A postcard showcasing the lobby of the Mermaid Motel, which was located directly across the street from Weeki Wachee Springs. Two cars are parked under a pavilion next to the building. The back of the postcard features an add that describes the amenities of the motel, including comfortable rooms and a restaurant. 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 color postcard by Elmer "Sparky" Schumacher, Florida Natural Color and Mermaid Motel: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Weeki Wachee, Florida.
RICHES
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, Florida
Mermaid Swimming in Front of an Underwater Filming Tank Designed by Newton "Newt" Perry
Motion pictures--Production and direction
Underwater cinematography--Equipment and supplies
A photograph of a mermaid swimming in front of an underwater filming tank created by Newton "Newt" Perry some time between 1950 and 1970. The photograph may be either from Weeki Wachee Springs State Park or from Newton "Newt" Perry's career as an underwater filmmaker. Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows. Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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 photograph of underwater filming tank, ca. 1950-1970: Personal Collection of Delee Perry.
Mermaid Trainer Bonnie Georgiadis Displaying Proper Form for 6 Trainees
Mermaids--Florida--Weeki Wachee--History
Mermaid Trainer Bonnie Georgiadis training six mermaids on proper form of a position for a publicity photo. Bonnie Georgiadis worked at Weeki Wachee for a total of 37 years. 13 years as a mermaid and trainer, 7 as a show producer and choreographer, and the rest of her time at the park as the bird department's manager. 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 sepia tone photogrpah of Bonnie Georgiadis and Trainees, c. 1960s: Private Collection of Sharon Cihak Elliot.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, Florida
Underwater photograph of a mermaid wearing goggles and holding an air hose at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, around 1950. Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows. Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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 photograph of Weeki Wachee mermaid underwater, ca. 1950: Personal Collection of Delee Perry.
The Mermaid Villa building at Weeki Wachee Springs. Mermaids used the building to change into their costumes for their underwater performances, shower after their performances, and lounge while on break. 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 black and white photograph by Elmer "Sparky" Schumacher: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Weeki Wachee, Florida.
Mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, 1974
Mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in 1974. Weeki Wachee, located at 6131 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, Florida, is best known for its famous tourist attraction, Weeki Wachee Springs. Weeki Wachee Springs features performances by underwater mermaids, a glass-bottom boat ride, and other natural attractions. The springs are named after the Seminole words for "little spring" or "winding river." In 1946, former U.S. Navy member Newt Perry (1908-1987) began to develop a tourist attraction at Weeki Wachee. By the 1950s, Weeki Wachee was one of the top tourist stops in the United States. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) purchased the site in 1959 and continued to expand. In 2008, Weeki Wachee was taken over by the state of Florida as a state park.
Original color photographs, 1974: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Mermaids Performing at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Photograph of mermaids performing at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park around 1950. The three mermaids sit on boards in the water. Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows. Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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 photograph of mermaids performing at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, ca. 1950: Personal Collection of Delee Perry.
The Metcalf Building, located at 101 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. in 2002. The building opened in 1924 and was the third skyscraper in Orlando. A. G. Bentley built the structure for the Orlando Federal Savings and Loan Association. The Lucerne Pharmacy also occupied the site until 1926. In 1932, the site was owned by the Orlando Bank & Trust Company. The new bank eventually failed and the building was purchased by Henry Metcalf. In 1936, Liggett Drug Store occupied the site. The Household Finance Corporation was also housed in the building later. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2002, it was housing Citrus Bank.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
RICHES of Central Florida
Metcalf Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Federal Savings and Loan Association, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Lucerne Pharmacy, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Bank & Trust Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Liggett Drug Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The describes the fundraising efforts by Gary Metcalf, a former drum major at Oviedo High School, who was trying to raise money to travel with the Continental Singers to Europe. At the time that the article was posted, Metcalf was attending North Texas State University. Metcalf received contributions from Wayne Johnson of Orangewood Feed and Tack and the First Baptist Church of Oviedo.
Original newspaper article: "Metcalf Fund Short." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Methodist Pastor Delivers Sermon on Righteousness
A newspaper article published by The Central Florida Press on June 20, 1930. The article describes a sermon on righteousness delivered by C. W. Mathison. Mathison was a Methodist pastor from North Alabama who preached in Florida. Mathison passed away on May 3, 1940, in Fernandina.
Original newspaper article: "Methodist Pastor Delivers Sermon on Righteousness." The Central Florida Press, Vol. 1, No. 9, June 20, 1930, page 1: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Methods Handbook: City Delivery Service Mechanization
This is a Methods Handbook published and prepared by the Bureau of Operations of the U.S. Post Office Department on August 1, 1958. The mechanization of post offices began in 1956 when the U.S. Post Office Department began researching the coding systems of other countries and developing a system for the United States. The first semiautomatic parcel sorting machine was introduced that same year. The late 1950s also saw the use of the first American-built letter sorter, setting the stage for increased mechanization and automation in the 1960s and 1970s. This handbook centers mostly on postal vehicles and other pieces of equipment utilized to increase efficiency in mail delivery.
Original 44-page handbook, August 1, 1958: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
Downtown Orlando Post Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida
A page from the yearbook of Miami Beach Senior High School in Miami Beach, Florida. A notable individual shown on this page is Captain Lee Silver (ca. 1922-1945). Capt. Silver was born to in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Herman Silver and Bertha Silver, around 1922-1923. His parents were Herman Silver and Bertha Silver. By 1940, the Silver family had migrated to Miami, Florida, where Lee attended Miami Beach Senior High School. During World War II, Capt. Silver served in Company G, of the 42nd Infantry Division (42ID)'s 232rd Infantry Regiment. He died near the Haardt Mountains of France on February 23, 1945, and was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Capt. Silver is currently buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France, with a Star of David headstone, indicating Jewish heritage.
Digital reproduction of original yearbook page: (Miami Beach, FL: Miami Beach Senior High School, 1940). http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1265&h=99580447&ssrc=pt&tid=89418910&pid=46594276673&usePUB=true.
Miami Beach Senior High School
Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami Beach, Florida
Michael Dinda, Sr., Michael Dinda, Jr., and John Dinda
Michael Dinda, Sr. (1863-1935) and his twin sons, Michael Jacob Dinda, Jr. (1895-1978) and John Paul Dinda (1895-1968) hauling logs in Slavia, Florida, around 1915. Dinda was one of the founders of both Slavia and of St. Luke's Lutheran Church. Dinda moved his family to the area in 1913. During this time, John Dinda was visiting from college. He also began teaching at the Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1915.
Original black and white photograph: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
Michael J. Doyle's Dry Goods & Grocery Store, 1882
Michael J. Doyle's Dry Goods & Grocery Store in Sanford, Florida, in 1882. Doyle was an Irish immigrant who originally settled in Volusia County prior to the American Civil War. His store was most likely located on First Street between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.
Original 11 inch x 8.5 inch photograph by Upton, 1882: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Michael J. Doyle's Dry Goods and Grocery Store, Sanford, Florida
Mick Dolan's Ticket Stub and Press Pass Collection
A collection of ticket stubs and press passes from Orlando radio personality, Mick Dolan. The items are collectively mounted and framed, along with several guitar picks, business cards and stickers. Some of the ticket stubs include Twisted Sister at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida, on October 19, 1984; Uriah Heep on October 4, 1986; The Romantics on June 20, 1984; The Police at Rock Super Bowl XIX on October 29, 1983; The B-52's at Orlando Seminole Jai Alai Fronton in Fern Park on July 1983; Joe Jackson at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando on March 30, 1983; and Bob Seger, Triumph, and Men at Work. Some of the press passes include Molly Hatchet's 1986-1987 Tour; Ratt at Orange County Civic Center in Orlando on December 6, 1985; Van Halen at Lakeland Civic Center on January 22, 1984;, Elvis Costello at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre on August 5, 1984; Foghat at Tom's Point After Lounge in Orlando on November 13, 1983; Men at Work's 1985 Tour; Pat Travers Band's 1986 Tour; Rick Springfield's 1983 World Tour; Iron Maiden; REO Speed Wagon; STYX; Ted Nugent; Triumph;, A Flock of Seagulls; and Yes.
Original color photograph: Private Collection of Mick Dolan.
Orlando Seminole Jai Alai Fronton, Fern Park, Florida
Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Florida
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando, Florida
Orange County Civic Center, Orlando, Florida
Tom's Point After Lounge, Orlando, Florida
The city directory for Middletown, New York, for 1945. This public record served to provide an alphabetical list of citizens by head of household, their address, and relevant occupational information. A spouse’s name is listed next to the head of household. Death dates of those who have been previously listed in the directory are also included. A notable resident listed in this record is Joseph W. Radivoy (1921-1995). Born in Middletown, New York, in 1921, Radivoy's father had immigrated to the United States from Austria in the early 1900s, and his mother was born in New York. Radivoy served in the United States National Guard in 1940, and then served in the United States Army during World War II. He rose to the rank of Technician Fifth Grade during his service. After the war, he returned to New York and worked in the restaurant industry throughout much of his life, eventually owning Joe’s Tavern. In addition to living in Middletown, he lived in Rock Hills, New York, and later moved to Holiday, Florida, where he passed away in 1995. He was buried at Wallkill Cemetery in Middletown, New York, and is memorialized 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.
City of Middletown, New York
Digital reproduction of original city directory.
A newspaper article about Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford." Francis left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown. Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.
Original newspaper article: Moore, Stacy. "Midwife on Job Here 32 Years." The Little Sentinel, April 4, 1979: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, Tallahasse, Florida
Jones-Francis Maternity Hall, Georgetown, Sanford, Florida
Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital, Sanford, Florida
Midwives Supply Needed Service Community
A newspaper article about African-American midwives in Seminole County, Florida, in the 1960s. The article states that of the 760 babies born at the Seminole Memorial Hospital in 1963, nearly 400 were delivered by African-America midwives. The article explains that the demand for midwifery was due to rising costs in hospital delivery and prenatal care. The article also discusses the licensing for midwives, the delivery process, and then highlights two midwives in Seminole: Mary Moye and Marie Jones Francis. Moye, who lived at 1515 West Sixteenth Street, had been practicing midwifery for 40 years and had been licensed and registered for 20 years at the time that the article was published. According to the article, her services typically cost between $65 and $90. The article also highlights Marie Francis, the "midwife of Sanford." Francis left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown. Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.
Original newspaper article: Austin, Dottie. "Midwives Supply Needed Service Community." The Sanford Herald, July 24, 1964: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.
The Sanford Herald
Seminole Memorial Hospital, Sanford, Florida
Migrant Experience Paper by William Arthur Bigham III
An academic paper written by William Arthur Bigham III (1982-) for a course at the State University of New York at Brockport on food and culture on December 19, 2011. Topics discussed in the paper include Bigham's interview with his mother, Patricia Ann Black (1956- ), about her experiences as the child of migrant workers; how migrant workers lived; the difference between education and race relations in the North and in the South; the logistics of working in the fields; and how the Federal government changed migrant work. William Bigham III was born in Rochester and raised in Wayne County, New York. He began teaching microbiology and anatomy at the SUNY Brockport in 2013. He is the son of Patricia Black, the grandson of Pilgrim Black (1905-2002) and Lula Mae Haynes Black (1917-2007), and the great grandson of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca. 1870-ca. 1934), who migrated to Sanford, Florida, from South Carolina in the 1800s. Bigham's grandparents, Pilgrim and Lula, were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year.
Migrant Worker "Big House" in Wayne County, New York
The "big house" of the migrant worker camp, located in Wayne County, New York, that Pilgrim Black (1905-2002) and his wife, Lula Mae Haynes Black (1917-2007), lived in. The house originally had a front porch and was painted a different color. Lula operated her restaurant out of the kitchen in the big house, despite the lack of running water. Pilgrim was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes (1917-2007) Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin. Pilgrim had to quit school at age 11 in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18 years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940-); Lula Yvonne Black (1942-); Charles Samuel Black (1945-); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca. 1947-), and Patricia Ann Black (1956-).
Original color photograph by Patricia Ann Black: Private Collection of Patricia Ann Black.
A painting by Bettye Reagan, a local artist in Central Florida, inspired by a photograph of the backyard of Paul Mikler, a history teacher and coach from Oviedo, Florida. Mikler was born on July 8, 1916, and was raised in Slavia, an unincorporated community that was once part of Oviedo. He taught at Oviedo High School (OHS), where he was seminal in shaping the school's baseball program, from 1946 to 1970. Mikler passed away on April 12, 2000.
Original painting: Reagan, Bettye. Mikler Playhouse. 2003: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
Original cornerstonefor the Milane Theatre, which was constructed at 203 South Magnolia Avenue, the former location of the Star Theatre, an abandoned movie house. Scroggs and Ewing, architects from Georgia, prepared the plans for the Milane. The name of the new theater was derived from the combination of the presidents of the Milane Amusement Company president and vice president: Frank L. Miller and Edward F. Lane. The Milane opened in July of 1923 and seated 823 patrons. In 1933, the Milane was sold to Frank and Stella Evans, investors from Lake Mary, Florida. The new owners renamed their business the Ritz Theater and held the property until the 1990s. However, the Ritz struggled financially in the 1960s and closed in 1978 due to failure to compete with the new multiplex theaters. The building remained vacant until 1984, when it reopened as the Showtime Cantina. The Showtime Cantina closed in 1988 and remained vacant and in decay. In the mid-1990s, Ritz Community Theater Projects, Inc. acquired the property and began rehabilitation in 1998. On May 6, 2000, the theater reopened as the Helen Stairs Theatre in honor of the citizen who led the restoration project, Helen Stairs. The following year, the location was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, additional renovations were completed at the theater was renamed the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in honor of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust Fund for contributing to the renovations fund.
Original color digital image by Laura Cepero, June 9, 2011.
An original engraving at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in 2011. Originally the Milane Theatre, the building was constructed at 203 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, the former location of the Star Theatre, an abandoned movie house. Scroggs and Ewing, architects from Georgia, prepared the plans for the Milane. The name of the new theater was derived from the combination of the presidents of the Milane Amusement Company president and vice president: Frank L. Miller and Edward F. Lane. The Milane opened in July of 1923 and seated 823 patrons. In 1933, the Milane was sold to Frank and Stella Evans, investors from Lake Mary, Florida. The new owners renamed their business the Ritz Theatre and held the property until the 1990s. However, the Ritz struggled financially in the 1960s and closed in 1978 due to failure to compete with the new multiplex theaters. The building remained vacant until 1984, when it reopened as the Showtime Cantina. The Showtime Cantina closed in 1988 and remained vacant and in decay. In the mid-1990s, Ritz Community Theater Projects, Inc. acquired the property and began rehabilitation in 1998. On May 6, 2000, the theater reopened as the Helen Stairs Theatre in honor of the citizen who led the restoration project, Helen Stairs. The following year, the location was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, additional renovations were completed at the theater was renamed the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in honor of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust Fund for contributing to the renovations fund.
Milane Theatre Opened Last Night to Record Breaking House and Could Not Accommodate Any More: But Same Picture Will Be Shown Tonight for Those Who Failed to Get Seats
Newspaper article about the opening of the newly-built Milane Theatre, which was highly successful with a sold out house. The Milane Theatre was built at 203 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, the former location of the Star Theatre, an abandoned movie house. Scroggs and Ewing, architects from Georgia, prepared the plans for the Milane. The name of the new theater was derived from the combination of the presidents of the Milane Amusement Company president and vice president: Frank L. Miller and Edward F. Lane. The Milane opened in July of 1923 and seated 823 patrons. In 1933, the Milane was sold to Frank and Stella Evans, investors from Lake Mary, Florida. The new owners renamed their business the Ritz Theater and held the property until the 1990s. However, the Ritz struggled financially in the 1960s and closed in 1978 due to failure to compete with the new multiplex theaters. The building remained vacant until 1984, when it reopened as the Showtime Cantina. The Showtime Cantina closed in 1988 and remained vacant and in decay. In the mid-1990s, Ritz Community Theater Projects, Inc. acquired the property and began rehabilitation in 1998. On May 6, 2000, the theater reopened as the Helen Stairs Theatre in honor of the citizen who led the restoration project, Helen Stairs. The following year, the location was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, additional renovations were completed at the theater was renamed the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in honor of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust Fund for contributing to the renovations fund.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: The Sanford Herald, August 2, 1923: Milane Theater Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Milkanette "Milka" Ramos performing live with MILKA at E.L.L.A. Music Fest at H2O Live!, located at 100 West Livingston Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, on November 3, 2012. The E.L.L.A. Music Festival, which stands for Elevate.Listen.Love.Appreciate, was created in 2007 by Orlando musician, promoter, and producer Robert Johnson to celebrate the heart, talent, and contributions that Florida female artists give to their communities. In its fifth year in 2012, the female-centric festival added spoken word artists, visual artists and local vendors to the stacked musical lineup. MILKA is a rock band formed in Orlando, consisting of Ramos on guitar and vocals, Tony Roman on bass, and Troy Garfield Goins on drums. The combination of bilingual feminist front-woman Ramos and the Latin-influenced percussion creates a unique hard rock sound that transcends genres. The band released an album in 2002, entitled, Fire in the Sky.
Original color photograph by Alicia Lyman, November 3, 2012: Archive: Concerts Archive, Alicia Lyman.
Milkanette "Milka" Ramos performing live with the band, MILKA, at Ralphfest 2 at The Social, located at 54 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, on November 24, 2012. MILKA is a rock band formed in Orlando, consisting of Ramos on guitar and vocals, Tony Roman on bass, and Troy Garfield Goins on drums. The combination of bilingual feminist front-woman Ramos and the Latin-influenced percussion creates a unique hard rock sound that transcends genres. The band released an album in 2002, entitled, Fire in the Sky.
Original black and white photograph by Alicia Lyman, November 24, 2012: Archive: Concerts Archive, Alicia Lyman.
The property deed of the Algerine Miller's family home in Sanford, Florida. The deed shows a purchase date of September 7, 1943. Moddie and Alberta Miller purchased lots 1-5 in Block 16 of the Pine Level Subdivision for one hundred dollars from Frank L. and Minnie D. Woodruff. As of 2013, the Miller family still retains the house and property.
Original warranty deed, September 9, 1943: State of Florida, County of Seminole, Sanford, Florida.
State of Florida
County of Seminole
A Minnesota Twins baseball cap. The Minnesota Twins have been part of the history of Orlando, Florida, since 1936. Originally, this baseball club was founded in 1901 as the Washington Senators. The Washington Senators spent 34 years in 11 different locations for spring training before finally coming to Orlando in 1936. From 1936 to 1942, the team played preseason games at Tinker Field. In 1943, the Senators moved to College Park, Maryland, through 1945, before returning to Tinker Field in 1946. In 1960, the team owner Calvin Griffith (1911-1999) moved his team home to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they officially became the Minnesota Twins. The team continued spring training in Orlando until 1990.
Original baseball cap: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando City Hall, Orlando, Florida.
Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
Minutes of Charter Meeting, February 20, 1958
The Orlando Ministerial Association's minutes of a charter meeting on February 20, 1958. The meeting was held at Temple Israel in Winter Springs, Florida. The association was founded with the purpose of being "open to all clergymen of Orlando regardless of faith or race or creed" and to "attempt to meet the challenge and development of Orlando, with its concomitant social, moral and religious problems, through the unified thinking and action of all religious leaders". The document lists the charter members and the elections of officers. The minutes were recorded by John C. Fuller of the First Orlando Unitarian Church, who was the secretary of the association at this time. There are handwritten edits on both documents.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten reports, February 20, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
First Unitarian Church of Orlando
Minutes of Meeting, Thursday, December 8, 1960
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association (OMA). The meeting was held on December 8, 1960. The meeting began with a discussion about the Thanksgiving service hosted at the First Unitarian Church. The Association decided that a committee, including John C. Fuller, would draft a letter to all clergymen, including those of the Protestant Evangelical Association, inviting them to join the OMA. It was also decided that new officers would be elected on January 5, 1961. The meeting concluded with a committee being set up to look into the OMA establishing a public community college.
Original typewritten report, December 8, 1960: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Florida
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, April 2, 1959
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on April 2, 1959, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. A financial report was made and Rabbi Shwartz began a discussion about the "Parent Option Plan", which was a bill that was to be introduced to the state legislature. The purpose of the plan was to siphon money from public schools to private institutions so that white children could avoid having to attend desegregated public schools. The Orlando Ministerial Association voiced opposition to this legislation. The committee appointed to contact the United Appeal reported that they received favorable responses from officials. The discussion of "Religion in the Public Schools" was postponed, and the meeting was adjourned with a prayer.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, April 2, 1959: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, April 3, 1958
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on April 3, 1958, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. According to the document, a number of visitors became members during the meeting and it was decided that all members would pay one dollar until set dues were voted upon. The proposed charter was read to the members and discussed. The members decided that the charter should state that the association would confine itself to Greater Orlando. The meeting concluded with Reverend Staggers and Rabbi Kurz giving a presentation about the topic "Problems Facing Ministers in this Community". The document was written by John C. Fuller, who was Secretary of the Orlando Ministerial Association.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, April 3, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, December 3, 1959
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on December 3, 1959, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. The matter of a possible amalgamation of the two local ministerial associations was discussed. The status of the organization's project in regard to the United Appeal was discussed. Reverend Jupiter reported that following their protest to the Appeal concerning the "Negro Division" and double solicitation of Negro working people, this year's arrangement presented no change in the situation whatsoever. It was decided that a special committee make a return visit to the Appeal to ask why something was not done as agreed upon.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, December 3, 1959: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, December 5, 1958 and January 19, 1958
Minutes of two monthly meetings of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meetings were held on December 5, 1958, and January 19, 1959. The record of the December meeting was written by acting secretary J. E. Williams. It was conducted at the Y.M.C.A., and Bill Briggs, the religion editor of the Orlando Sentinel, was present. A letter from the Martin Company inviting the Orlando Ministerial Association to attend a lunch at the plant was accepted. The meeting concluded with Rabbi Shwartz reading excerpts from "Only in America" by Harry Golden. The readings, which pertained to the racial situation in the south, were positively received by the members in attendance. The record of the January meeting was authored by John C. Fuller. It reported on the Orlando Ministerial Association's tour of the Martin Company's plant.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, December 5, 1958 and January 19, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, February 5, 1959
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on February 5, 1959, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. Secretary John. C. Fuller announced that a special offer was available to clergymen for Time magazine and that tickets were on sale for the annual Florida Council on Human Relations dinner. The committee appointed to confront the discrimination shown by the United Appeal was asked to submit their resolution to the rest of the members as soon as possible. Pat Pinkerton of the Orlando Sentinel was present to discuss the newspaper's policy of rejecting news and advertisements from African-American churches. Pinkerton urged the ministers of those churches to submit their news and advertisements early in the week directly in care of her. It was decided that the next meeting would include a panel discussion concerning "Religion in the Public Schools".
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, February 5, 1959: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, January 7, 1960
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on January 7, 1960, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. Harold E. Scott, chairman of the Citizens Committee for Good Government, began the meeting by speaking about the importance of citizens practicing their democratic rights and opportunities in the community. He especially focused on the importance of freedom of speech. Rabbi Shwartz reported on a possible merge with the Orange County Ministerial Association, announcing that they were co-sponsoring a luncheon with the Mental Health Association. A program committee was established and the meeting was adjourned.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, January 7, 1960: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, June 5, 1958
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on June 5, 1958, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. The focus of this meeting was the bombings of a synagogue and African-American school that took place in Jacksonville on April 28, 1958. Two letter were read by Rabbi Kurz, who was the chairman of a special committee concerning the tragedy. The first letter was to the mayor and police department of Jacksonville and the second was to Representative Herlong and two Florida senators. At the end of the meeting, it was authorized that letters of thanks be sent to Mr. Brock, secretary of the Y.M.C.A. for letting them use their building as a meeting place. Appreciation of Pat Pinkerton of the Orlando Sentinel was also expressed due to her providing fair coverage of the meeting. The document was written by John C. Fuller, who was Secretary of the Orlando Ministerial Association.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, June 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, March 3, 1960
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on March 3, 1960, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. The committee charged with looking into a possible merger had no report available on a possible amalgamation with the Orange Country Ministerial Association. Members unanimously concluded that they needed to register and urge their churchgoers to vote. Also discussed was the Sunday Closing Law, which mandated that all businesses had to close on Sunday. The Orlando Ministerial Association was against this because they saw it as a violation of constitutional rights. Non-violent lunch counter protests were also discussed.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, March 3, 1960: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, March 5, 1959
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on March 5, 1959, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. Pat Pinkerton of the Orlando Sentinel was present to discuss an update on the newspaper's policy of rejecting news and advertisements from African-American churches. At the previous meeting, Pinkerton suggested that the ministers of those churches submit their news and advertisements early in the week and directly in care of her. She reported that two advertisements had been published since then. A panel discussion on "Religion in the Public Schools" was conducted. It was agreed that it would continue at the next meeting.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, March 5, 1959: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, March 6, 1958
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on March 6, 1958, at the temple of Liberal Judaism in Orlando, Florida. The document introduces a number of new members and mentions that the minutes of the charter meeting were approved. The record also mentions that a member brought up that a charter needed to be composed, which the rest of the group attending agreed with. The document was written by John C. Fuller, who was Secretary of the Orlando Ministerial Association.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, March 6, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Temple of Liberal Judaism, Orlando, Florida
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association held in May 1959. One of the topics discussed was the high dropout rate at Jones High School, a notable African American school in Orlando. It was decided that a committee would be appointed to attend a PTA meeting at the school. It was also decided that a luncheon would be held on June 4, 1959, and the wives of the clergymen would be invited.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, May, 1959: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on May 8, 1958, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. According to the document, the members in attendance discussed the bombing of a synagogue and a black elementary school in Jacksonville on April 28, 1958. Anonymous callers claimed responsibility for the bombings and reportedly belonged to a group called the "Confederate Union". The document details how the members of the meeting were disturbed by this and conducted several actions, including setting up a committee to pass a resolution concerning the bombings, sending a letter of commendation to the mayor and police department of Jacksonville, and having the special committee consider sending a letter to Senator Smathers, asking him to get the Justice Department involved. The document was written by John C. Fuller, who was Secretary of the Orlando Ministerial Association.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, May 8, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, October 2, 1958
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on October 2, 1958, at the Y.M.C.A in Orlando, Florida. The first topic discussed was an election of permanent officers that would take place on October 20, 1958. The second topic discussed was the discrimination of African-Americans by the United Appeal. This inequality being best exemplified by the existence of a colored division within the United Appeal. The final topic discussed concerned the refusal of the Orlando Sentinel to accept advertisements from African-American churches. The document was written by John C. Fuller, who was Secretary of the Orlando Ministerial Association.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, October 2, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Monthly Meeting, October 30, 1958
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on October 30, 1958, at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. This meeting is notable for being the first annually held business meeting. The first topic discussed was that a resolution be drawn up on the matter of desegregating "The Negro Division" of the United Appeal. It would be written by Reverends Staggers, Fuller, Jupiter and C.A Johnson. The second topic discussed was the refusal of the Orlando Sentinel to accept advertisement from African American churches. It was decided that a delegation of members from the Orlando Ministerial Association would meet with the editors of the newspaper to discuss the issue. Next, elections of permanent officers were held. The meeting concluded with a resolution of the Jacksonville bombings being passed called the Declaration of Conscience. The resolution condemned the bombings, saying that the bombers were working against the teachings of Jesus, Moses and Isaiah. The document was written by John C. Fuller, who was Secretary of the Orlando Ministerial Association.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten report, October 30, 1958: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Shareholders' Meeting of The Oviedo Voice, Inc. (April 15, 1993)
The meeting minutes from the shareholders' meeting of The Oviedo Voice, Inc. held on April 15, 1993. The Oviedo Voice, was the local newspaper that served Oviedo, Florida and its surrounding communities for nearly 23 years. A few of the shareholders' are descendants of Oviedo's Founding families, including Arthur Evans and Ces Lawton. The bulk of the minutes written by Secretary Frances Crews focused on the officer nominations for the new board. Other discussion included advertisement sales, a new computer accounting system, and a telemarking program.
Original minutes by Frances Crews, April 15, 1993: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
Minutes of Special Meeting, April 21, 1960
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on April 21, 1960, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. Secretary John C. Fuller reported that the County Bar Association was sending all the members copies of material for Law Day. He also reported that he sent a letter to Governor Collins commending him for his stance on the lunch counter protests and had received a response from him. The Special Resolutions Committee passed the resolutions.
Original typewritten report, April 21, 1960: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Minutes of Special Meeting, March 17, 1960
Minutes of a monthly meeting of the Orlando Ministerial Association. The meeting was held on March 17, 1960, at the Y.M.C.A. in Orlando, Florida. The meeting began with Reverend E.A. Jupiter giving his report on the lunch counter demonstrations that took place in the first week of March. He claimed that the situation was rigged to take the steam out of the protest. He recommended that African Americans recognize the transition taking place in American life, use rank and file leadership rather than self-appointed leaders, re-spend the dollar so as to re-structure consumer practice, and use boycotts to provoke action for bi-racial problem solving. He recommended that whites recognize transition, take initiative without being pushed, be willing to meet with and talk about problems with African Americans, and take action. It was also mentioned that many whites would be willing to support projects striving toward integration if they were kept anonymous. The meeting concluded with the president, Rabbi Shwartz, giving Reverend Jupiter a farewell tribute.
Original typewritten report, March 17, 1960: First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
An invitation to Hillcrest Elementary School’s sixth grade operetta, "Miranda’s Spring Festival," which was held in the Hillcrest Elementary auditorium. A scarecrow and birds colored by students appear next to the event information. Hillcrest Elementary School is one of Orlando’s oldest schools, opening in 1923. Since the 1980s, it has had a vibrant foreign language component and today it continues that tradition through the Orange County Public Schools Foreign Language Academy.
Original color invitation: Private Collection of Don Weeden.
Hillcrest Auditorium, Hillcrest Elementary School, Orlando Florida
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."
Miss Evelyn Rehm and Robert Gerlach United in Marriage
A newspaper article published in The Sheboygan Press, on May 21, 1926. The article describes the marriage between Robert W. Gerlach and Evelyn Bell Rehm, including the wedding attire, decor, roles, and the honeymoon. Born on November 29, 1896, in Rhine, Wisconsin, Robert Gerlach entered the United States Army on May 28, 1918. He was released from service as a private on November 27, 1918. Nine months after their marriage, Evelyn gave birth to their daughter, Joy Evelyn Gerlach. The couple moved to Citrus, Florida, in the 1980s. Evelyn passed away on February 17, 1988. Joy died two years later, in July 1990. Robert moved back to Wisconsin, where he lived out the remainder of his days in Waupaca until his death on February 17, 1993, at the age of ninety-six. He was subsequently interred at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell on March 5, 1993, joining his wife and daughter. 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.
Sheboygan Press
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: "Miss Evelyn Rehm and Robert Gerlach United in Marriage." The Sheboygan Press, May 21, 1926.
Miss Lillian Luke Becomes Bride of Lt. A. A. Calhoun in Lovely Eufaula Ceremony
An article published in The Panama City News-Herald announcing the wedding for then-Lieutenant Aquilla A. Calhoun, Jr. and Lillian J. Luke (b. 1922). Born in Eufala, Luke attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn and was a member of Kappa Delta National sorority. Captain Calhoun attended the University of Florida (UF) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. It was upon his graduation that Capt. Calhoun enlisted as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. After their wedding in January of 1942, the Calhouns moved to Columbus, Georgia, where Capt. Calhoun joined the 92nd Field Artillery's 2nd Armored Division. Capt. Calhoun participated in the Omaha Beach Normandy Invasions and played an integral role in liberating the town of Bresles, France. He later died during his service in France and is currently buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France. Calhoun is one of 85 Florida residents interned at Epinal. His death led to the creation of a tribute site and memorial in his honor in Bristles.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: "Miss Lillian Luke Becomes Bride of Lt. A. A. Calhoun in Lovely Eufaula Ceremony." The Panama City News-Herald, January 18, 1942. https://www.newspapers.com/image/39092405/?terms=Calhoun.
The Panama City News-Herald
Miss Owen's Class at Sanford Grammar School, 1919-1920
Miss Owen's Class at Sanford Grammar School during the 1919-1920 school year. Some of the students photographed are Billy Ball, Donald Dunn, Harley Vincent, Dave Van Ness, Eugene Turner, Harold McAlexander, Kemp Hasty, John Rotundo, and Joseph Prevatt. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 6.9 x 5 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, Florida
Missing Air Crew Report for Aircraft 44-6126
A page of the Missing Air Crew Report for Aircraft 44-6126 details how the pilot, John Leslie, gave his life so that every man onboard the B-17 could bail from the aircraft after it was shot down. Aircraft 44-6126 was traveling to its bombardment target of Halle, Germany and was subsequently shot down by German Anti-Air installations. The Florida-France Soldiers Stories Project seeks to tell the stories of the Florida soldiers buried in the American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in France. Our goal is to honor and commemorate the brave individuals who gave their lives supporting the Allied forces, liberating France, and defeating Germany in the Second World War. Simultaneously, our goal is to teach the students who participate in this research project about the history of France and Florida during World War II, about the history of individual servicemen, and about how to implement historical research methods in their work.
Digital reproduction of original missing air crew report.
National Archives and Record Administration
Missing Air Crew Report for Second Lieutenant Doyle Fleming Nee
A Missing Air Crew Report for Second Lieutenant Doyle Fleming Nee (1921-1944). This report was completed by Captain Lawrence W. Pool on October 3, 1944. 2nd Lt. Nee (1921-1944) was an alumnus of Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Florida. He married one of his classmates before joining the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) 367th Fighter Squadron of the 358th Fighter Group during World War II. 2nd Lt. Nee became a skilled airplane pilot and participated in many battles throughout France during his career. His life came to an end on October 2, 1944, when a friendly airplane struck his plane, and he evacuated the aircraft without a parachute near Faulquemont, France. 2nd Lt. Nee is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten report by Lawrence W. Pool, October 3, 1944.
Missing Air Crew Report for the 390th Bomb Group's 569th Bomb Squadron
The Missing Air Crew Report for the 390th Bomb Group's 569th Bomb Squadron, which went missing on January 20, 1945. The crew's Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down near Altenheim, France, while flying on a bombing mission to Heilbronn, Germany. The crew consisted of navigator David M. Roche, pilot Earl D. Greenstreet, co-pilot William H. Guion, Jr., bombardier/togglier George J. Arnold, radio monitor Victor J. DeMaise, ball turret gunner Cletus L. Wadlow, Jr., waist gunner Thomas E. Eason, engineer/top turret gunner Kenneth E. Tricker, and tail gunner Thomas S. Leibner. It was later discovered that all but one member of the crew survived. Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Eason (1922-1945), a Florida native, was Killed in Action (KIA) during the bailout procedure.SSgt, Eason served for over three years in the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) as a waist gunner on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet and Lovely" and "Princess Pat." SSgt. Eason completed 28 missions in both the Pacific and European Theaters of World War II. On January 20, 1945, he was killed near Altenheim, France, after his airplane was shot down by enemy combatants. Over the course of his service, SSgt. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten report.
Missing Air Crew Report Statement for First Lieutenant Doyle Fleming Nee
A Missing Air Crew Report Statement for First Lieutenant Doyle Fleming Nee (1921-1944). This statement was completed by John E. Molen on October 2, 1944. 1st Lt. Nee (1921-1944) was an alumnus of Pensacola High School in Pensacola, Florida. He married one of his classmates before joining the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) 367th Fighter Squadron of the 358th Fighter Group during World War II. 1st Lt. Nee became a skilled airplane pilot and participated in many battles throughout France during his career. His life came to an end on October 2, 1944, when a friendly airplane struck his plane, and he evacuated the aircraft without a parachute near Faulquemont, France. 1st Lt. Nee is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten statement by John E. Molen, October 2, 1944.
Missing Crew Report for Lieutenant Dean N. Post, Jr.
The Missing Crew Report for Lieutenant Dean N. Post, Jr. (1921-1944), filed by Major John A. Storch. Lt. Post was a pilot from Tampa, Florida, who served in the U.S. Army during World World II with the 357th Fighter Group of the 264th Fighter Squadron. His airplane crashed in Martimpré, France, on May 28, 1944, and was executed by German authorities after being hidden by French citizens in Gérardmer. Lt. Post is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Digital reproduction of original 2-page typewritten report by John A. Storch, May 28, 1944: National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State University) Yearbook
A page from the Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State University) yearbook around 1917. The page features the the yearbook's name, The Reveille, along with a list of seven Junior classmen with their majors and their photographs. A notable student pictured is Alexander Miguel Roberts, who appears in the last photograph in the left column. Born on October 13, 1895 in Mexico City, Mexico, Roberts grew up in both Gulfport, Mississippi, and Havana, Cuba, traveling between the two cities. Roberts enlisted in the aviation branch of the United States Army when the United States entered World War I. His plane was shot down over Belgium and he was captured on his first mission. Roberts worked as a pilot during the interwar years. He was drafted in 1942 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He served as an official aide and aviation advisor to the United States Army. He died in Tampa, Florida, on July 23, 1988, and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery. 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.
Mississippi A&amp
Digital reproduction of original yearbook page.
Mississippi A&M, Starkville, Mississippi
Mitchell Hammock Road when it was being paved in 1989. Oviedo City Council members signed a deal with Seminole County officials and a developer to pave Mitchell Hammock Road and turn it into a major highway. The developer, the Anden Group, paid for the road to be paved from Lockwood Road to Florida State Road 426. The City of Oviedo would pay for the addition of two lanes. Developing Mitchell Hammock became a priority because of the development of the Twin Rivers and Alafaya Woods communities by the Anden Group, which would generate a huge amount of traffic congestion, thus necessitating pavement.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographs by Karen Jacobs, 1989: Private Collection of Karen Jacobs.
East Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, Florida
Mitchell Hammock Road in 1990, just after being paved. Oviedo City Council members signed a deal with Seminole County officials and a developer to pave Mitchell Hammock Road and turn it into a major highway. The developer, the Anden Group, paid for the road to be paved from Lockwood Road to Florida State Road 426. The City of Oviedo would pay for the addition of two lanes. Developing Mitchell Hammock became a priority because of the development of the Twin Rivers and Alafaya Woods communities by the Anden Group, which would generate a huge amount of traffic congestion, thus necessitating pavement.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographs by Karen Jacobs, 1990: Private Collection of Karen Jacobs.
Mitchell Hammock Road when it was an unpaved dirt road in Oviedo, Florida, in 1989. Oviedo City Council members signed a deal with Seminole County officials and a developer to pave Mitchell Hammock Road and turn it into a major highway. The developer, the Anden Group, paid for the road to be paved from Lockwood Road to Florida State Road 426. The City of Oviedo would pay for the addition of two lanes. Developing Mitchell Hammock became a priority because of the development of the Twin Rivers and Alafaya Woods communities by the Anden Group, which would generate a huge amount of traffic congestion, thus necessitating pavement.
Mitchell Post National Encampment Postcard
A postcard depicting the St. Cloud Mitchell Post at the 44th National Encampment in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The front of the postcard shows men with drums and flags before or after participating in the encampment parade. The group is standing in front of a building called Lawrence's Pharmacy. The back of the postcard features handwritten notes explaining, "ST. CLOUD'S MITCHELL POST AT NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT ATLANTIC CITY 1910". At the top is also a notation number, "88.1.157". The 44th National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic took place September 22-23, 1910 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The total attendence of the gathering was 213,901. Mitchell Post was named after the first G.A.R. veteran soldier to die after the St. Cloud colony was established. Lucius L. Mitchell, a private of the G.A.R., moved with his wife and five of their eight children to St. Cloud, Florida in 1909. He would die later that same year, and be buried in the Rose Hill Cemetary in Kissimmee, Florida. This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 inch black and white postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
Mobile Post Offices at Dozen Sites to Aid Christmas Mailing
A newspaper featuring an announcement made by Orlando Postmaster Lucius A. Bryant. According to the article, post office trucks would be available at 12 shopping centers in Orlando the following day. The mobile post officers sold Christmas stamps and mail delivery service. Bryant also announced that the Downtown Orlando Post Office would be open for the afternoon. The original post office was housed in the Federal Building, located 44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, from 1917 to 1941. In 1935, when James D. Beggs, Jr. became the postmaster, he began petitioning to move the post office from its Central Boulevard and Court Avenue location to a more spacious building. In 1939, St. James Catholic Church sold a plot of land of Jefferson Street for the new building. The building was designed by Louis A. Simon in the Northern Italian Palazzo Revival-style, and was constructed by J. P. Cullen & Son. The new building opened in 1941 and housed the post office, the courthouse, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offices. The building was named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1989. However, it was eventually sold back to the St. James Church. In 2003, the building was renovated and came under joint ownership by both the church and the federal government. Today, the building retains its post office services but also includes offices for the Catholic Diocese.
Original newspaper article: "Mobile Post Offices at Dozen Sites to Aid Christmas Mailing." December 13, 1969: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
Moddie Miller with Sister and Mother, Carrie Whaley
Algerine Miller's father Moddie Mille,r with his sister and mother, Carrie Whaley. Moddie was born in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, in 1909. He later moved to Sanford and purchased property with his wife Alberta in 1943. They bought lots 1-5 in Block 16 of the Pine Level Subdivision for one hundred dollars from Frank L. and Minnie D. Woodruff. As of 2013, the Miller family still retains the house and property.
Original color photograph: Private Collection of Algerine Miller.
Money Transfer from Ebenezer Nanabamyin Okai
A money transfer sent by Ebenezer Nanabamyin Okai in Tema, Ghana, to Elaine Pancake, the customer relations coordinator for the Downtown Orlando Post Office, located at 51 East Jefferson Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida. This particular post office was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003.
Original money transfer: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Downtown Orlando Post Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida.
Monte Yoho, Harvey Dalton Arnold, Hugh "Hughie" Edwards Thomasson, Jr., Billy Jones, and Henry Paul of The Outlaws
Two of John Gellman's classic 1 black and white photographs of The Outlaws, taken in late 1974 in a field outside Athens, Georgia, while the band was in town for a week playing a club called Between The Hedges. The first photograph features all five members wearing cowboy hats. From left to right, the photograph features drummer Monte Yoho, bassist Harvey Dalton Arnold, guitarist Hughie Thomasson, guitarist/keyboardist Billy Jones, and guitarist Henry Paul. From left to right, the second photograph features Jones, Thomasson, Paul, Arnold and Yoho. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Original black and white photographs: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society
Monte Yoho, Henry Paul, Billy Jones, and Hugh "Hughie" Edwards Thomasson, Jr. of The Outlaws
The Outlaws sometime between 1972 and 1977, featuring, from left to right, drummer Monte Yoho, an unidentified member (possibly bassist Frank O'Keefe), guitarist Henry Paul, guitarist/keyboardist Billy Jones, and guitarist Hughie Thomasson. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Original black and white photograph: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
A postcard depicting The Battery in Charleston, South Carolina. The Battery is a defensive seawall and promenade named for a Civil War-era defense artillery battery located at the site. 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 4 x 6 inch color postcard by the Gulf Stream Card and Distributing Company: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Mother Crying Over the World by Albin Polasek
Mother Crying Over the World, a sculpture created by Albin Polasek in 1942. Polasek was born in 1879 in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic). He apprenticed as a woodcarver in Vienna, Austria, and immigrated to the United States in 1901. After working in the Midwest for nearly four years, Polasek finally began his formal training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1910, Polasek won the Prix de Rome competition, spending three years at the American Academy of Art in Rome, Italy. Once he completed his studies in Rome, Polasek moved to New York City, New York, and set up a studio there. In 1916, the Art Institute of Chicago invited him to head its sculpture department, where he remained for nearly 30 years. In 1949, Polasek retired to Winter Park, Florida, building a home on Lake Osceola. In spite of suffering a stroke in 1950 that left him confined to a wheelchair and his left side paralyzed, Polasek continued to paint, draw, sculpt clay, and carve wood, creating a total of 18 major works before his death in 1965. In 1961, Polasek established the Polasek Foundation, designating his personal galleries, chapel, and gardens as a museum. Each year, thousands of local and international guests come to Winter Park to visit Polasek’s historic home and studio at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. Polasek’s works can be found in Europe, all over the United States, and locally in Winter Park and Orlando.
Original sculpture: Polasek, Albin. Man Carving His Own Destiny: Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida.
The Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Original color digital image: Examiner.com.
Mount Dora Train Station, Mount Dora, Florida
Mount Dora Train Station Historic Marker
The U.S. National Register of Historic Places plaque at the Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 2007. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Original color digital image by Ebyabe, May 20, 2007.
The Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 1915. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph, 1915: Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
The Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 1920. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Print reproduction of original black and white postcard, 1920: Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly. Mount Dora. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2000.
Arcadia Publishing
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Orlando
African American churches--Southern States
The Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Orlando, located at 701 West South Street, in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2003. This African-American congregation was organized in 1919 and originally met in various locations. When land was purchased for the construction of a church, congregants made rusticated concrete blocks to construct the walls of the building in the Gothic architectural style. The church was completed in 1921.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hayslett Win Freezer and Beef
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on July 7, 1971. This article is about Oviedo's Fourth of July celebration that took place the previous weekend. According to the article, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hayslett of Chuluota, Florida, won a General Electric freezer and a side of beef. A number of businesses and local community members participated in the celebration and sponsored a several games and prizes.
Original newspaper article: "Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hayslett Win Freezer and Beef." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 7, 1971: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
The Oviedo Outlook
John Courier Field, Oviedo High School, Oviedo, Florida
Mrs. Harner's Fifth Grade Class at Sanford Grammar School, 1949
Mrs. Harner's fifth grade class at Sanford Grammar School in 1949. Some of the students photographed are Evelyn Landress, Catherine King, Wally Van Ness, Betty Alfond, Tommy Russell, Ruthie Nettles, Henry Cason, Kay Jenkins, Sam Dunn, Ernist Wright, Sarah Dunn, Richard Smith, Betty Vincent, Al Stonley, Jon Wyett, Donna Evans, and Nancy Cosh. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 11 x 8 inch black and white photograph, 1949: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Mrs. John W. Mace at the 75th Anniversary of the Oviedo Woman's Club
A note acknowledging that Mrs. John W. Mace (Mary Mace) had accepted an invitation to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC). Mace was the President of the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs (FFWC). Mace was based in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The Oviedo Woman's Club, 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 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.
Original note, 1981: Private Collection of Beatrice Gestrich.
Oviedo Woman's Club
Mrs. Lester's Sixth Grade Class at Sanford Grammar School, 1921-1922
Mrs. Lester's sixth grade class at Sanford Grammar School during the 1921-1922 school year. This class would eventually become the Sanford High School Class of 1928-1929. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 9.7 x 7.3 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Murray Boulevard, Showing Fort Sumter Hotel and Docks Postcard
A postcard depicting a view down Murray Boulevard in Charleston, South Carolina, with Fort Sumter Hotel on one side and the docks on the other. Fort Sumter Hotel was built in 1923 and was converted into condominiums in the 1980s. 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.
Fort Sumter Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina
The Geneva Historical & Genealogical Society is located in Geneva, an unincorporated community in Seminole County, Florida. The first regular meeting was held at the Geneva Community Center on November 30, 1952. Alice Coffee Guyton served as the society's first president. The Society established the Museum of Geneva History, located at 165 First Street, in 1965. W. G. Kilbee and his wife donated the land for the museum's construction. The museum was dedicated in 1966, with Leo Rehbinder cutting the ribbon and Judge Don Cheney of Orlando making a speech. In 1977, a second larger room was added to the building. The Society also owns Fort Lane Park, a former fort from the Second Seminole Indian War (1837-1842).
Geneva Historical & Genealogical Society
Museum of Geneva History 165 First Street Geneva, Florida 32732
Museum of Geneva History, Geneva, Florida
A postcard depicting the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan's Upper West Side in New York City, New York. Founded in 1869, the museum boasts a large collection of gems and was home to many pioneers in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, and diorama creation. 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.
American Museum of Natural History, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, New York City
The Museum of Seminole County History is located at 300 Bush Boulevard in Sanford and features the local history of the country, which is the historical gateway to the interior of Central Florida. Artifacts and exhibits demonstrate the local history of Native Americans, early forts and settlements, steamships and railroads, Seminole County agriculture and industry, nineteenth and twentieth century art, and the Old Folks Home. Also known as the Seminole County Home, the Old Folks Home was constructed in 1926 to house people who were homeless or needed living assistance. In 1965, the building was converted into offices for the County Agricultural and the Home Demonstration Agent and was called the Agricultural Center. In November of 1980, a new agricultural building was completed and the offices were vacated. In 1982, the County Commission approved the conversion of the Old Folks Home into a historical museum, which opened in November of 1983. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1999.
Seminole County, Florida
Museum of Seminole County History 300 Bush Boulevard Sanford, Florida 32773
The Museum of the Apopkans, located at 122 East Fifth Street in Apopka, Florida, includes exhibits about the history of Apopka and Northwest Orange County. The museum is operated by the Apopka Historical Society, which was formed in 1968, after Edward A. Miner displayed his exhibit of early Apopka artifacts at the Folk Festival that same year. The Central Florida Anthropological Society contributed to the Apopka Historical Society, as well as several artists: Bertha Wolz, Betty Jamison, Vickie Doggett, and David Findley. The society was incorporated in 1971 with Elizabeth Grossenbacher as president, Mildred S. Whiteside was vice president, Reba R. Evans as secretary, and Miner as curator. The first Board of Directors included John H. Land, Elin Larson, and Mary Lee Welch.
Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans
Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans 122 East Fifth Street Apopka, Florida 32703
Must Call Doctor if Family is Ill: But A Man Does Not Have to Get Medical Attention for Himself
A newspaper article published by The Central Florida Press on June 20, 1930. The article describes a legal opinion provided by Florida Attorney General Fred Henry Davis (1894-1937) regarding Criminal negligence and medical care. According to Davis, a man is legally required to get medical attention if a family member is ill, but not if he himself is ill. A former lawyer and judge, Davis served as Attorney General from 1927 to 1931, when he was appointed a justice of the Florida Supreme Court, a position that he held until his death in 1937. Before becoming Attorney General, Davis served in the U.S. Army during World War I, then as Leon County prosecutor from 1919 to 1920, and fin ally as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1921 to 1927.
Original newspaper article: "Must Call Doctor if Family is Ill: But A Man Does Not Have to Get Medical Attention for Himself." The Central Florida Press, Vol. 1, No. 9, June 20, 1930, page 1: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Muster Roll of Officers and Enlisted Men of the U.S. Marine Corps
The Muster Roll of Officers and Enlisted Men of the United States Marine Corps, detailing the Marine personnel at the General Supply Company, Fifth Field Depot station in the Pacific in July of 1945. The majority of names on the muster roll are Private First Class. A notable individual listed is William Boese (1923-1996), along with his wife, Frances. Boese was born on March 22, 1923, and grew up in Joliet, Illinois. He entered the United States Marine Corps on August 26, 1942, training in California before receiving his assignment in the Pacific as supply support. He served in the 4th Base Depot and the 5th Field Depot, assisting combat units as they sought to gain ground against the Japanese in the Pacific. After his discharge, Boese worked for the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern Railway as a switchman. He married his wife, Frances, and fathered to daughters, Aldene and Arlene. The family moved to the Tampa Bay, Florida, area in 1978. On February 22, 1996, Boese died at the age of seventy-two. The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, placed a memorial headstone in his honor. 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 muster roll.
Muster Roll of the Crew of the U.S. Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
Page of the muster roll of the crew of the U.S. Navy Yard, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The document lists the names, field or service number, present rating, date of enlistment, and first date received on board. The roll was compiled on June 30, 1942. A notable soldier listed in the document is Ralph Edward King (1920-1995). Born on May 2, 1920, in Sanford, Florida, King enlisted in the United States Navy on March 14, 1939. He was assigned to the Dobbin-class destroyer USS Whitney in Pearl Harbor by 1940. Approximately ninety percent of the crew were on board when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. In January 1943, King and the USS Whitney were deployed into World War II. The Whitney returned to Pearl Harbor in January 1946, and sometime between then and October of the same year, King was transferred to the USS Deliver, a Diver Class Rescue and Salvage Ship. At the time of his discharge, King held the rank of Engineman Chief Petty Officer. He spent time as a Chief Engineer for the Merchant Marines. After leaving the Navy, King returned to Sanford and married his wife, Norma. In 1956, he moved to Lutz, Florida, where he would live out the rest of his days. King passed away on May 17, 1995, at the age of 75. He is memorialized 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 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 muster roll.
Laura Lynn Cepero (b. 1987), Alicia Lynn Cepero (b. 1975), and Samantha Ariel Pryor (b. 1990) in Mystery Fun House, an Orlando attraction, in 2001. The attraction was founded by David A. Siegel on March 28, 1976, and was located at 5767 Major Boulevard. The fun house was closed in 2001.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 2001: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Nairobi Train Station of the Serengeti Express Railway at Busch Gardens Tampa, 2010
The Nairobi Train Station of the Serengeti Express Railway of Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. The park opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. Busch Gardens originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. The Edge of Africa was opened in 1997. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
Original color digital images by Ray Cepero, March 10, 2010: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Nairobi Train Station, Nairobi, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
Newspaper article about Glee Club presentation of Arthur Sullivan's and William Schwenck Gilbert's H.M.S. Pinafore on at Seminole High School on March 31, 1944. Actors and roles included: Neil Powell as Sir Joseph Porter, Dick Aiken as Captain Corcoran, Bob Crumley as Ralph Rackstraw, Bob Callahan as Dick Deadeye, M. L. "Sonny" Raborn as Bill Bobstay, Wayde Rucker as Bob Beckett, Lucy Ward as Josephine, Bobbynette Beard as Cousin Hebe, and Mildred "Bouffie" Robson as Mrs. "Little Buttercup" Cripps. The opera was directed by Ruther Jackson, with Catherine Clark as accompanist and Carey Meekins as dance advisor. Located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Seminole High School was originally established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original newspaper article by Julian Stenstrom: "Names Make 'The News.'" The Sanford Herald, June 2, 1991, pages 1A and 5A: Private Collection of Walter Smith.
Original photographs of a painting of a heart with the names of all the victims of a mass shooting that occurred at Pulse nightclub. The canvas painting was placed in front of the club as a tribute to the victims. Pulse was located at 1912 South Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida. In the early hours of June 12, 2016, an American born security guard named Omar Mir Seddique Mateen shot and killed 49 people and wounded an additional 53 at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Mateen, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), was shot and killed by the Orlando Police Department after a three-hour standoff. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in United States history, the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since the September 11th attacks of 2001, and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in United States history. Most of the victims were Latino, as the club was hosting a Latin Night at the time of the massacre.
Original color photographs: RICHES of Central Florida, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Photograph of Nancy Tribble taking a breath from an air hose while seated underwater in costume as a Weeki Wachee Mermaid around 1948. Newton "Newt" Perry was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1908, and moved with his family to Ocala, Florida in 1922. He was a member of the swimming and diving teams at the University of Florida. Perry earned the nickname "The Human Fish" for his performances of underwater stunts in advertising clips and film shorts, and acted as a swim double for actors in movies and TV shows, including Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan." Perry also advised filmmakers filming underwater scenes at Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, and developed a system for breathing underwater using an air compressor and hose, which was used in the 1948 film "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and during Weeki Wachee Springs' mermaid shows. Perry worked as a lifeguard, public school principal, coach, swimming and scuba diving instructor, and Ocala city pool manager. He opened Perry's Swim School in 1955, and taught more than 120,000 individuals to swim during his career. Perry was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Perry's daughter Delee Perry took over Perry's Swim School following her father's death in 1987, and it was still in operation as of 2020. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947, and used his experiences working at Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs to develop the original concepts for its underwater theater and mermaid shows. Perry sold his stake in Weeki Wachee Springs in 1950. 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 photograph of Weeki Wachee Mermaid, ca. 1948: Personal Collection of Delee Perry.
Aerial photograph of Naval Air Station Sanford in 1958. The Naval Administration Building is located at the center of the photograph surrounded by the barracks, Mess Hall, hangers, and the original tarmac poured during World War II. The RA-5C Vigilantes became synonymous with Naval Air Station Sanford during the Vietnam War. The Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford was commissioned on November 3, 1942 as a naval aviation training facility during World War II. The Navy continued to train pilots at NAS Sanford throughout the Korean and Vietnam Wars. NAS Sanford was temporarily decommissioned after World War II in 1946 and then recommissioned as the Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Sanford in 1950 due to the outbreak of the Korean War and the ongoing Cold War. Soon afterward, the station was renamed NAS Sanford and redesignated as a full naval air station. On February 6, 1959, NAS Sanford was dedicated as Ramey Field in honor of Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Ramey. In 1968, due to lack of funding caused by the Vietnam War, Congress directed the closure of NAS Sanford. The City of Sanford assumed authority over the former NAS Sanford facility the year after it closed and renamed it the Sanford Airport, which was managed by Commander J. S. "Red" Cleveland. The airport underwent various name changes over the next several decades: Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, Orlando-Sanford Regional Airport, and its current name, Orlando-Sanford International Airport. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, several Naval buildings were demolished and new buildings were constructed.
Original black and white photograph by United States Navy Photo Lab Sanford, 1958: NAS Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Museum
A page from the 1958 City Directory for Nashville, Tennessee. The public record served to provide an alphabetical list of citizens by head of household, their address, and relevant occupational information. A spouse’s name is listed next to the head of household. Death dates of those who have been previously listed in the directory, names of employers, and information about migration to other towns are also included. A notable individual listed is Homer Duke Davis. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 30, 1928, David enlisted in the United States Army in April 1946 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and was assigned to the Panama Canal Department. He was released in October 1947. He reenlisted in August 1950, and served until 1955, when he returned to Nashville and worked as a salesman. He married Joan V. Fairhall in 1953, in Surrey, England. They had at least two children. Harris died on December 18, 1996, and 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.
Metropolitan Government of Nashville
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.
Nathaniel Jenkins and Dedra Jenkins on Halloween
Dedra Jenkins and her son, Nathaniel Jenkins, trick-or-treating outside of Albertsons grocery store, which was located on Orange Avenue and Michigan Street in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. Bordered on the east by Division Street and on the west by Orange Blossom Trail (OBT), the Parramore began as an agricultural community. Parramore was historically a segregated African-American community and now comprises three separate downtown neighborhoods: Lake Dot, Callahan, and Holden-Parramore. Once an economically thriving area and the home of many prominent black businesses and institutions, including the Wells’ Built Hotel, South Street Casino, and Wallace’s Beauty Mill, Parramore suffered under Jim Crow segregation, and has lost 65 percent of its population in the last 50 years. It is now one of Orlando’s poorest neighborhoods, with an unemployment rate of 23.8 percent in 2015. However, neighborhood institutions like the Well's Built Museum of African American History and Culture, housed in the historic Wells’ Built Hotel, have worked to preserve memorabilia from Orlando’s African-American community and the local civil rights movement. Current plans to revitalize the Parramore area focus on maintaining its black heritage and culture while building new businesses, schools, and improved housing.
Original 4 x 7 inch color photograph: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
A series of photographs of the National Postal Forum, South. It is unclear as to where or when these photographs were taken. The National Postal Forum (NPF) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1968. The goal of the forum is to provide education to business mailers, as well as to communicate between the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and its business customers for a more responsive and efficient mail communications system. Although there is little identification information, this forum was likely attended by Orlando Postmaster Lucius A. Bryant, Jr. (ca. 1919-2012).
Original black and white photographs: Private Collection of Texann Ivy Buck.
This straight tube is considered the most primitive form of a smoking pipe. This specific pipe is made out of Steatite ,but it is also common to find these pipe’s made out of Greenstone. These pipes are known to be symmetrical and have a smooth prepared finish. Most of these pipes were used as smoking pipes, but it is also known that indigenous shamans used pipes in ritual settings and for healing purposes. Commonly used during tribal pow-wows, members of the tribe put tobacco into one side of the pipe and smoked the tobacco at the other end with a reed. This rare pipe was found in Seminole County, Florida, and has numerous cracks throughout with one side of the pipe’s bowl broken off.
Original color digital image, 2015: Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, 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.
A poster for the Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) concert, “Naughty and Nice.” The event was held at The Plaza Live, located at 425 North Bumby Avenue in Orlando, Florida, on December 13 and 14, 2014. “Naughty and Nice” was a silent auction fundraiser for Toys for Tots, who were partners of the OGC for 24 years. Tickets were $25 in advance through chorus members and orlandogaychorus.org, and $30 at the door. The poster has a green background a hand holding a lump of coal coming in from the top right and Santa's hand holding a present coming in from the bottom right with the title in the middle. Featured artwork includes the logos of the OGC, Toys for Tots, and the Plaza Live. The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Orlando Gay Chorus
Original color poster: University of Central Florida Special Collections, Orlando, Florida.
The Plaza Live Theatre, Orlando, Florida