics discussed in the letter include Mr. Watkins' request for his son's employment at Isleworth Grove, Chase's request for Lancaster to allow Watkins' son to board with him, and the employment of an Army veteran with experience as a packing house foreman and picking foreman. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original letter from Randall Chase to A. Q. Lancaster, August 9, 1919: box 49, folder 20.83, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Letter from Randall Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase (February 17, 1931)
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and his father Sydney Octavius Chase and his uncle Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company's proposition to set poles through Isleworth Grove. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase, February 17, 1931: box 49, folder 20.83, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 9, 1919)
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and his uncle, Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include a fight between a white laborer's 13-year-old son and a colored laborer at Isleworth Grove and the boarding arrangements for the boy once he is released from the hospital in Orlando. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 9, 1919: box 49, folder 20.83, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (February 29, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and his uncle, Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include a laborer Smith's release from jail after a fight with another laborer's son and allowing Smith to return to work at Isleworth Grove. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, February 29, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.83, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Randall Chase to Corbett Hutchinson (March 20, 1931)
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and Isleworth packinghouse superintendent Corbett Hutchinson. Topics discussed in the letter include the positive results from the Isleworth shipments via Clyde Line and instructions to continue shipment along said route. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original letter from Randall Chase to Corbett Hutchinson, March 20, 1931: box 49, folder 20.91, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase, Jr., to Sydney Chase, Sr. and Joshua Chase (June 13, 1933)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Chase, Jr. to other Chase & Company business partners and family members. The letter summarizes a meeting Sydney, Jr. attended relating to the marketing and selling of citrus products throughout the United States. The marketing strategies described throughout the meeting pertained not only to the state of Florida, but to other farmers and growers throughout the nation. Techniques included the overseeing of shipments to different markets by a government inspector and the use of an innovative teletype machine. Between the years of 1932 and 1933, growers in the Florida citrus industry faced controversy in attempting to regulate the shipment and selling of its products. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Chase, Jr., to Sydney Chase, Sr. and Joshua Chase, June 13, 1933: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.49, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (October 18, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include information on the family's annual move back to Sanford, Florida, from Asheville, North Carolina; the Southern Railway; and discounts on oranges. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, October 18, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (October 19, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The letter discusses a variety of topics, including Sydney's response to an article in The Tampa Tribune about the relationship between the citrus industry and the Florida Citrus Exchange. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. The Florida Citrus Exchange was founded by a group of growers on June 21, 1909 to help improve production of citrus in the state. Members shared facilities and helped establish operation and shipping standards. Both Sydney and Joshua Chase were hesitant to join the Exchange because they did not want to jeopardize the business they had successfully managed. Chase & Company eventually became a part of the Exchange, but backed out three years later.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, October 19, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (March 31, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include Sydney's reaction to a Florida Times-Union article about agricultural businesses in Florida and how he disagrees with a "Mr. Penny" in establishing similarities between non-perishable and perishable items. The Mr. Penny mentioned in the letter is likely James C. Penney, the founder of the JCPenney department store. Penney also founded Penney Farms in 1924, an experimental farm located in Clay County, Florida. Chase &Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, March 31, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (March 27, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include Eli Walker (the "Granddaddy of the citrus business" in the Vero and Wabasso area of Florida); Chase & Company's acquisition of more land in Orlando and the McNiff Grove in Wabasso, Florida; Sydney's suggestion on obtaining citrus land near Quincy, Florida; and his observations on guava plants. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, March 27, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (March 17, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The letter contains information about W. J. Lee, an agent in the Florida Citrus Clearinghouse, and his motive for other Florida agents to use content in a recently printed newspaper article to interest potential customers. Sydney's disapproval on the matter and the need for the Exchange's chairman, Archie M. Pratt, to be the sole person making decisions for all Florida agents is also discussed in the letter. Carbon copies of Sydney's letter to Lee and Lee's letter to all Florida agents were also enclosed. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. The Florida Citrus Exchange was founded by a group of growers on June 21, 1909 to help improve production of citrus in the state. Members shared facilities and helped establish operation and shipping standards. Both Sydney and Joshua Chase were hesitant to join the Exchange because they did not want to jeopardize the business they had successfully managed. Chase & Company eventually became a part of the Exchange, but backed out three years later. In 1928, Pratt operated and managed the Florida Citrus Clearinghouse.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, March 17, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (February 18, 1928)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include information about an annual banquet held at Penney Farms, and other information about members of the Florida Citrus Exchange including L. W. Tilden and Earl Work. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales.Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. The Florida Citrus Exchange was founded by a group of growers on June 21, 1909 to help improve production of citrus in the state. Members shared facilities and helped establish operation and shipping standards. Both Sydney and Joshua Chase were hesitant to join the Exchange because they did not want to jeopardize the business they had successfully managed. Chase & Company eventually became a part of the Exchange, but backed out three years later.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, February 18, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (September 2, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include information about Chase & Company operations, the company's status on growing celery, and the controversy surrounding the Seminole County Bank and its founder, politician Forrest Lake. By the 1890s, Lake became known as a local politician in Sanford, Florida, and later became a member of state government. He was charged with bank fraud in 1928 and was forced to close the Seminole County Bank. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, September 2, 1927: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (August 29, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The letter contains information about an interview Sydney and other members of the Florida Citrus Exchange had with a Mr. Edward Fisher, an examiner from the Federal Trade Commission. The topic of discussion between the group of men related to the Florida Citrus Exchange's methods in marketing in comparison to independent marketing campaigns. Sydney also recounts a trip through Gainesville, Florida, to inspect tung oil groves. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. The Florida Citrus Exchange was founded by a group of growers on June 21, 1909 to help improve production of citrus in the state. Members shared facilities and helped establish operation and shipping standards. Both Sydney and Joshua Chase were hesitant to join the Exchange because they did not want to jeopardize the business they had successfully managed. Chase & Company eventually became a part of the Exchange, but backed out three years later.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 29, 1927: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (August 26, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the proposed creation of a Clearing House organization led by Chase & Company, and the brothers' reaction to Archie Pratt's, chairman of the Florida Citrus Exchange, comments on the matter. Sydney also enclosed a copy a letter from Joshua address to Pratt on August 21, 1927. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. The Florida Citrus Exchange was founded by a group of growers on June 21, 1909 to help improve production of citrus in the state. Members shared facilities and helped establish operation and shipping standards. Both Sydney and Joshua Chase were hesitant to join the Exchange because they did not want to jeopardize the business they had successfully managed. Chase & Company eventually became a part of the Exchange, but backed out three years later.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 26, 1927: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (March 2, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include accounts of a wreck involving a train pulling refrigerator cars carrying Seald-Sweet oranges, information about various packinghouses in Florida, and information about the Railroad Commission. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, March 2, 1927: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to Joshua Chase (January 11, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The letter contains information about the Federated Fruit & Vegetable Association of America and how growers from the West Coast were urged to join the organizations. Sydney also includes information about cold weather conditions and what needs to be done to certain Chase & Company groves. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, January 11, 1927: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Chase to N. D. Cloward (April 17, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Chase to N .D. Cloward. Cloward worked as a representative for Babson Park Citrus Growers Association in Lake Wales, Florida. In the letter, Chase is informing Cloward to recruit growers who dropped out of the Florida Citrus Exchange and join Chase & Company. This letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Florida Citrus Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies and unregulated membership guidelines. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to N. D. Cloward, April 17, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade (May 7, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade. Dade worked with Chase & Company and was a respected professional in the Florida citrus industry. The letter shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Florida Citrus Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade, May 7, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade (April 20, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade. Dade worked with Chase & Company and was a respected professional in the Florida citrus industry. In the letter, Chase urges Dade to continue recruiting former Florida Citrus Exchange members to Chase & Company. With an increased membership in the company, Chase hoped that including more growers would help balance out the less productive crops in the previous growing season. The letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Florida Citrus Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade, April 20, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade (March 12, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade. Dade worked with Chase & Company and was a respected professional in the Florida citrus industry. In the letter, Chase urges Dade to continue recruiting former Florida Citrus Exchange members to Chase & Company. Former members mentioned in the letter include the Babson Park Sub-Exchange, the Davenport Sub-Exchange, and other Exchange members in DeSoto County. With an increased membership in the company, Chase hoped that including more growers would help balance out the less productive crops in the previous growing season. The letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Florida Citrus Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Mayo Dade, March 12, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company members (April 13, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase (1860-1941) to employees at Chase & Company in Orlando, Florida. The letter identifies that Chase & Company played an active role in recruiting dissatisfied members from the Florida Citrus Exchange in order to build and extend their business throughout the state. With an increased membership in the company, Chase hoped that including more growers would help balance out the less productive crops in the previous growing season. The letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust that Chase & Company felt toward the Florida Citrus Exchange (FCE), a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the FCE praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company members, April 13, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company Members (April 10, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase to employees at Chase & Company in Orlando. The letter identifies that Chase & Company played an active role in recruiting dissatisfied members from the Florida Citrus Exchange in order to build and extend their own business throughout the state. With an increased membership in the company, Chase hoped that including more growers would help balance out the less productive crops in the previous growing season. The letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Florida Citrus Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company Members, April 10, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company Members (April 8, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase to employees at Chase & Company in Orlando. The letter identifies that Chase & Company played an active role in recruiting dissatisfied members from the Florida Citrus Exchange in order to build and extend their own business throughout the state. One marketing strategy Chase & Company implemented included comparing sales numbers between the Exchange and its own production numbers. Members within the company solicited and circulated the information to growers in nearby districts. With an increased membership in the company, Chase hoped that including more growers would help balance out the less productive crops in the previous growing season. The letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company Members, April 8, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company Members (March 11, 1925)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase to employees at Chase & Company in Orlando. In the letter, Chase identifies his dissatisfaction with the Florida Citrus Exchange and its role in negatively impacting the market value of Florida grapefruits. The letter also shares some of the doubts and distrust Chase & Company felt toward the Exchange, a state organization comprised of a large number of Florida citrus growers. While members who trusted the Exchange praised the organization as a united group of growers that promoted better distribution and marketing of their citrus products, growers such as Chase & Company were hesitant to hand over all of their power to a larger organization with poor marketing strategies. These opinions were apparent during the 1924-1925 growing season when the Exchange underwent major changes. On June 5, 1924, Dr. John Harvey Ross resigned as president of the Exchange, a move that upset a large portion of members. The Exchange immediately elected L. C. Edwards of Thonatasassa as the new president. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Chase & Company Members, March 11, 1925: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.10A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (April 19, 1924)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the Lem Woods' intention to partner with the Florida Citrus Exchange and how to respond to the revival of the Exchange. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, April 19, 1924: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.11, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Office, Jacksonville, Florida
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (July 11, 1924)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the Florida Citrus Exchange's guarantee policy with the Hartford Insurance Company, the freeze on co-operative associations in 1923, and the burden placed on taxpayers for this type of financing. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, July 11, 1924: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.11, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 26, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include Sydney Chase's discussion he had on a train from Asheville, the success of the fruit trade in the rest of the country, the Clearing House's proposition, the Growers & Shippers League, the deterioration of the Growers Sale Agency, the disposition of Will Lee. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 26, 1927: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.11, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (May 7, 1924)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include Sydney Chase's meeting with Forrest Lake and Doctor McKenzie, the future of the Florida Citrus Exchange, and voting for William Gibbs McAdoo for the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, May 7, 1924: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.11, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (May 3, 1924)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include Sydney Chase's conference with Mr. Yothers and the number of shipments made by the Florida Citrus Exchange that year. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, May 3, 1924: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 7, folder 14.11, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (December 6, 1921)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include a copy of a letter to Cary D. Landis in regards to the Brevard County Road, a copy of a letter to Landis regarding a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Sanford on the eve of an election, a rumor that Forrest Lake arranged for the KKK to intimidate African-American voters, and movement of fruit at Isleworth Grove. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer. The Ku Klux Klan was first organized by ex-Confederate soldiers in in Tennessee in 1866, but was disbanded by the first Imperial Wizard Nathan Bedford Forest in 1869 in order to avoid government sanctions. The second Klan was reformed in 1915 by William J. Simmons. Although the KKK deteriorated nationally during the Great Depression, it still flourished in Florida until a $685,000 lien was filed against the national Klan in 1944 for back taxes from the 1920s. In 1948, Dr. Samuel Green of Atlanta revived the KKK in Georgia, which spread to Florida and other states. In 1951, the Florida KKK responded violently to the activities of Harry Tyson Moore's Progressive Voters' League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during a period dubbed "The Florida Terror." As of the early 2000s, the Florida KKK remained to be on of the more active Klans in the country.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, December 6, 1921: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Cary D. Landis, Esq. (December 6, 1921)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavious Chase and Cary D. Landis, Esq. Topics discussed in the letter include a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Sanford, rumors that the H. R. Stevens campaign was mobilizing African-American voters, and a satchel found in front of the Chase & Company office the evening of the demonstration. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Ku Klux Klan was first organized by ex-Confederate soldiers in in Tennessee in 1866, but was disbanded by the first Imperial Wizard Nathan Bedford Forest in 1869 in order to avoid government sanctions. The second Klan was reformed in 1915 by William J. Simmons. Although the KKK deteriorated nationally during the Great Depression, it still flourished in Florida until a $685,000 lien was filed against the national Klan in 1944 for back taxes from the 1920s. In 1948, Dr. Samuel Green of Atlanta revived the KKK in Georgia, which spread to Florida and other states. In 1951, the Florida KKK responded violently to the activities of Harry Tyson Moore's Progressive Voters' League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during a period dubbed "The Florida Terror." As of the early 2000s, the Florida KKK remained to be on of the more active Klans in the country.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Cary D. Landis, Esq.: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Original newspaper article: "Ku Klux Klan 120 Parades Sanford By Night." December 5, 1921: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 10, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include an enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Newton, J. Curtis Robinson's documents regarding the Prune growers clearing house in California, Newton's scheduled speech for a joint citrus growers and farmers meeting in Gainesville, Joshua's letter to Mr. Commander, the resignation of Forrest Lake as Commissioner and Mayor of Sanford, Sydney's scheduled interview with Chair of the County Commissioner L. L. Payne, strategies to bear some of the expenses of the brothers' road proposition. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 10, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include city bonds held by the Chase National Bank, securing the services of a legal firm in New York, and the possibility of the City of Sanford using George M. Powell for an attorney. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 26, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 29, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include deciding what attorney to use in Sanford and Ernest Amos' neglect of duty in his failure to inform the Chase brothers of the activities of the Seminole Bank. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 29, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Lucian Boggs (August 29, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavius Chase and Lucian Boggs of Barnett National Bank. Topics discussed in the letter include arranging to have Boggs handle some legal matters for the City of Sanford after he visit Sanford and meet with City Attorney George A. DeCottes. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Lucian Boggs, August 29, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Barnett National Bank Building, Jacksonville, Florida
Letter from Sydney Chase to Messrs. Landis, Fish & Hull (March 3, 1915)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavius Chase and the attorneys of Landis, Fish & Hull. Topics discussed in the letter include the County Commissioners' decision to complete brick roads. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Sydney Chase to Messrs. Landis, Fish & Hull, March 3, 1915: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Landis, Fish & Hull (March 9, 1915)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavius Chase and Landis, Fish & Hull. Topics discussed in the letter include the County Commissioners' meeting on March 8th, George A. DeCottes' legal advice, and disagreements about how to fund the completion of brick roads. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Landis, Fish & Hull, March 9, 1915: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
"Dec. 6, 1878 to Mar. 14, 1940" Manuscript
An original manuscript written by Sydney Octavius Chase to be read at the Waverly Silver Jubilee on March 14, 1940. The manuscript chronicles Chase's career with topics including his first work on Belair Grove in December 1878, the cold spell of December 1878 to January 1879, traveling to Tampa by foot with Silas B. Carter, purchasing land in present-day Winter Haven, and his planting his first grove near Sanford in 1881. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original manuscript by Sydney Ocatvius Chase: "Dec. 6, 1878 to Mar. 14, 1940," 1940: box 173, folder 9.52, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
An original manuscript written by Sydney Octavius Chase about his first trip to Tampa, Florida, in 1879. The manuscript chronicles Chase's trip with topics including traveling to Florida's west coast to determine if it were a better location than Belair Grove in Sanford, traveling to Orlando to buy an ox and wagon for the trip and then deciding to continue on foot with Silas B. Carter, preparing to travel through snake country, spending a night with the Yates family near Platt Grove, camping site near the old Collins house in Tampa, Chase's purchase of land in Winter Haven years later, forgetting their powder and shot pouch on the way back to Orlando, and their safe return to Belair. Chase also discussed his second trip to Tampa a year or a year and a half later to conduct business errands for a "Mr. Ingraham," most likely referring to James Edmundson Ingraham, an entrepreneur and railroad company executive. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original manuscript by Sydney Octavius Chase: "My First Trip to Tampa," 1879: box 173, folder 9.52, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to E. Magnuson (December 2, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavius Chase and E. Magnuson. Topics discussed in the letter include Chase's instructions for Magnuson to assist C. Hutchinson in the packinghouse at Isleworth Grove and how to grade and pack the fruit at a higher standard. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to E. Magnuson, December 2, 1927: box 49, folder 20.84, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase, Jr., to Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. and Joshua Coffin Chase (June 13, 1933)
An original letter of correspondence written by Sydney Octavius Chase, Jr. to Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. and Joshua Coffin Chase. The letter summarizes a meeting that Sydney, Jr. attended relating to the marketing and selling of citrus products throughout the United States. The marketing strategies described throughout the meeting pertained not only to the state of Florida, but to other farmers and growers throughout the nation. Techniques included the overseeing of shipments to different markets by a government inspector and the use of an innovative teletype machine. Between the years of 1932 and 1933, growers in the Florida citrus industry faced controversy in attempting to regulate the shipment and selling of its products. Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase, Jr., to Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. and Joshua Coffin Chase, June 13, 1933: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.49, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from George A. Chatelain to Lucius A. Bryant, Jr. (October 5, 1954)
A letter from George A. Chatelain of Mansura, Louisiana, to Orlando Postmaster Lucius A. Bryant, Jr.. This letter was written in response to Chatelain’s inquiry regarding the purchase of sweet potatoes. Bryant suggests Otto Cooper, presumably a local farmer. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Bryant settled in Orlando's College Park neighborhood. At the time of his death in 2012, Bryant was the longest-serving postmaster for Orlando, a position that he held from 1951 to 1983. In 1952, William Beardall (1890-1954) appointed Bryant to the local aviation advisory board, which he served of for 22 years.
Original letter from George A. Chatelain to Lucius A. Bryant, Jr., October 5, 1954: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
Downtown Orlando Post Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida
A page from the 1941 Chelsea High School Yearbook in Chelsea, Massachusetts. A notable student who appears on the yearbook page is Sidney J. Malatsky (1924-1944). Born in 1924 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Malatsky's parents were Russian Jewish immigrants who had came to the United States around the turn of the century. Malatsky attended Chelsea High School, where he made the honor roll and was active in band, orchestra, the school yearbook, and debating club. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps Reserves and entered the service in January of 1943. He served in the 827th Bombardment Squadron, 484th Bombardment Group, Heavy, and rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. His plane was hit during a mission in November 1944, and the crew crash-landed the plane in the Adriatic Sea. The plane broke in half and Malatsky was killed in the crash at the age of twenty. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, and is recognized on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Italy, as well as at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original yearbook page.
Letter from Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. to Mrs. Brashears and Herly Mae Wainright (February 13, 1981)
A letter from Senator Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. to Mrs. Brashears and Herly Mae Wainright dated February 13, 1981. In the letter, Senator Chiles declines an invitation to attend the 75th anniversary celebration of the Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC), which was founded in 1906 as the Oviedo Magazine Club by seven charter members: H. B. McCall, Edith Meade, Georgia Lee Wheeler, Lillian Lee Lawton, Mattie Aulin Wheeler, Milcah Yonge, and Mary King. The first clubhouse was constructed in 1914 and also served as Oviedo's first library. In 1916, the club joined the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs (FFWC) and officially changed its name to the Oviedo Woman's Club. In 1923, the woman's club was federated under the umbrella of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs (GFWC). A new clubhouse was built in 1961 on property donated by R. L. Croom, a former member, which is located at 414 King Street. The Oviedo Woman's Club is involved in many civic projects, including the annual Great Day in the Country Arts and Crafts Festival, the Spring Fundraiser, Tasting Luncheons, and Celebrate Spring Teas. Chiles is best known for serving as the 41st Governor of Florida from 1991 to 1998. A veteran of the Korean War, Chiles attend law school in his home state of Florida. He began practicing in law in 1955 and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1958. In 1970, Chiles defeated the incumbent in his bid for the U.S. Senate. He retired from politics in 1989, but was convinced to run for Governor in 1990. Chiles again beat his incumbent. As Governor, his legacy consisted of health care reform, hurricane recovery from Hurricane Andrew, and education reforms. Chiles died of a heart attack while in office.
Original letter from Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. to Mrs. Brashears and Herly Mae Wainright, February 13, 1981: Private Collection of Beatrice Gestrich.
Oviedo Woman's Club
The family lineage for the Lawtons of Summer Oaks in Oviedo, Florida. This family tree begins with William Lawton, who was born in England, and continues through to the family of Betty Jean Aulin Reagan. This booklet is missing pages 2, 3, and 5. Joseph Lawton (1753-1815), the son of William Lawton of England and Mary Sams, was the patriarch that began the native-born Lawton legacy. Lawton was born on his father's Plantation, Steamboat Creek, on Edisto Island, South Carolina on October 18, 1753. By 1774, Lawton moved his family to Black Swamp, where he established a plantation called Mulberry Grove Plantation. Lawton married Sarah Robert (d. 1839) on March 18, 1773, and together they had seven children. The best-known of the Lawton family was Thomas Willingham Lawton (1882-1963). T. W. Lawton graduated from Rollins College in 1903. He later received his master's degree from Andover Newton College in Boston, Massachusetts. Following college, Lawton returned to Oviedo, where he married Charlotte "Lottie" Lee (1887-1984) and served as the principal of the Oviedo School from 1905 to 1907. In 1916, he became the first elected Superintendent of Schools of Seminole County. He held that post until 1952 and passed away 11 years later in 1963. Lawton Elementary School is named in his honor.
Original 17-page booklet: Church, Stacey Allene and Gerald Marshall Church. The Lawtons of Summer Oaks. Lawton and Allied Families Association, 1984: Private Collection of Betty Jean Aulin Reagan.
Summer Oaks Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia
A newspaper article published in The Fort Lauderdale News on July 2, 1965. The article describes a Sunday brunch at the Barefoot Mailman Hotel held by Wesley John Zimmerman (1893-1990) and his wife to entertain a group of neighbors. Born on August 20, 1893, in St. Louis, Missouri, Zimmerman joined the United States Army in 1917. Originally an infantry cook, he was later transferred to the front as a machine gunner with the 140th Infantry Division. After his service, Zimmerman returned to St. Louis and married Agnes Maines. He would stay in St. Louis for the remainder of his working life. He retired to Florida during the 1960s, where he spent the rest of his life. Zimmerman died on July 27, 1981, and was buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: "County Party Goers Step Lively." Fort Lauderdale News, July 2, 1965.
City Directory, New London, Connecticut, 1960
City Directory for New London, Connecticut, in 1960. A notable resident listed in this record is Paul Havener. Born in Oklahoma on March 23, 1923, Havener moved to Maine after the death of this father. He joined the United States Army Air Corp in February 1943, in Portland, Maine. He reached the rank of Corporal by the time he was discharged in 1945. While in the Army Air Corp, he trained as a tail gunner, protecting aircraft from enemy attacks at the tail or rear of the plane. He married Esther Caroline Brown on June 23, 1945. They had three children. Paul Havener passed away on October 8, 1992, at age 69, and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original city directory.
Mayor Bill Frederick and Dr. Nelson Ying at Construction of Red Chinese Ting
Guilin (Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, China)
City of Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick and Dr. Nelson Ying placing the top piece of the Red Chinese Ting in Downtown Orlando's Lake Eola Park. Erected in 1988, the red Chinese pagoda-like structure is called a ting due to its single story. It was constructed out of wood, ceramic, brick, and mortar. Dr. Ying bestowed the ting to the City of Orlando and Mayor Frederick in 1987. Ying, director of The China Group Incorporated, chose to dedicate the pavilion to beautify downtown and offer a place for international exchange for the mayor and dignitaries. Two years before the ting was gifted, in 1985, Ying worked closely with Mayor Bill Frederick to secure a sister-city relationship with the City of Guilin by accompanying Frederick on a three-week goodwill trip to China. Guilin’s downtown landscape consists of four lakes, and downtown is easily recognizable by several pagodas that adorn these lakes. Ying intended to honor the young sister-city relationship with Guilin by placing his donation on the edge of Lake Eola in an effort to mirror the sister-city’s landscape. The ting was built in China by the Shanghai Construction Arts and Crafts Corporation, then disassembled for shipping to the United States, then finally rebuilt in Orlando. The ting is located in the northeast corner of Orlando’s Lake Eola.
Original color photograph, 1988: City of Orlando Archives, Orlando, Florida.
Red Chinese Ting, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City Directory for St. Augustine, Florida: 1948
A page from the city directory for St. Augustine, Florida, from 1948. The City Directory lists the names of the head of the household and in the case of a married man, the name of his wife. The Directory also gives shorthand description of the occupation and place of employment of the head of the household as well as their address. The Directory also includes advertisement from local businesses. A notable resident listed in the directory is Fred Wimbush (1920-1949). Born in Emanuel County, Georgia, Wimbush later lived in Lyons, Georgia, before relocating to St. Augustine, Florida, by 1935. On July 14, 1943, Wimbush enlisted in the United States Army, where he reported to duty at Camp Blanding near Starke, Florida. He eventually served with Company H as part of the 25th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Division. Wimbush and his segregated regiment served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, serving in both a labor and combat capacity. Wimbush received an honorable discharge on November 29, 1946. After the war ended, Wimbush returned to St. Augustine, where he lived until his death on January 14, 1949, at the age of twenty-eight. He is buried in Saint Augustine National Cemetery in Saint Augustine, Florida in Section E, Plot 25. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for K-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of the original printed city directory for St. Augustine, Florida, 1948.
John Clark Receipt of Payment for Edwin G. Eastman (June 8, 1871)
Sanford, Henry S. (Henry Shelton) 1823-1891
This is a receipt of payment created by John Clark, a Forwarding and Commission Merchant and a dealer of groceries and provisions. It was produced for Edwin G. Eastman, acknowledging payment for $80.67 of grocery and shipment costs. The grocery order included cinnamon bark, garlic cloves, ginger root, dried apples, potatoes, hay, and beans. These groceries were presumably for use at one of Henry Shelton Sanford's (1823-1891) Florida properties. Eastman was an associate of Henry Sanford. The two initially met through their mutual service in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps during the American Civil War. Eastman served as an advisor and representative to Sanford for a brief period between 1870 and 1871. Eastman oversaw operations in the what would become Sanford, Florida, beginning in December 1870. He was put in charge by Henry Sanford to ensure the successful management of the sawmill built in 1870, He was also tasked with maintaining the various experimental groves owned by Sanford, first St. Gertrude's Grove and later Belair Grove. The more successful of the two, Belair Grove, was an experimental grove located three miles southwest of the city named after Sanford. It was part of the Sanford Grant, a 12,547.15-square-acre allotment of land purchased by Henry Sanford in 1870. In Belair, Sanford introduced over 140 varieties of citrus plants. All were tested to determine if Florida citrus growers could effectively grow and introduce new varieties into the burgeoning citrus market. Sanford also grew exotic plants acquired from Central and South America, many of which survived the 1886 freeze. Sanford mainly used Belair as his own experiment station, but ultimately the findings and reports would be used by other citrus growers throughout Florida. Eventually, following Sanford's death in 1891, his wife, Gertrude Ellen Dupuy Sanford (1841-1902), handed over the operations of Belair to Sydney Octacius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) and Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948).
Original receipt: box 45, folder 1, subfolder 45.1.30, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
A History of Central Florida, Episode 15: Cracker House
Episode 15 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Cracker House. A History of Central Florida Podcast series explores Central Florida's history through the artifacts found in local area museums and historical societies. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 15 features the Lanier House, an exemplary structure of cracker architecture. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Mark Howard Long of the University of Central Florida, Dr. Ronald W. Haase of the University of Florida, David Haase, and Dr. Charlie Hailey of the University of Florida.
Original 12-minute and 55-second podcast by Bob Clarke, 2014: "A History of Central Florida, Episode 15: Cracker House." A History of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES
Osceola County Welcome Center & History Museum
Florida Memory Project
Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum, Kissimmee, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 23: Turpentine Industry
Episode 23 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Turpentine Industry. A History of Central Florida Podcast series explores Central Florida's history through the artifacts found in local area museums and historical societies. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 23 features a discussion of turpentine industry in Central Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Nick Wynne of the Florida Historical Society and Barbara Hines of the Florida Public Archaeology Network.
Original 12-minute and 35-second podcast by Bob Clarke, 2013: "A History of Central Florida, Episode 23: Turpentine Industry." A History of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES of Central Florida
Museum of Geneva History (museum partner)
Museum of Seminole County History (museum partner)
Florida Memory Project (photos)
Library of Congress (photos)
The Prelinger Archives (film clips)
Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 39: Wartime Civil Defense
Episode 39 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Wartime Civil Defense. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 39 features a discussion of World War II-era civil defense training materials located at the Museum of Geneva History in Geneva. This podcast also includes interview with Dr. Mark Howard Long of the University of Central Florida, Central Florida local George "Speedy" Harrell, Mary Jo Martin of the Museum of Geneva History, and Dr. Gary Ross Mormino of the University of South Florida.
Original 11-minute and 36-second podcast by Bob Clarke, 2013: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/SlTpnIlLeA4.
Museum of Geneva History
Library of Congress
Museum of Geneva History, Geneva, Florida
Memorandum from Assistant Postmaster General to Postmasters with Gross Receipts of $1 million to $20 Million (December 7, 1954)
A memorandum is from the Assistant Postmaster General Joseph A. Clarke to postmasters who are in charge of offices that gross between $1 million to $20 million. In the memo, Clarke discusses the reorganization of the Division of Finance within the U.S. Post Office Department. The reorganization entailed the reduction of work requirements for the Division of Finance had been reduced due to the creation of regional distributing offices and the regional distributing offices became responsible for supplying stamps and other accountable items. Clarke was the first African American to be appointed Special Assistant to the Assistant Postmaster General of the Bureau of Operations.
Original memorandum from Joseph A. Clarke to postmasters, December 7, 1954: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
Amtrak Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Station
The Amtrak Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) Station, located at 1400 Sligh Boulevard in Orlando, Florida, in 2014. This station was constructed in 1926 at a cost of $500,000 and was originally part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). However, in 1967, the station was acquired by the SCL after a merger with the ACL. With stucco facade and towers flanking its entrance, the station has been studied for its Mission Revival-style architecture. After being in operation for 65 years, the station, then owned by Amtrak, was in desperate need of renovations. In 1991, a collective of local organizations, companies and groups came together to fund the needed renovations.
Original color digital images by Chris Clemente, March 24, 2014.
Amtrak Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Station, Orlando, Florida
Memorandum from A. B. Cleveland to Tampa District Sectional Center Managers (November 3, 1975)
A letter from Tampa District Manager A. B. Cleveland to all Sectional Center Managers of the Tampa District. In the letter requests any obsolete artifacts from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), to be donated to the Florida Bureau of Historical Museums. The bureau was established in 1967 when the Florida Legislature established the Florida Board of Archives and History to replace the Florida Board of Antiquities. The board included three additional bureaus: the Bureau of Archives and Records Management, the Bureau of Historic Sites and Properties, and the Bureau of Publications. In 1969, the Florida Division of Archives, History and Records Management was created to replace the board. The division was later renamed the Florida Division of Historical Resources in 1986.
Original memorandum from A. B. Cleveland, November 3, 1975: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
Letter from A. B. Cleveland to All Sectional Center Managers of Tampa Districts (November 25, 1975)
A letter from A. B. Cleveland, District Manager for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). to all Sectional Center Managers of the Tampa District. Cleveland enclosed a photograph of Regional Postmaster General Frank Marcum Sommerkamp III (ca. 1924-2008) for the office of the Sectional Center Managers in Tampa, Florida. It is customary for a post office to display photographs of the USPS chain of command. When Sommerkamp was appointed as the Regional Postmaster General of the Southern Region by President Gerald Ford (1913-2006), his photograph was distributed to the post offices under his charge. In the letter, Cleveland also advises the post office managers how to obtain photographs of President Ford for the same purpose.
Original letter from A. B. Cleveland, November 25, 1975: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
Letter from James "Jim" P. Clugston to Harold L. Moody (October 18,1961)
A letter of correspondence between Harold L. Moody and James "Jim" P. Clugston, both fishery biologists working for the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (merged into the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 1999). The letter discusses the identification of a plant specimen found near Lake Apopka by Harold L. Moody and identified by Erdman West as Taro, Colocasia esculenta. Taro is native to Africa and considered an invasive species in Florida. Taro was introduced to the Americas as a food crop for slaves. This letter may serve as evidence of the introduction of this plant to Central Florida by 1967.
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from James "Jim" P. Clugston to Harold L. Moody, October 18,1961: binder 1961, drawer 1938-1987, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Letter from Eben Cobb Brink to Edna P. Hancock (May 23, 1945)
A letter from Captain Eben Cobb Brink to Edna P. Hancock dated May 23, 1945. In the letter, Capt. Cobb Brink, a chaplain for the U.S. Army, informs Hancock that her husband, Sergeant John B. Hancock (1913-1944), was Killed in Action (KIA) while serving during World War II. Sgt. Hancock (1913-1944) was born in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1913, but later migrated to Auburndale, Florida. Hancock managed a Great Atlantic &amp
P) store in Haines City until he enlisted in the 45th Infantry Division's 179th Infantry Regiment. Sgt. Hancock served initially in Africa in 1943, until the 45th Infantry Division's participation in Operation Husky for the Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky. The division then went on to participate in the Allied invasion of Italy, where Sgt. Hancock was injured. He was returned to duty in February of 1944 to tour southern France. On November 1, 1944, Sgt. Hancock went Missing in Action (MIA) after serving in the Allied invasion of Southern France, codenamed Operation Dragoon. He was eventually buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Photocopy of original 2-page typewritten letter from Eben Cobb Brink to Edna P. Hancock, May 23, 1945: Private Collection of Linda Hughes.
New York Avenue Looking at East Lake Tohopekaliga Postcard
Postcard depicting an artist rendition overlooking New York Avenue. Along the dirt road are buildings, some businesses while other appear to be homes in the distance. The first building on the right is the building of contractor, N.F. Bass. Next to which is the Makinson store, selling hardware, furniture, and building materials. Makinson Hardware was originally a family owned store that started in Kissimmee, and opened a new location in St. Cloud. The Kissimmee store is still open today. In the distance is East Lake Tohopekaliga. Along the top of the postcard says "New York Avenue, Looking to Late, St. Cloud, Florida." On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message addressed to Arthur S. Hanson at 26 [Mck] St of Haverhill, Massachusetts. The message reads, "[...] daily only so Arthur please write on a ceratin day each week so I will know [first] - what day to look for my letter. Love mother". This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 inch colored postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
A colorized postcard depicting a scene on Pennsylvania Avenue in St. Cloud, Florida. A line of men, a few children, and one woman stand in the dirt road for the photo. Business buildings line the street and a railroad car is in the background. Printed along the top of the postcard is the title, "Penn. Ave., St. Cloud, Florida." This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 inch color postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
A newspaper article about Dr. John Milton Hawks (1826-1910), the founder of Hawks Park (present-day Edgewater). The article was written by Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954), author of Red Patriots: The Story of the Seminoles and a friend of Dr. Hawks. Dr. Hawks was born in Bradford, New Hampshire, on November 26, 1826. After teaching in New Hampshire, New York, and Georgia, Dr. Hawks eventually graduated from a medical college in Vermont. During the Civil War, Dr. Hawks and his wife, Dr. Esther Jane Hill Hawks (1833-1906), became involved in the abolition movement via the Freedman's Aid Society. Dr. Hawks was assigned to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where they assisted in forming an African-American regiment and served as its surgeon. Following the war, Dr. Hawks, along with several Army officers, organized the Florida Land and Lumber Company and purchased land in Port Orange, Florida, north of Spruce Creek, for the purpose of establishing a freedmen's colony. Dr. Hawks remained and served as the town's first postmaster. Many of the South Carolinians who migrated here eventually left due to the area's poor soil. The company also attempted to establish a steam sawmill in Port Orange, but the project was ultimately abandoned. In 1865, Dr. Hawks also bought a Spanish land grant for property two miles south of New Smyrna, which the would later retire to and name Hawks Park. From 1866 to 1867, Dr. Hawks served as the Collector of Customs at Pensacola. In 1871, Governor Harrison Reed appointed Dr. Hawks the Superintendent of Schools for Volusia County. During that same year, Dr. Hawks compiled and published the Florida Gazetteer.Dr. Hawks died on April 2, 1910.
Original newspaper article: "The Late Dr. John Milton Hawks." The Daytona Beach Observer, August 30, 1941: Private Collection of Andrew M. Foster.
Debunking the So-Called Spanish Mission Near New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida
Debunking the So-Called Spanish Mission Near New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida by Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954). The book challenges the misconception that a site located two miles west of New Smyrna was the ruins of a Spanish mission dating back to the time of Christopher Columbus. In the book, Captain Coe demonstrates that the ruins were of a steam sugar and saw mill that was destroyed by Native Americans in 1845, just five years after it was erected. Also known as the New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins, the ruins are located at 600 Old Mission Road in New Smyrna Beach and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Coe was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on February 3, 1856, to William Henry Coe (1824-1879), who founded the town of Glencoe, and Deborah Little Archer Coe (1824-1912). In 1874, his family migrated to Jacksonville, Florida, due to his father's poor health. At age 18, Coe began working for the Jacksonville Tri-Weekly Union. In 1875, Coe moved to New Smyrna Beach and started his first newspaper, The Florida Star. Coe was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs for the port at New Smyrna in 1879, after his father died. In 1880, Coe moved to Glencoe and began producing photographs. Seven years later, the moved to back to Torrington, where the met and married Emma Sophia Johnson (1846-1931). The following year, Coe moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and then later to Highlands, where the established The Highlands Star. In 1889, the moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Government Printing Office (GPO). Coe published Red Patriots: The Story of the Seminoles (1898), a book about the plight of the Seminole tribe. A copy of Red Patriots was given to every member of Congress, which later passed legislation allowing Seminole land rights in Florida. In 1912, Coe returned to Florida and spent the next 20 years traveling the coast in his cabin cruiser called The Buccaneer. After retiring from the GPO in 1921, Coe spent much of his time exploring Florida's coast as an amateur archaeologist and publishing books, including Juggling a Rope (1927) and The Art of Knife Throwing (1931). He died of pneumonia on March 23, 1954.
Original book cover: Coe, Charles Henry. Debunking the so-Called Spanish Mission Near New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida. Daytona Beach, FL: Fitzgerald Publications, 1941: Private Collection of Andrew M. Foster.
New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway (Fla.
A newspaper article by Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954) regarding the Cross Florida Barge Canal, also known as the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) allocated $5 million to construct a canal that would link the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Construction was cancelled a year later due to strong opposition from some locals. In 1942, the canal project was reauthorized. In the article, which was published on April 12, 1942, Capt. Coe makes a number of arguments against the construction of a new canal. According to the author, there was already a waterway cutting across the state of Florida from the St. Lucie Inlet to Fort Myers. The project did not continue, as the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) never received the funds to begin construction. Attempts to complete the project again resurfaced in 1963 and construction recommenced the following year. However, the project was again halted in 1971 and the project was officially cancelled in 1991. In 1998, the canal was renamed the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, in honor of Marjorie Harris Carr (1915-1997), who was a leading opponent of the project.
Original newspaper article: Coe, Charles Henry. "Cross-Florida Waterway." The Palm Beach Post, April 12, 1942: Private Collection of Andrew M. Foster.
The Palm Beach Post
Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, Florida
A newspaper article by Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954) regarding veterans in Florida Keys during the hurricane season. In the article, Capt. Coe argues that there is "no reasonable excuse for allowing the veterans to remain on low-lying keys in flimsily constructed shacks" during the hurricane season. Coe also criticizes the authorities in charge of the veterans' camps for not evacuating its residents by prearranged transportation.
Original newspaper article: Coe, Charles Henry. "The Playground of Hurricanes." The Palm Beach Post: Private Collection of Andrew M. Foster.
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 16: Public History in Central Florida: An Interview with Jean Yothers
Episode 16 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: Public History in Central Florida: An Interview with Jean Yothers. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 16 explores the field of public history of Central Florida and includes an interview with Jean Yothers, an Orlando native and descendant of a pioneer family. Yothers has dedicated nearly 40 years to promoting an interest in Central Florida history, both at The Orlando Sentinel and at the Orange County Historical Museum, now called the Orange County Regional History Center.
Original 13-minute and 24-second podcast by Adam Cohen, October 17, 2011: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 16: Public History in Central Florida: An Interview with Jean Yothers." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
Orange County Historical Museum, Downtown Orlando, Florida
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 24: The Parliament House
Episode 24 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: The Parliament House. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 24 focuses on the internationally famous gay resort, the Parliament House Reosrt, located at 410 North Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, Florida. This podcast includes interviews with two representatives of Parliament House. The building was originally constructed in the early 1930s as The Carolina Moon. In 1965, the site reopened as the Parliament House Lodge of Orlando. After near bankruptcy, the hotel was purchased by Bill Miller and Mike Hodge, who reopened the location as the Parliament House Resort on May 1, 1975. The Parliament House became quite successful and has been christened the largest gay resort in the world.
Original 19-minute and 7-second podcast by Adam Cohen, January 28, 2012: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 24: The Parliament House." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
Parliament House Resort, Orlando, Florida
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 34: Disney and Smaller Attractions
Episode 34 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: Disney and Smaller Attractions. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 34 focuses on some of Central Floridas smaller tourist attractions, both past and present, and includes interviews with Holly & Dolly about Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium, Dorothy Mays about Gatorland, and Michael Wanzie about the Parliament House Resort.
Original 19-minute and 20-second podcast by Adam Cohen, July 12, 2012: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 34: Disney and Smaller Attractions." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
"My Favorite Memory of Oviedo Is..." by Colette Cadwell
A document created by Colette Cadwell as part of the Oviedo History Harvest in 2015. In the document, the author is asked to describe her favorite memory of Oviedo, Florida. Cadwell, who was over 65 at the time, stated that her neighbors, especially Mildred Adicks, were her favorite memory.
Original document by Colette Cadwell, April 18, 2015: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A postcard depicting two views from Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. Originally known as Charles Town, the city was razed by the Spanish in 1684. The city was rebuilt in 1695 and renamed Nassau. It is now the capital city of the Bahamas and is a popular tourist destination. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographic postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1A (non-U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
A postcard depicting a female tourist debarking from a horse-drawn carriage in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. Originally known as Charles Town, the city was razed by the Spanish in 1684. The city was rebuilt in 1695 and renamed Nassau. It is now the capital city of the Bahamas and is a popular tourist destination. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Massachusetts Turnpike West of Westfield Interchange Postcard
This postcard depicts a view of the Massachusetts Turnpike 6 miles west of the Westfield Interchange in Westfield, Massachusetts. Construction began on the Massachusetts Turnpike in 1955, but plans for the east-west highway had been in the works for many years. As early as 1805, private companies had built failed turnpikes to facilitate shipping across the state. However, the rise of railroads in the 1830s halted progress on the road system until after World War II, when the highway plan was revitalized in an attempt to cure a stagnant economy. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 3 x 5 inch color postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Massachusetts Turnpike, Westfield, Massachusetts
Massachusetts Turnpike 4 Miles East of Stockbridge Interchange Postcard
A postcard depicting a view of the Massachusetts Turnpike 4 miles east of the Stockbridge Interchange in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Construction began on the Massachusetts Turnpike in 1955, but plans for the east-west highway had been in the works for many years. As early as 1805, private companies had built failed turnpikes to facilitate shipping across the state. However, the rise of railroads in the 1830s halted progress on the road system until after World War II, when the highway plan was revitalized in an attempt to cure a stagnant economy. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 3 x 5 inch color postcard by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc.: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Massachusetts Turnpike, Millbury, Massachusetts
Massachusetts Turnpike Looking West, 9 Miles East of Lee Interchange Postcard
This postcard depicts a view of the Massachusetts Turnpike nine miles east of the Lee Interchange in Lee, Massachusetts. Construction began on the Massachusetts Turnpike in 1955, but plans for the east-west highway had been in the works for many years. As early as 1805, private companies had built failed turnpikes to facilitate shipping across the state. However, the rise of railroads in the 1830s halted progress on the road system until after World War II, when the highway plan was revitalized in an attempt to cure a stagnant economy. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographic postcard by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc.: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Massachusetts Turnpike, Becket, Massachusetts
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (March 28, 1956)
A letter from Myrtle Colson, manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated March 28, 1956. Myrtle writes that earlier in the day, she allowed an African-American couple to enter the museum, as he had instructed employees to do. Later in the day, after news spread to Joe Seltzer, manager of Weeki Wachee Springs, he reprimanded her and instructed her not to let any other African-Americans in the museum. He also told her to put up a sign that read, "We reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone". Myrtle writes that she tried to defend her decision, citing a Supreme Court decision, to which Seltzer replied that the decision did not apply to the Springs. The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original 2-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, March 28, 1956: May Natural History Museum Colorado Springs, Colorado.
May Museum of the Tropics, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (February 25, 1959)
A letter from Myrtle Colson, manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated February 25, 1959. Colson discusses a surprise audit from the owners of Weeki Wachee, The Florida Chain of Theaters. She writes that a comptroller visited the museum, inquiring about the museum's accounting books and records of business. The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original 2-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, February 25, 1959: May Natural History Museum Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (June 1, 1958)
A letter from Myrtle Colson, manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated June 1, 1958. Colson tells May about the increasing sales to the museum due to efforts of the new owner of Weeki Wachee Springs, and discusses a new employee. The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original 1-page typewritten letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, June 1, 1958: May Natural History Museum Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John May (February 11, 1961)
A letter from the manager of the the May Museum of the Tropics, Myrtle Colson, to the owner of the museum, John May. The letter details concerns that the manager was having with an employee as well as her complaints about being excluded from certain business matters. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence. The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original 3-page letter from Myrtle Colson to John May, February 11, 1961: May Natural History Museum Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (March 1, 1959)
A letter from the manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, Myrtle Colson, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated March 1, 1959. The letter celebrates the recent high number of visitors that the Museum had. Additionally, the letter informs May that the management of the Weeki Wachee Springs, where the museum was located, wanted a daily report of sales as well as weekly and monthly reports. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence. The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original 1-page typed letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, March 1, 1959: May Natural History Museum, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May (February 23, 1957)
A letter from the manager of the May Museum of the Tropics, Myrtle Colson, to the owner of the museum, John M. May, dated February 23, 1957. Colson expresses her belief that the upcoming tourist season would be one of the best yet, for both Weeki Wachee Springs and for the museum. She provides May with an anecdote of the Springs manager, Joe Seltzer, having to help sell tickets because there were so many people at the Springs, and that on the same day, the museum sold 168 tickets. As John May lived in Colorado and the May Museum of the Tropics was located in Florida, communication between employer, employees, and other staff at Weeki Wachee Springs was limited predominantly to letters of correspondence. The May Natural History Museum of the Tropics is a non-profit organization that displays the world’s largest private insect collection. James May acquired the thousands of insects and arthropods that make up the collection from the late 1800s until his death in 1956. John May continued his father’s legacy, building a museum in Weeki Wachee, Florida, that lasted from 1954-1964, and a museum in Colorado that opened in the 1950s and is still open today. John May also took parts of the collection across the United States and Canada to display at fairs and exhibitions. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original 1-page typed letter from Myrtle Colson to John M. May, February 23, 1957: May Natural History Museum
A newspaper article from the Columbus Daily Enquirer, a newspaper from Columbus, Georgia. It is dated May 10, 1942. The article announces the marriage of Edward Patrick Conners and Lola Beatrice. Edward Patrick Conners was born on March 17, 1916, in East Chicago, Indiana. He played football for Logansport High School and graduated in 1935. After graduation, he worked as a lineman for a telephone company in Indiana. At the outbreak of World War II, Conners entered the United States Army Signal Corp on February 26, 1941. He served in this capacity until November 15, 1947. He reenlisted six days later and stayed in the military until June 30, 1964. After his service, Conners moved to Atlantic Beach, Florida. He died on September 1, 1995, in Alachua County, Florida. He is buried in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Original newspaper article: "Miss Cole and Mr. Conners are Married."
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in 2014. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Original color digital images by Lehman Connolly, February 7, 2014.
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, Apopka, Florida
Lady Liberty at Seminole Big Tree Park in 2006. The "companion tree" for The Senator. Lady Liberty is 89 feet high, 10 feet in diameter, and approximately 2,000 years old. Big Tree Park is located at 761 General Hutchinson Parkway in Longwood, Florida. The park lies off of U.S. 17-92, south of Sanford in a swampy, mainly undeveloped area. The park's focal points are two ancient and giant bald cypress trees. The largest is known as the Senator; the other is known as the Senator's Brother. The two trees are possibly named in honor of M. O. Overstreet, a Florida state senator who donated the surrounding land to Seminole County in 1951, although they had their current names as early as the 1920s. The trees were a popular tourist attraction from the 1880s onward. In 1929, former President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, who were frequent visitors to Mt. Dora, visited the trees and dedicated them with a bronze plaque. The plaque was stolen in 1945. Both trees are extremely old and their age is typically given at 3,500 years. The Senator was believed to be the largest bald cypress in Florida; however, questions have been raised concerning the definition of "largest." It appears today that the Senator reigns as the cypress with the largest volume, the total amount of wood above ground. The current measurements may make it the largest bald cypress in the United States. As of 2011, the tree's height has been measured around 118 feet tall. It has been said that prior to the 1928 hurricane, it stood as tall as 160 feet. The Senator was destroyed by fire on January 16, 2012.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, May 18, 2006.
Seminole Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida
The historic marker for Lady Liberty at Seminole Big Tree Park in 2006. The "companion tree" for The Senator. Lady Liberty is 89 feet high, 10 feet in diameter, and approximately 2,000 years old. Big Tree Park is located at 761 General Hutchinson Parkway in Longwood, Florida. The park lies off of U.S. 17-92, south of Sanford in a swampy, mainly undeveloped area. The park's focal points are two ancient and giant bald cypress trees. The largest is known as the Senator; the other is known as the Senator's Brother. The two trees are possibly named in honor of M. O. Overstreet, a Florida state senator who donated the surrounding land to Seminole County in 1951, although they had their current names as early as the 1920s. The trees were a popular tourist attraction from the 1880s onward. In 1929, former President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, who were frequent visitors to Mt. Dora, visited the trees and dedicated them with a bronze plaque. The plaque was stolen in 1945. Both trees are extremely old and their age is typically given at 3,500 years. The Senator was believed to be the largest bald cypress in Florida; however, questions have been raised concerning the definition of "largest." It appears today that the Senator reigns as the cypress with the largest volume, the total amount of wood above ground. The current measurements may make it the largest bald cypress in the United States. As of 2011, the tree's height has been measured around 118 feet tall. It has been said that prior to the 1928 hurricane, it stood as tall as 160 feet. The Senator was destroyed by fire on January 16, 2012.
The Beacham, located at 46 North Orange Avenue, in 2001. The was originally built as a jail for Orange County in 1884. Braxton Beacham Sr. bought the building in 1917 and opened it as the Beacham Theatre in 1921. As of 2013, The Beacham operates as a nightclub.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2001.
The Dr. Phillips Theater, located at 23-29 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. In 1916, Dr. P. Phillips hired Murray S. King to design his theater on the northeast corner of Orange Avenue and Pine Street. In July of 1917, Dr. Phillips leased the theater to Braxton Beacham Sr. In 1923, the building was leased to the United Stores Corporation. The theater was renamed the Ritz Theatre in 1929 and a portion of the building was occupied by Butler's Shoes. In 1934, Dr. Phillips leased the site to the W.T. Grant Store, which operated in that location until it filed for bankruptcy in 1975.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2002.
The Bumby Hardware Building, located at 102-110 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida,in 2001. Originally from England, Joseph Bumby, Sr. relocated to Orlando and built a large, Late Victorian Commercial-style building across the street from his warehouse. The red brick structure was one of Central Florida's first non-wooden buildings. Bumby Hardware became a major retailer in Downtown Orlando and was operated by Bumby until his death in 1911. His sons continued to operate the business for several decades, but eventually closed the store in the 1960s and leased the building briefly to Goodwill Industries. The Bumby family then sold the site in 1966 to Bob Snow, the developer of the Church Street Station entertainment complex. The Bumby Building was designated an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. The original building still remains and houses the Buffalo Trading Company, a Western-themed clothing store; a seafood restaurant; ice cream shop; a wine cellar; and several offices for the interior.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Bumby Hardware Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Dickson & Ives Building, located at 214 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. In the 1880s, H. H. Dickson and Sidney Ives, Sr. arrived in Orlando and opened mercantile establishments independently of one another. The two formed a partnership around 1897 and opened a grocery store on Wast Pine Street. In 1903, Dickson and Ives purchased the Browne Building and re-opened it as the Dickson-Ives Grocery. In 1913, the grocery store became a department store and discontinued groceries in 1919. In 1920, Dickson and Ives demolished their building and the C. E. Hillyer Company constructed a new brick building to house the Dickson & Ives Company. The present four-story structure was designed with Beaux Arts/Classical terra cotta cornice and friezes. The company was reorganized in 1944 as Dickson and Ives. The department store went out of business on April 11, 1965, and the building was later occupied by several law firms.
Dickson & Ives Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Dolive Building, located at 110-114 North Orange Avenue in Orlando, in 2002. The original stucco structure was built around 1918 by Silas Dolive with twentieth century-style and some Spanish colonial elements. Dolive relocated to Orlando in 1886 and operated a packing house, built the White House Candy Palace, and sold real estate and insurance. The Dolive Building was also part of the Washington Street Arcade constructed in 1921. Tenants of the site includde Hall Brothers Insurance Agency in the 1940s, Empire Studios in the 1950s, Bill Baer in the 1960s, and various restaurant and bars since. In 1990, property manager Sullivan Properties, Inc. and co-owner Ralph Fisch wanted to raze the building because estimated repair costs were too high. Orlando's Downtown Development Board and Orlando's Historic Preservation Board voted not to tear down the building in May of 1990 by unanimous vote. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2002, Scruffy Murphy's, an Irish pub, was occupying the building. Another attempt to demolish the building was made in 2006.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Dolive Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Hall Brothers Insurance Agency, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Empire Studio, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Scruffy Murphy's, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Real estate agents--United States--History
The Dolive Building, located at 110-114 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The original stucco structure was built around 1918 by Silas Dolive with twentieth century-style and some Spanish colonial elements. Dolive relocated to Orlando in 1886 and operated a packing house, built the White House Candy Palace, and sold real estate and insurance. The Dolive Building was also part of the Washington Street Arcade constructed in 1921. Tenants of the site included Hall Brothers Insurance Agency in the 1940s, Empire Studios in the 1950s, Bill Baer in the 1960s, and various restaurant and bars since. In 1990, property manager Sullivan Properties, Inc. and co-owner Ralph Fisch wanted to raze the building because estimated repair costs were too high. Orlando's Downtown Development Board and Orlando's Historic Preservation Board voted not to tear down the building in May of 1990 by unanimous vote. In 2002, Scruffy Murphy's, an Irish pub, was occupying the building. Another attempt to demolish the building was made in 2006.
The Downtown Orlando skyline, with Lake Eola in the distance, in 2002. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center, as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center (NTC) Orlando in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as the Church Street Station entertainment complex. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Furniture industry and trade--Southern States
The Elijah Hand Building, located at 13-25 West Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The site, formerly occupied by the Magnolia Hotel, was purchased by Elijah Hand in 1905. Hand migrated to Orlando from Shelbyville, Indiana, in 1885 and is the first funeral director in the Orlando area to use embalming. The twentieth century-style, brick building was constructed as a warehouse for Hand's furniture and funeral businesses. In 1928, the site was occupied by the Mather-Wiley Furniture Company, who replaced the W. I. Miller Furniture Store. The building was renovated in 1982, which included the replacement of the original curved metal awning that ran the length of the building. Lado International Schools, an international college that teaches English as a second language, purchased the building from G. A. Giordano and Company in December of 1994 for $900,0000. The Lado International College of Orlando was scheduled to open on February 1, 1995. At the time that the photograph was taken in 2002, the building appeared to be occupied by the Blue Room.
Elijah Hand Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
W. I. Miller Furniture Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Mather-Wiley Furniture Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Lado International College of Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Empire Building, located at 13 West Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The building was occupied by the Orlando Telephone Company in the late 1890s. The Empire Block, as it was also known, was occupied by other tenants, such as the Abernethy Drug Company and the Walgreens Drug Company. At the time that the photograph was taken in 2001, the building was being occupied by Shanagolden Pub and Kate O'Brien's Irish Pub. The building no longer exists.
Empire Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Telephone Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Shanagolden Pub, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Kate O'Brien's Irish Pub, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Empire Building, located at 13 West Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The building was occupied by the Orlando Telephone Company in the late 1890s. The Empire Block, as it was also known, was occupied by other tenants, such as the Abernethy Drug Company and the Walgreens Drug Company. In 2001, the building was being occupied by Shanagolden Pub and Kate O'Brien's Irish Pub. The building no longer exists.
The Sun First National Bank of Orlando, located at 190 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. In 1911, Seth Woodruff founded the People's National Bank and renamed it the First National Bank in 1920. In 1926, the bank announced plans to construct a building at the northwest corner of Orange Avenue and Church Street. The building was designed by Howard M. Reynolds in the Art Deco style. The bank opened for business in 1930, closed briefly, and then reopened in 1934 with F. L. Morse as its president. In 1960, the bank moved across the street and, in 1973, it was renamed the Sun First National Bank. Since then, the bank has merged with several other banking corporations.
First National Bank, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Sun First National Bank, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Hanson Building, located at 27 East Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The building was constructed during 1883-1884 in the nineteenth-century commercial style. In 1894, Andrew Hanson purchased the property for the Hanson Shoe Repair Shop, known for having the first electric sign in Orlando.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Hanson Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Hanson Shoe Repair Shop, Downtown Orlando, Florida