National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
Apollo 8's Saturn V launch vehicle lifting off from Launch Complex 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, on December 21, 1968. Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit and the first to orbit another celestial body, the Moon. The spacecraft would was manned by Mission Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-), and Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-). Apollo 8 returned to Earth on December 27.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Original color photographic print, December 21, 1968: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Chronopoints
Launch Complex 39A, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
Apollo 8 (AS-503) on Launch Pad 39A of John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. Apollo 8 was the first manned launch of a Saturn V booster and mission to leave Earth orbit. It launched on December 21, 1968, with Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-), and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-). Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit, reach the Moon, and orbit and return safely to Earth. The crew became the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit, to see Earth as a whole planet, to directly see the far side of the Moon, and to witness Earthrise. In this photograph, the spacecraft sits on the mobile launcher weeks before liftoff.
Original color photographic print, December 8, 1968: Leonard Pugh Collection.
John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
An envelope for a photoset of Apollo 8 missions. The envelope includes a reproduction of the Earthrise photograph showing a view of Earth from the Moon. This iconic photograph was taken by the crew of Apollo 8, the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit and the first to orbit another celestial body, the Moon. Apollo 8 launched from Launch Complex 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, on December 21, 1968.. The spacecraft would was manned by Mission Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-), and Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-). Apollo 8 returned to Earth on December 27.
Original envelope: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
A view of Earth from Apollo 8, the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit and the first to orbit another celestial body, the Moon. Apollo 8 launched from Launch Complex 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, on December 21, 1968.. The spacecraft would was manned by Mission Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-), and Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-). Apollo 8 returned to Earth on December 27.
Original color photographic print, December 1968: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
A view of the Moon from Apollo 8, the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit and the first to orbit another celestial body. Apollo 8 launched from Launch Complex 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, on December 21, 1968.. The spacecraft would was manned by Mission Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-), and Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-). Apollo 8 returned to Earth on December 27.
Apollo Command/Service Module and Lunar Module
An Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM) and Lunar Module (LM) assembly being hoisted for stacking on top of the Saturn V rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. The CSM, along with the Lunar Module (LM), was a spacecraft used during Project Apollo to land astronauts on the moon. It was used in nine manned space flights to the Moon aboard the Saturn V.
Original color photographic print: Leonard Pugh Collection.
Apollo Command/Service Module Launch for Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
The Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM) launching from Saturn IB for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). On the final Apollo flight, a Saturn IB lifted the spacecraft aloft from Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. This spacecraft eventually docked to a Soyuz 19 spacecraft from July 15-17, 1975, as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. ASTP was an experiment in cooperation and mating of different technologies from both the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Soyuz 19 was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, near present-day Tyuratam, Kazakhstan. The Soviet spacecraft was in orbit for five days. This successful mission led to cooperation on other projects including the International Space Station (ISS).
Original color photographic print, July 15, 1975: Leonard Pugh Collection.
Launch Pad 39B, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
Apollo Departing the Vehicle Assembly Building
The crawler-transporter-transporter moving a Saturn V to the launch pad at John F. Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 (LC-39). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had previously assembled launch vehicles at the pad, stacking them in place. In a then-revolutionary move, NASA began performing vehicle assembly in the new Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) built specifically to assemble the Apollo-Saturn V launch vehicle, on top of the launcher and move the whole assembly to the pad. The huge crawler-transporter goes under the launcher/vehicle and moves it at a maximum speed of one mph to the launch pad.
Original color photographic print: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
A chart showing the parts and steps involved with a assembly of Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM), Lunar Module (LM), and Spacecraft Launch Adapter (SLA). This visual guide indicates what should be done to make that part of the spacecraft launch ready.
Original chart: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
An artist's rendering of a pad abort test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Quoting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): "This Project Apollo Pad Abort test sequence shows the vehicle from launch escape motor ignition jettison motor ignition and launch escape tower release drogue parachute deployment main parachutes in reefed condition and main chutes fully inflated. The purpose of the Apollo Mission P[ad] A[bort] #1 is to determine the stability and operational characteristics of the Apollo escape configuration during a pad abort. This is the first phase of testing of hardware to land U.S. astronauts on the Moon."
Original greyscale drawing, November 5, 1963: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C.
An artist's rendering of a pad abort test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Quoting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): "This Project Apollo Pad Abort test sequence shows the vehicle from launch escape motor ignition
jettison motor ignition and launch escape tower release
and main chutes fully inflated. The purpose of the Apollo Mission P[ad] A[bort] #1 is to determine the stability and operational characteristics of the Apollo escape configuration during a pad abort. This is the first phase of testing of hardware to land U.S. astronauts on the Moon."
An artist's rendering of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). The Apollo crew consisted of Docking Module Pilot Deke Slayton (1924-1993) (1924-1993), Mission Commander Thomas Stafford (1930-), and Command/Service Module Pilot Vance de. Brand. The Soyuz crew consisted of Commander Alexey Leonov (1934-), Flight Engineer Valeri Nikolayevich Kubasov (1935-2014). Both spacecraft launched on July 15, 1975, within hours of each other, with the first being the Soyuz 19 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Apollo from Launch Pad 39B at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. The two spacecraft docked on July 17 and undocked on July 19, with crews conducting joint science experiments. They also spent time giving tours of each other's spacecraft to television audiences and formal and informal gift exchanges. Afterward, the undocking the Soyuz spent an additional day carrying out experiments and landed on July 21. The Apollo crew also stayed in orbit and conducted space science and Earth observation landing in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.
Original color print: Leonard Pugh Collection.
Launch Complex 39B, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
The American and Soviet crews of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). The Apollo crew consisted of Docking Module Pilot Deke Slayton (1924-1993) (1924-1993), Mission Commander Thomas Stafford (1930-), and Command/Service Module Pilot Vance de. Brand. The Soyuz crew consisted of Commander Alexey Leonov (1934-), Flight Engineer Valeri Nikolayevich Kubasov (1935-2014). Both spacecraft launched on July 15, 1975, within hours of each other, with the first being the Soyuz 19 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Apollo from Launch Pad 39B at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. The two spacecraft docked on July 17 and undocked on July 19, with crews conducting joint science experiments. They also spent time giving tours of each other's spacecraft to television audiences and formal and informal gift exchanges. Afterward, the undocking the Soyuz spent an additional day carrying out experiments and landed on July 21. The Apollo crew also stayed in orbit and conducted space science and Earth observation landing in the Pacific Ocean on July 24.
Apollo-Saturn IB Launch Vehicle of Skylab 3 Sits on Launch Pad 39B
The Apollo-Saturn IB Launch Vehicle of Skylab 3 (SL-3) at Launch Pad 39B of John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. As Project Apollo was winding down and the final three missions (Apollo 18, Apollo 19, and Apollo 20) were canceled, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) looked for ways to repurpose launch vehicles and other equipment. Out of this, Skylab and three space science missions were born. Skylab was conceived by famed rocket designer, Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), to use an unused upper-stage fuel tank and convert it to an orbital laboratory. This was necessitated by NASA's budget being slashed. With the tank becoming the basis of the space station, NASA added solar arrays, a docking adapter, and a space observatory. The Skylab missions were constituted of one mission to put the station in space (Skylab 1), using a modified and last Saturn V to launch, and three crewed missions (Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4) to occupy the lab and perform science, using the smaller Saturn IB booster to launch the three astronaut crews. When launched on May 14, 1973, the station encountered problems immediately. A micrometeoroid shield prematurely deployed and tore off one of the two main solar arrays. NASA engineers went to work and were able to save Skylab and the three crewed missions. Each of the subsequent missions set what were then endurance records for living in space and conducted substantial space science experiments. NASA tried to keep Skylab in orbit after Skylab 4 (SL-4) and until the Space Shuttle could boast its orbit, but with a decaying orbit, it crashed on July 11, 1979. Skylab 3 (SL-3) was launched from Launch Complex 39B, using what was jokingly referred to as a "milk stool" to adapt the launcher to the smaller Saturn IB booster.
Original black and white photographic print, June 11, 1973: Larry Summers Collection.
Apollo-Saturn V Launch Vehicle on Launch Pad 39A
An Apollo-Saturn V booster next to the service tower at John F. Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A in Merritt Island, Florida. The Saturn V was the most powerful launch vehicle ever used, with 7.7 million pounds of thrust. The rocket was used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from 1966 to 1973 to launch spacecraft for Project Apollo and later to launch Skylab, the first American space station.
An artist's rendering of the docking of spacecraft in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). The project was an experiment in cooperation and mating of different technologies from both the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Apollo spacecraft was launched from Launch Complex 39B at John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida using a Saturn IB booster and docked to a Soyuz 19 spacecraft from July 15-17, 1975. Soyuz 19 was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, near present-day Tyuratam, Kazakhstan. The Soviet spacecraft was in orbit for five days. This successful mission led to cooperation on other projects including the International Space Station (ISS).
Original color photographic print: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
A newspaper article discussing the approval of a restoration plan for Lake Apopka by the Florida Department of Pollution Control (DPC). The plan was to use grant money from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a drawdown of Lake Apopka and allow bottom sediment to consolidate. The project was to be controlled locally by the newly formed Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council, which was established earlier that year. The Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council was formed on April 21, 1972, consisting of members representing Orange County, Lake County, Marion County, and Putnam County, as well as representatives of state agencies, such as the Florida Department of Air and Water Pollution Control. The council was formed to coordinate planning of environmental restoration at a regional level under the Florida Inter-Local Cooperation Act of 1969, which allowed city, county, and state agencies to coordinate with each other on mutually beneficial projects. The council’s primary project was a proposed drawdown of Lake Apopka, which was heavily polluted due to agricultural and sewage run-off by the 1970s. The drawdown would entail completely or mostly draining the lake, discharging the water downstream into the lakes and rivers that constitute the Ocklawaha River Basin, allowing Lake Apopka’s bottom sediments to consolidate, in the hope that this would improve Lake Apopka’s water quality. The council applied for several federal grants seeking funding for this project.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "Apopka Restoration Plan Revealed." The Palatka Daily News, October 15, 1972: binder 1972, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
The Palatka Daily News
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in 2014. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Original color digital images by Lehman Connolly, February 7, 2014.
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, Apopka, Florida
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, 1960s
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in the 1960s. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Photocopy of original black and white photograph: Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans, Apopka, Florida.
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, 1988
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in 1988. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This photograph was taken by a Seaboard Air Line railway operator.
Photocopy of original black and white photograph, 1988: Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans, Apopka, Florida.
Applicants for the Holden Heights Front Porch Grant at Grand Avenue Park
Members of the Parramore community applying for the Holden Heights Front Porch Grant at Grand Avenue Park in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 1999. On the left side of the picnic table, from front to back, the photograph depicts: Allison Hewitt, representing the Front Porch Initiative from the Governor's office in Tallahassee; an unidentified community member; Dedra Jenkins, the donor of this photograph; and another unidentified community member. On the right side of the picnic table, from front to back, the photograph depicts: Nancy Rivera; Kathy King; representing the City of Orlando Neighborhood Services; Debrah McCormick; and Mary Handratty. Standing up on the right side of the photograph, from front to back, the photograph depicts: Sharlene Mitchell, representing Safe Neighborhood Council; an unidentified community member; Randall Grief representing the Orange Blossom Trail Development Board; and another unidentified community member. The grant equipped communities who received this designation with the ability to communicate and navigate the state and local governments. It took community members 30 days to put the grant together, and they eventually received the Holden Heights Front Porch Grant from Governor Jeb Bush (b. 1953).This photograph was originally discarded, along with other similar photographs, and then found by a local resident near the Emmanuel Fellowship and Worship Center, which is located at the former site of Restore Orlando. The collection was given to the contributor, Dedra Jenkins.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph, 1999: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Grand Avenue Park, Holden Heights, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Application for Marriage License Atlantic, Beach, Florida 1937-06-10
An application for a marriage license signed by Solomon Sturdivant and Dorothy Ann Simpson. PFC Solomon Sturdivant was born to James and Mary Sturdivant on April 25, 1915 in Wytheville, Virginia. He was drafted by the US Army on December 29, 1942. During World War II, he served as a member of the 231st AAA Searchlight Battalion. He was killed March 5, 1945. He is now buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France. He is one of 85 Florida residents interned at Epinal.
Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1993 GS Film Number 2109281 Digital Folder Number 004706872 Image Number 01183
Application for Marriage License for Solomon Callis Sturdivant and Dorothy Ann Simpson
An application for a marriage license for Solomon Callis Sturdivant (1915-1945) and Dorothy Ann Simpson. Sturdivant was born to James Sturdivant and Mary Sturdivant on April 25, 1914, in Wytheville, Virginia. Private first class Sturdivant was drafted by the U.S. Army on December 29, 1942, while he was residing in Atlantic Beach. During World War II, he served as a member of the 231st American Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion. PFC Sturdivant was Killed in Action (KIA) in France on March 5, 1945. He is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Digital reproduction of original handwritten application, June 10, 1937: Image Number 01183, Digital Folder Number 004706872, GS Film Number 2109281, State Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Application for Seaman’s Certificate of American Citizenship
The Application for Seaman’s Certificate of American Citizenship for Harry Carson in November 1923. It lists Carson's place and date of birth, the last ship he was employed on, the next ship he would be employed on, as well as a description of his appearance and a photograph. The application refers to his honorable discharge as proof of his birth and refers to a letter submitted to provide proof of his future employment as an assistant storekeeper on a United States Shipping Board (USSB) ship. Harry Carson was born in Russia in 1897 and immigrated to the United States in 1907. Carson and his family were Jewish, and they most likely immigrated to the United States in order to flee persecution and violence that they faced as Jews living in Russia in the early twentieth century. After arriving in the United States, Harry grew up in Rochester, New York. In April of 1915 he enlisted in the US Army and served in the 12th Cavalry Regiment until August of 1919. During his service he may have been sent to New Mexico in order to patrol the US-Mexican border. After his service, Carson worked as an intelligence agent for the FBI. He eventually moved to Florida and passed away in 1989. Carson is buried at 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 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 application for seaman's certificate of American citizenship, November 10, 1923.
Application for World War II Compensation for Frank Black Morgan
An application for World War II Compensation completed by Edna Grace Morgan, the mother of First Lieutenant Frank Black Morgan (1920-1944). 1st Lt. Morgan was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 1920, to Samuel Morgan and Edna Grace Morgan. Samuel Morgan was a first generation American of Northern Irish descent, working in the publishing industry as an editor and linotype operation. Edna Morgan (née Black) was a native of Pennsylvania. 1st Lt. Morgan had two older brothers: Samuel Cree Morgan (1909-1990) and James Alexander Morgan (1912-1982). The Morgans owned a home on 17 Clopper Street in Greensburg, where 1st Lt. Morgan resided until he entered active service on April 27, 1942, out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 22. 1st Lt. Morgan trained at MacDuill Field, a U.S. Army Air Corps which would become MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and then served with the 555th Bomber Squadron, a unit within the 386th Bomber Group. 1st Lt. Morgan served his country with distinction, earning an Air Medal with Eight Oak Leaf Clusters. He died on December 20, 1944, four days into the Ardennes Counteroffensive, also known as the Battle of the Bulge. His death is listed as non-battle related, suggesting that he may have been one of the many Martin B-26 Marauder crashes at takeoff or upon landing. 1st Lt. Morgan died just before the end of World War II at the age of 24. 1st Lt. Morgan is buried in Plot B, Row 39, Grave 46 at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France. A second memorial was organized by his family is at Parker Presbyterian Cemetery in Parker, Pennsylvania.
Digital reproduction of original typewritten application.
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
Seminole Boulevard on the west edge of Sanford along Lake Monroe. Seminole Boulevard is the part of U.S. Highway 17 that runs along the coast of Lake Monroe in Sanford, Florida. U.S. Highway 17 begins in Punta Gorda, briefly runs east, and then goes north along Peace River through Arcadia, Zolfo Springs, and Wauchula. The road then joins U.S. Highway 98 at Fort Meade and continues northward until Bartow, when it separates to travel northeast. At Winter Haven, U.S. 17 becomes concurrent with U.S. Highway 92 through Kissimmee, where both highways join U.S. Highway 192. When all three roads meet U.S. Highway 441, U.S. 17/92 turns north into downtown Orlando and then splits from U.S. 441 at State Road 50/Colonial Drove and continues east until it turns north at State Road 15/Mills Avenue. In Sanford, U.S. 17/92 crosses over the St. Johns River into Volusia County and then splits north of DeLand as U.S. 17 travels north toward Palatka, again crossing the St. Johns River. The highway then continues through Clay County, suburban Jacksonville, and Nassau County until it reaches the Florida border. The entire highway spans across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Lake Monroe is a lake that is part of the St. Johns River system in Florida and is also the eigth largest lake in the Orlando metropolitan area. Sanford is located on its northern shore and DeBary and Deltona are located along its northern shore. Two major roadways, State Road 415 and Interstate 4, run near the lake. Lake Monroe also formes the border of Seminole County and Volusia County.
Original 4 x 6 inch color postcard by Orange News Company: Postcard Collection, call number PC5643, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
State Library and Archives of Florida
A set of labels for Bluebird Citrus Products in Arabic. The labels include an illustration featuring the fruit juice in the container, including apple, grapefruit, orange, and pineapple. Bluebird brand citrus juices were manufactured and distributed by Southern Fruit Distributors, Inc., a company founded by Philip Caruso. The Bluebird juice company is currently part of Florida's Natural Food Service.
6 original color labels: Private Collection of Judith LaRue
Southern Fruit Distributors, Inc., Orlando, Florida
Architect's Rendition of Sanford Grammar School, 1908
An architect's rendition of Sanford Grammar School construction plan in 1908. 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 U.S. 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 12 x 8 inch black and white photograph, 1908: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, Florida
A poster advertising an exhibition of the photographic series of Reg Garner, a Sanford resident. The event was held on August 23, 2006. While not a Creative Sanford, Inc. event, this poster illustrates the co-op arrangement at the Princess Theater, located at 115 West First Street in Sanford, Florida. Creative Sanford, Inc. is the lease holder, but co-ops the space with other groups to share the costs involved in leasing the theater space. The Princess Theater was first opened in 1915 as a live theater and film theater until the mid-1960s, when it was converted into an automobile parts dealership for over 20 years. The theater was revitalized by Creative Sanford.
Original color digital image by Autumn Reisz, October 11, 2013.
Creative Sanford, Inc., Sanford, Florida
Arlene Boardman with Her Bench in Sanford Grammar School's Shade Garden
Arlene Boardman and the bench that she donated to Sanford Grammar School's Shade Garden. 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 x 4 inch color photograph: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Arlene Brooks Practicing Ballet in the Mermaid Villa
Mermaids--Florida--Weeki Wachee--History
Three strips of safety film with twelve photographs showing Arlene Brooks in several ballet positions. The photographs are assumed to be taken by Weeki Wachee's resident photographer, Sparky Schumacher. These photos were taken in the 1960s. Practicing moves out of the water is just as important as practicing moves underwater. 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 Kodak Safety Film strips, 12 photographs, c. 1960s: Private collection of Arlene Brooks.
RICHES
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, Florida
Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
An autographed portrait of Arrabella Dennison, which is housed at the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida. Dennison was the secretary for Dr. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune at Bethune-Cookman College (B-CC). Originally the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls, Bethune-Cookman was established by African-American educator and civil rights activist Dr. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune in October 1904. In 1923, the school merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville and then became affiliated with the Methodist Church the following year. The school served as a co-educational high school until 1931 when it became a junior college. In 1941, the school was accredited as a four-year college and was renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Dennison also served as the executive secretary for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) when it was established by Dr. Bethune in 1935. NCNW was organized to advance opportunities for African-American women via research, advocacy, and national and community-based programs.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photographic print: Sun room, image 101, Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Daytona Beach, Florida.
Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Mary McLeod Bethune Home, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida
Art Brown Pest Control, Inc. Advertisement
A newspaper advertisement for the Art Brown Pest Control, Inc., located at 2562 South Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida. Art Brown Pest Control was incorporated in Florida on March 28, 1974. It's officers included Roberta Crabtree, Bill Spencer, Donald R. Rogers, and Patricia A. Spencer. The company was voluntarily dissolved on October 5, 1990.
Original newspaper advertisement: The Evening Herald, May 13, 1975: Private Collection of Beatrice Gestrich.
Oviedo Woman's Club
Art Brown Pest Control, Inc., Sanford, Florida
Art Legends of Orange County: The Art of Hal McIntosh
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
Oral history of Hal McIntosh, conducted by Erin Parke on March 16, 2015. McIntosh is a nationally renowned artist who currently resides in Winter Park, Florida. Born in 1927, Hal McIntosh began his formal studies at the Detroit Art Institute in Detroit, Michigan, and the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio. At age 18, the Art Research Studio (present-day Maitland Art Center) in Maitland, Florida, selected him as the institution’s youngest-ever artist in residence. His talent later earned him the Directorship of the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he served as a museum director and teacher for five years. As a resident of Central Florida, McIntosh taught at the Loch Haven Art Center in Orlando and even ran his own institution known as the McIntosh School in Winter Park for 30 years. McIntosh splits his time between his Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Winter Park studios. With an artistic career lasting over 60 years, Hal McIntosh’s influence on our community is profound. His bold abstractions, tranquil waterscapes, and stirring portraiture, all masterfully painted with a touch of McIntosh’s signature Orientalism, have been widely exhibited in the area and are part of numerous regional collections, both private and public. Deep connections with the people and places of Orange County have allowed McIntosh to join the ranks as one of the greats and to be remembered eternally as an Art Legend. In this oral history interview, McIntosh discusses his early life and education, his teaching philosophy, and where he gets the inspiration and influence for his art. He also mentions his relationship with Albin Polasek and Emily Muska Kubat Polasek. Eric Varty, a close friend of Hal, also contributes briefly to the conversation.
Original 1-hour, 6-minute, and 42-second oral history: McIntosh, Hal. Interviewed by Erin Parke on March 16, 2015. Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida.
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida
Arthur Bullard Newton in 1909. Often called "Mr. First," Newton moved to Winter Garden, Florida, in 1892 where he was continually busy with varied pursuits in business, politics, and services. In his long line of being first, he established the first post office for the city, the first newspaper, was the first depot agent, and was Winter Garden's first mayor. He also ran a general merchandise store and worked as a cashier for the First National Bank of Winter Garden. Newton has been given the nickname of "Godfather of Winter Garden" for all of his achievements and milestones. In honor of his achievements, Newton Park at 31 West Garden Avenue is named in his honor.
Original black and white photograph, 1909: Up From the Ashes Exhibit, Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Winter Garden, Florida.
The building in the photograph is the third incarnation of Arthur Bullard Newton's dry goods store, which was built at 14 South Main Street in Winter Garden, Florida, in 1909. Across the building is advertising the merchandise sold at his store. Often called "Mr. First," Newton moved to Winter Garden, Florida, in 1892 where he was continually busy with varied pursuits in business, politics, and services. In his long line of being first, he established the first post office for the city, the first newspaper, was the first depot agent, and was Winter Garden's first mayor. He also ran a general merchandise store and worked as a cashier for the First National Bank of Winter Garden. Newton has been given the nickname of "Godfather of Winter Garden" for all of his achievements and milestones. In honor of his achievements, Newton Park at 31 West Garden Avenue is named in his honor.
Original black and white photograph: Up From the Ashes Exhibit, Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Winter Garden, Florida.
A. B. Newton's Dry Goods Store, Winter Garden, Florida
Arthur Bullard Newton's fourth store in Winter Garden, Florida, the 1920s. Over the years other businesses would take root in the building. However, in the early 1920s the store's interior was burned. Until it was repaired, Newton worked at a different location. The building was demolished in 1984. Often called "Mr. First," Newton moved to Winter Garden, Florida, in 1892 where he was continually busy with varied pursuits in business, politics, and services. In his long line of being first, he established the first post office for the city, the first newspaper, was the first depot agent, and was Winter Garden's first mayor. He also ran a general merchandise store and worked as a cashier for the First National Bank of Winter Garden. Newton has been given the nickname of "Godfather of Winter Garden" for all of his achievements and milestones. In honor of his achievements, Newton Park at 31 West Garden Avenue is named in his honor.
A. B. Newton's Store, Winter Garden, Florida
Arthur Lott Acquitted of Assault: Circuit Jury Convicts Man on Resisting Charge
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on August 1, 1973. The article discusses the case of Arthur Lott, who was convicted by a circuit court jury of a lesser charge of resisting arrest without violence for his altercation with police office Arthur Barkley during a routine traffic stop. Lott was acquitted of aggravated assault charges, despite allegations that he pulled a knife on Officer Barkley. Lott was ultimately ordered to pay a $250 fine and received a two-year suspension.
Original newspaper article: "Circuit Jury Convicts Man on Resisting Charge." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
The Oviedo Outlook
Article Regarding John Hancock's Division
Sgt. John B Hancock was born in 1913 in Georgia. He was enlisted into the 179th Infantry Regiment in the 45th Division. He was enlisted and trained in Georgia and Florida. He participated in the Africa campaign in 1943. After this campaign, he participated in the invasion of Sicily. During this time, he was able to infrequently communicate with people back home. He then went on the storm the Italian Peninsula. After fighting through 1944, he was injured in Southern France. After recovering from his minor wounds, he fought through 1944. On November 1, 1944, he went missing in action. He was eventually buried in Epinal Cemetery in Dinoze, France.
Artist's Renderings for the Florida Mall
Artist's renderings of the exterior and the interior of the Florida Mall. The mall was designed and constructed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, founded by Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. (1909-1994) in 1944. Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. (b. 1946) joined his father's business and together they became known as the "kings of the shopping mall." By the late 1980s, the DeBartolo Corporation had constructed 51 shopping malls, including 21 in Florida. The Florida Mall, located on the corner of Sand Lake Road and Orange Blossom Trail, was designed to appeal to Central Florida's large tourist economy and opened in March of 1986. Originally, the mall sat on 250 acres, contained over 1.3 million square feet of shopping space, and featured over 160 stores.
Original 8 x 10 inch color drawings: Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.
An artist's rendering of the exterior of the Florida Mall. The mall was designed and constructed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, founded by Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. (1909-1994) in 1944. Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. (b. 1946) joined his father's business and together they became known as the "kings of the shopping mall." By the late 1980s, the DeBartolo Corporation had constructed 51 shopping malls, including 21 in Florida. The Florida Mall, located on the corner of Sand Lake Road and Orange Blossom Trail, was designed to appeal to Central Florida's large tourist economy and opened in March of 1986. Originally, the mall sat on 250 acres, contained over 1.3 million square feet of shopping space, and featured over 160 stores.
Original 8 x 10 inch color drawing: Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.
Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979
March on Washington Movement (Organization)
Civil rights movements--New York (State)--New York
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963 : Washington, D.C.)
An autographed portrait of Asa Philip Randolph, which is housed at the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida. Randolph was born in Crescent City, Florida, on April 15, 1889. In 1891, his family moved to Jacksonville, where Randolph later attended Cookman Institute, the only academic high school in Florida available to African Americans. He graduated in 1907 and migrated to New York City, New York, in 1911. Randolph spent the rest of his life as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, the labor movement, and in various socialist parties. Some of his most notable accomplishments include organizing the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) in 1925, leading the March on Washington Movement (MOWM) of 1941-1946, and heading the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. His organizations were responsible for convincing President Franklin Delano Roosevel to issue Executive Order 8802, which banned discrimination in defense industries, in 1941; pressuring President Harry S. Truman to issue Executive Order 9981, which ended segregation in the United States Armed Forces, in 1948; and inspuring the Freedom Budget (also known as the Randolph Freedom Budget), which focused on solving economic problems specific to the African-American community.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photographic print: Sun room, image 12, Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Daytona Beach, Florida.
A postcard depicting the exterior of Ashley Hall, a school in Charleston, South Carolina. Once the Spring-Witte estate, the building was purchased by Mary Vardrine McBee in 1909 and turned into an independent college preparatory school. It is still in operation today. 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.
Ashley Williams at Restore Orlando's Game Night
Ashley Williams at Restore Orlando's game night. Created by Jerry Applebee and Polly Applebee in 1994, the Restore Orlando's after-school program organized outings such as horseback riding and helicopter rides. The Applebees were affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. Dedra Jenkins fought to have a basketball court built for the older children at Kaley Square Park across the street. Originally, owners of the church and park did not want a court because they feared it would be a place where drug dealers would congregate. This photograph, taken by an unknown volunteer at the program, was originally discarded, along with other similar photographs, and then found by a local resident near the Emmanuel Fellowship and Worship Center, which is located at the former site of Restore Orlando. The collection was given to the contributor, Dedra Jenkins.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Restore Orlando, Holden-Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Assembly of AS-500F Verification Vehicle
The assembly of the AS-500F (also called Facilities Integration Vehicle) full-scale mock-up of the Apollo/Saturn V launch verification vehicle. The AS-500F was used to verify assembly methods, the use of the crawler-transporter to move the vehicle to the launch pad and test vehicle fueling.
Original black and white photographic print, May 3, 1966: Larry Summers Collection.
Vehicle Assembly Building, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
Shepard, Alan B. (Alan Bartlett), 1923-1998
A portrait of Mission Commander Alan Shepard (1923-1998) taken for the upcoming Apollo 14 mission. Apollo 14 was the third mission to land men on the Moon, including Shepard, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa (1933-1994), and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell (1930-). These three astronauts conducted a ten-day mission that launched on January 31, 1971, from John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, and landing in the Pacific Ocean on February 9, 1971. The mission landed Shepard and Mitchell on the Moon, where they collected specimens, conducted, research and even hit a couple of golf balls using a special club that Shepard had stowed away.
Original black and white photographic print, November 14, 1970: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
A portrait of Mission Commander Alan Shepard (1923-1998), the first American in space, likely taken around the time of his Apollo 14 flight. Shepard was the only Mercury Seven, as the original seven astronauts were called, to also walk on the Moon. Apollo 14 was the third mission to land men on the Moon, including Shepard, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa (1933-1994), and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell (1930-). These three astronauts conducted a ten-day mission that launched on January 31, 1971, from John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, and landing in the Pacific Ocean on February 9, 1971. The mission landed Shepard and Mitchell on the Moon, where they collected specimens, conducted, research and even hit a couple of golf balls using a special club that Shepard had stowed away.
Original black and white photographic print: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Astronaut Alan Shepard with a Lunar Landing Training Vehicle
Mission Commander Alan Shepard (1923-1998), the only Mercury Seven astronaut to walk on the Moon, standing near a Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV) at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The LLTV was used to practice Moon landings, which were done with the Lunar Module (LM). Apollo 14 was the third mission to land men on the Moon, including Shepard, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa (1933-1994), and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell (1930-). These three astronauts conducted a ten-day mission that launched on January 31, 1971, from John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, and landing in the Pacific Ocean on February 9, 1971. The mission landed Shepard and Mitchell on the Moon, where they collected specimens, conducted, research and even hit a couple of golf balls using a special club that Shepard had stowed away.
Original black and white photographic print, December 14, 1970: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin (1930-) on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Aldrin was the second man to set foot on the Moon, and was in most of the famous photographs taken by Mission Commander Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) celestial body, the Moon. Launched from Launch Pad 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 fired the third stage engines two and half hours after launch to leave Earth's gravitational pull. The mission was highlighted by the first lunar landing by human beings and Armstrong's descent from the Lunar Module (LM) to place his foot on the surface of the Moon. He and Aldrin spent less than 22 hours on the Moon, including two and half hours outside Eagle, their Lunar Module. The crew, which also included Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-), returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Original black and white photographic prints, July 20, 1969: Leonard Pugh Collection.
Astronaut David Scott Examining the Genesis Rock
Commander David Scott (1932-) examining the Genesis Rock at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Genesis rock was a lunar sample that Scott and Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin (1930-1991) collected while on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission. The sample was found to be approximately 4.1 billion years old. Apollo 15 was the first of three extended capabilities missions, which allowed astronauts greater mobility with the Lunar Rover and additional equipment. The mission was crewed by Scott, Irwin, and Command Module Pilot Alfred Worden (1932-), and was launched from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 26, 1971. Apollo 15 continued on a 12-day mission, including a Moon landing on July 30 and a Pacific Ocean splashdown on August 7.
Original black and white photographic print, August 18, 1971: Larry Summers Collection.
Astronaut Eugene Cernan With Wife and Daughter
Apollo 17 Mission Commander Eugene Cernan (1934-) with his wife, Barbara Cernan, and his daughter, Teresa Cernan, after a lunar landing training session at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. On December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 became the first night launch of an American human spaceflight and was also the last manned launch of a Saturn V rocket. During the 12-day mission, astronauts conducted observations, experiments, and sample-gathering from the Moon. Apollo 17 broke a number of previous records, such as the longest manned lunar landing flight, the longest total lunar surface extravehicular activities, the largest lunar sample return, and the longest time in lunar orbit. The Apollo 17 crew consisted of Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt (1935-), Cernan, and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans (1933-1990).
Original black and white photographic print, August 15, 1972: Larry Summers Collection.
Astronaut Frank Borman During a Simulated Altitude Chamber Test
Apollo 8 (AS-503) astronaut Frank Borman (1928-) entering the capsule during a simulated altitude chamber test at the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) (MSOB) at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. Apollo 8 was the first manned launch of a Saturn V booster and mission to leave Earth orbit. It launched on December 21, 1968, with Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-), and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-). Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit, reach the Moon, and orbit and return safely to Earth. The crew became the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit, to see Earth as a whole planet, to directly see the far side of the Moon, and to witness Earthrise.
Original black and white photographic print, September 11, 1968: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
Apollo 8 (AS-503) astronaut Frank Borman (1928-) jogging at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. Borman would command the mission launched three days after this photograph was taken. Apollo 8 was the first manned launch of a Saturn V booster and mission to leave Earth orbit. It launched on December 21, 1968, with Commander Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-), and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-). Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit, reach the Moon, and orbit and return safely to Earth. The crew became the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit, to see Earth as a whole planet, to directly see the far side of the Moon, and to witness Earthrise.
Original black and white photographic print, December 18, 1968: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) was the sixth American in space and the fourth to orbit the Earth. Cooper flew in the Faith 7 spacecraft for Project Mercury. At the time, he was in space for 34 hours, longer than any American. With his second space flight in Project Gemini, Cooper led all astronauts and cosmonauts in total accumulated time in space. U.S. Air Force (USAF) Colonel Cooper was selected in 1959 as one of the Mercury 7, which was the first group of American astronauts, after a detailed examination of him physically and psychologically, and the successful achievement of the qualifying requirements. Before entering the space program, Cooper was an accomplished pilot, aeronautical engineer, and test pilot. In this self signed color photograph, Cooper is posed in his space suit standing next to a scale model of his spacecraft with the American flag behind him.
Original 8 x 10 inch color photographic print: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Astronaut Gordon Cooper and Dr. Calvin D. Fowler at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) with Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14's manager Dr. Calvin D. Fowler, who would launch Cooper into orbit, observing the rocket delivery. In the final launch of Project Mercury, Cooper's Atlas launch vehicle sat on its side before being fully assembled and lifted vertically on the gantry. The Atlas was America's first rocket capable of lifting a man into orbit. Faith 7's Atlas booster eventually lifted it into orbit, allowing Cooper to circle the Earth 22.5 times.
Original black and white photographic print, April 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Launch Site, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Astronaut Gordon Cooper and Dr. Calvin D. Fowler Signing Rocket
Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 launch manager Dr. Calvin D. Fowler sign the Atlas rocket, which would launch Faith 7 into orbit. Dr. Fowler and Cooper were at the General Dynamics/Astronautics factory in San Diego, California, to accept the Atlas booster. Cooper was to be the final astronaut of Project Mercury, as it paved the way for Project Gemini. Dr. Fowler would manage the spacecraft preparation and ignite the Atlas launch vehicle. Cooper would become, for a short time, the space endurance record holder.
General Dynamics/Astronautics Factory, San Diego, California
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Astronaut Gordon Cooper and Faith 7 Capsule at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
Gordon Cooper (1927-2004), the astronaut aboard the last flight of Project Mercury, observing capsule preparations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14), as unidentified others look on. Cooper was to become the last American to go into space alone, while setting new endurance records for the American space program. Faith 7, the name his spacecraft was dubbed, launched successfully and circled the earth 22.5 times. While in space, Cooper was one of the early practitioners of conducting scientific observations in space.
Original black and white photographic print: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Astronaut Gordon Cooper at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Launchpad
While visiting the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Launchpad before the launch of the Faith 7 Mercury-Atlas mission, astronaut Astronaut listens to Günter Wendt (1923-2010) of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, the man who supervised spacecraft preparation on the launchpad. Wendt was famous for his meticulous standards, which won the trust of the astronauts. General Dynamics/Astronautics Operations Manager B. G. MacNabb is seen in the center of the first photograph. In the second photograph, MacNabb is pictured on the left, Wendt is seen in the center, and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Manager Dr. Calvin D. Fowler is photographed on the right.
Years after his historic Mercury-Atlas 9 mission, astronaut Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) autographed this photograph of himself for the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum in Titusville, Florida. During his Faith 7 flight, Cooper orbited the earth 22.5 times.
Original black and white photographic print, May 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum, Titusville, Florida
Astronaut Gordon Cooper Recovered After Splashdown
Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) completed his 22.5 orbit flight in the Faith 7 Mercury spacecraft by manually landing in the Pacific Ocean on May 16, 1963, closer than any other flight had landed with reference to the recovery ship. A dehydrated Cooper, still in Faith 7, is seen after the recovery aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge. Cooper not only set a record of staying in space for over 34 hours, but he would prove a trained pilot was an important ingredient in space flight.
Original black and white photographic print, May 16, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Astronaut Gordon Cooper with Management Team at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
In the first photograph, astronaut Gordon Cooper (1927-2004), pictured in the center, standing with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) managers on the right and contractor managers on the left. Then men are pictured in front of the unassembled Mercury-Atlas vehicle at the launch site at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14. B. G. MacNabb, General Dynamics/Astronautics director of operations, is standing on the far left. When the Mercury 7 astronauts, such as Cooper, visited the launch site, they wore distinctively colored helmets so that they could be identified at a distance. Cooper, on such a visit before his flight, is viewing the unerected Atlas rocket from the gantry in the second photograph. The Atlas was America's first rocket capable of lifting a man into orbit. Faith 7's Atlas booster eventually lifted it into orbit, allowing Cooper to circle the Earth 22.5 times.
Astronaut Harrison Schmitt During Training
Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt (1935-), the only geologist to travel to the Moon, examining a rock while training for Apollo 17's Moon mission. Schmitt was the only geologist to travel to the Moon. On December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 became the first night launch of an American human spaceflight and was also the last manned launch of a Saturn V rocket. During the 12-day mission, astronauts conducted observations, experiments, and sample-gathering from the Moon. Apollo 17 broke a number of previous records, such as the longest manned lunar landing flight, the longest total lunar surface extravehicular activities, the largest lunar sample return, and the longest time in lunar orbit. The Apollo 17 crew consisted of Schmitt, Mission Commander Eugene Cernan (1934-), and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans (1933-1990).
Original black and white photographic print, December 19, 1972: Larry Summers Collection.
Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt (1935-), the only geologist to travel to the Moon, working beside a boulder on the Moon during an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA). On December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 became the first night launch of an American human spaceflight and was also the last manned launch of a Saturn V rocket. During the 12-day mission, Schmitt and Mission Commander Eugene Cernan (1934-) spent 75 hours on the lunar surface collecting specimens and conducting experiments. This was greatly aided by the use of the lunar rover, which allowed them to traverse a distance 35 km. Astronaut Schmitt was the first geologist and scientist to walk on the Moon. Apollo 17 broke a number of previous records, such as the longest manned lunar landing flight, the longest total lunar surface extravehicular activities, the largest lunar sample return, and the longest time in lunar orbit. The Apollo 17 crew consisted of Schmitt, Cernan, and Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans (1933-1990).
Original black and white photographic print, December 13, 1972: Larry Summers Collection.
Astronaut Jim Lovell During Spacesuit Testing
Apollo 13 Mission Commander Jim Lovell (1928-) during spacesuit testing at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. Apollo 13 was crewed by Lovell, Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise (1933-), and Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert (1931-1982). Apollo 13 was termed a "successful failure," because the crew survived even though they did not accomplish its original objective of landing on the moon. Apollo 13 launched on April 11, 1970, but an oxygen tank in the Service Module had exploded around 56 hours into the mission, as a result of a series of mismatched modifications and unfortunate testing, causing the mission and the astronauts being put in jeopardy. The Moon landing did not happen, but the astronauts landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 17.
Original black and white photographic print, March 3, 1970: Larry Summers Collection.
Astronaut Jim Lovell During Suit Test for Apollo 8
Apollo 8 (AS-503) astronaut Jim Lovell (1928-) during a suit test at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. Apollo 8 was the first manned launch of a Saturn V booster and mission to leave Earth orbit. It launched on December 21, 1968, with Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-), and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders (1933-). Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit, reach the Moon, and orbit and return safely to Earth. The crew became the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit, to see Earth as a whole planet, to directly see the far side of the Moon, and to witness Earthrise.
Astronaut Michael Collins During Apollo 11 Training
Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-) training on the Command Module (CM) Procedures Simulator at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida, for Apollo 11. Apollo 11 was the first space mission where humans set foot on another celestial body, the Moon. Launched from Launch Pad 39A on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 fired the third stage engines two and half hours after launch to leave Earth's gravitational pull. The mission was highlighted by the first lunar landing by human beings and Mission Commander Neil Armstrong's (1930-2012) descent from the Lunar Module (LM) to place his foot on the surface of the Moon. He and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin (1930-) spent less than 22 hours on the Moon, including two and half hours outside Eagle, their Lunar Module. The crew, which also included Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-), returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Original black and white photographic print, June 19, 1969: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Astronaut Michael Collins in the Command Module Procedures Simulator
Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-) training on the Command Module (CM) Procedures Simulator at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for the Apollo 11 mission. Apollo 11 was the first space mission where humans set foot on another celestial body, the Moon. Launched from Launch Pad 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 fired the third stage engines two and half hours after launch to leave Earth's gravitational pull. The mission was highlighted by the first lunar landing by human beings and Mission Commander Neil Armstrong's (1930-2012) descent from the Lunar Module (LM) to place his foot on the surface of the Moon. He and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin (1930-) spent less than 22 hours on the Moon, including two and half hours outside Eagle, their Lunar Module. The crew returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Original black and white photographic print, December 9, 1968: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong in Mobile Quarantine Facility
Mission Commander Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) playing the ukulele in the Mobile Quarantine Facility aboard the USS Hornet after the astronaut's recovery in the Pacific Ocean. Apollo 11 was the first space mission where humans set foot on another celestial body, the Moon. Launched from Launch Pad 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 fired the third stage engines two and half hours after launch to leave Earth's gravitational pull. The mission was highlighted by the first lunar landing by human beings and Armstrong's descent from the Lunar Module (LM) to place his foot on the surface of the Moon. He and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin (1930-) spent less than 22 hours on the Moon, including two and half hours outside Eagle, their Lunar Module. The crew, which also included Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-), returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Original color photographic print, July 24, 1969: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Wally Schirra (1923-2007) was the fifth American astronaut in space and the third to orbit the Earth. On October 3, 1962, Dr. Calvin D. Fowler, who was the manager and launch conductor for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14), confirmed a go for launch with the Project Mercury team in the launch complex's blockhouse and pressed the button to ignite the Mercury-Atlas rocket named Sigma 7. After his successful flight, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Schirra thanked Dr. Fowler for his efforts with a signed photograph.
Original 8 x 10 color photographic print: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Blockhouse, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Schirra, Walter M. (Walter Marty), 1923-2007
Wally Schirra (1923-2007) was the only astronaut to fly on Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft. A Mercury Seven astronaut, Schirra flew on Sigma 7 (also known as Mercury-Atlas 8), Gemini 6A as Command Pilot with Thomas Stafford as Pilot, and Earth orbital Apollo 7 as Mission Commander for the first manned Apollo mission. Schirra was the fifth American and ninth human to ride a rocket into space. Je was also the first person to travel into space three times and logged a total of 295 hours and 15 minutes in space. After retiring from the U.S. Navy and from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Schirra became a consultant for CBS News.
Astronaut Wally Schirra and B. G. MacNabb
Astronaut Wally Schirra (1923-2007) named his boat Sigma 7, after the spacecraft which took him into orbit. In the photograph, Schirra shows the watercraft to General Dynamics/Astronautics director of operations B. G. MacNabb at what is believed to be Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's industrial area near Hangar S.
Original black and white photographic print, October 1962: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Astronaut William Anders During Suit Test for Apollo 8
Apollo 8 (AS-503) astronaut William Anders (1933-) during a suit test at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida. Anders was scheduled to be the Lunar Module Pilot, but because of production delays, the Lunar Module (LM) was not flight yet ready for liftoff and Apollo 8's mission goals were changed. Apollo 8 was the first manned launch of a Saturn V booster and mission to leave Earth orbit. It launched on December 21, 1968, with Commander Frank Borman (1928-), Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell (1928-), and Lunar Module Pilot Anders. Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit, reach the Moon, and orbit and return safely to Earth. The crew became the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit, to see Earth as a whole planet, to directly see the far side of the Moon, and to witness Earthrise.
Astronaut William R. Pogue Training for Skylab 4
Command Module Pilot William R. Pogue (1930-2014) training for Skylab 4 (SL-4) at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. As Project Apollo was winding down and the final three missions (Apollo 18, Apollo 19, and Apollo 20) were canceled, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) looked for ways to repurpose launch vehicles and other equipment. Out of this, Skylab and three space science missions were born. Skylab was conceived by famed rocket designer, Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), to use an unused upper-stage fuel tank and convert it to an orbital laboratory. This was necessitated by NASA's budget being slashed. With the tank becoming the basis of the space station, NASA added solar arrays, a docking adapter, and a space observatory. The Skylab missions were constituted of one mission to put the station in space (Skylab 1), using a modified and last Saturn V to launch, and three crewed missions (Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4) to occupy the lab and perform science, using the smaller Saturn IB booster to launch the three astronaut crews. When launched on May 14, 1973, the station encountered problems immediately. A micrometeoroid shield prematurely deployed and tore off one of the two main solar arrays. NASA engineers went to work and were able to save Skylab and the three crewed missions. Each of the subsequent missions set what were then endurance records for living in space and conducted substantial space science experiments. NASA tried to keep Skylab in orbit after Skylab 4 (SL-4) and until the Space Shuttle could boast its orbit, but with a decaying orbit, it crashed on July 11, 1979. Skylab 4 (SL-4) was launched from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 1973, using what was jokingly referred to as a "milk stool" to adapt the launcher to the smaller Saturn IB booster. Skylab 4 (SL-4)'s crew consisted of Mission Commander Gerald P. Carr (1932-), Pogue, and Science Pilot Edward Gibson (1936-). The mission set a then endurance record of more than 84 days in space.
Original black and white photographic print, October 18, 1973: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
The Apollo 11 crew, Mission Commander Neil Armstrong's (1930-2012) and either Command Module Pilot Michael Collins (1930-) or Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin (1930-), boarding the Apollo 11 spacecraft from the Launch Umbilical Tower (LUT) elevator at Launch Pad 39A of John F. Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. Also appearing in this photograph is an unidentified pad worker. Apollo 11 was the first space mission where humans set foot on another celestial body, the Moon. Launched from Launch Pad 39A at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Merritt Island, Florida, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 fired the third stage engines two and half hours after launch to leave Earth's gravitational pull. The mission was highlighted by the first lunar landing by human beings and Armstrong's descent from the Lunar Module (LM) to place his foot on the surface of the Moon. He and Aldrin spent less than 22 hours on the Moon, including two and half hours outside Eagle, their Lunar Module. The crew returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.
Original color photographic print, July 16, 1969: Leonard Pugh Collection.
Astronauts Load into Transfer Van for Apollo 7 Launch Demonstration Test
Mission Commander Wally Schirra (1923-2007), Command Module Pilot Donn F. Eisele (1930-1987), and Lunar Module Pilot Walter Cunningham (1932-) boarding a transfer van for a Launch Demonstration Test at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on October 11, 1968. Apollo 7 was an Earth orbital mission, which tested the improved Block 2 Command/Service Module (CSM). It was the first time the Apollo CSM had flown on a manned mission. This Apollo mission lasted ten days and tested many of the systems needed to accomplish the Moon landing.
Original black and white photographic print, September 17, 1968: Space Walk of Fame Collection.
Astronauts' Biggest 'Booster': Button Pusher with Prime Job
A newspaper article by Peter Reich published in The Chicago's American. The article provides a contemporaneous account of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler, manager of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) and launch conductor, whose job was launching astronaut Gordon Cooper into space on a Project Mercury rocket.
Original newspaper article: Reich, Peter. "Astronauts' Biggest 'Booster': Button Pusher with Prime Job." The Chicago's American, May 9, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
The Chicago's American
General Dynamics/Astronautics, San Diego, California
A newspaper article discussing progress made on Lake Apopka restoration plans. The article praises Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (1926-2011) and C. W. Sheffield, chairman of the Lake Apopka Technical Committee, for their efforts to address pollution in Lake Apopka.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "At Last—Cure for Lake Apopka." The Winter Garden Times, June 7, 1967: binder 1968, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Athletic Hall of Fame: Oviedo High School Induction Class of 2003
A newspaper article published in The Oviedo Voice on January 2, 2003. The article features a number of students who are in Oviedo High School's Athletic Hall of Fame. Students include sisters Jenny Wise and Jill Wise, Brooke Asby; Alison Parker, Andy Gill; Steve Key, Jon Godwin, Steve Bratton, Hubert Priest, Ray Fore, and Walter Duda. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations of its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education of and its successful athletics tickets.
Original newspaper article: "Athletic Hall of Fame: Oviedo High School Induction Class of 2003." The Oviedo Voice, Vol. XIII, No. 1, January 2, 2003: Private Collection of Sarah Thorncroft.
Atillio Banca and Bill Orr (1925-) at the Maitland Art Center in Maitland, Florida. Banca, photographed on the left, was the Gallery Director of the Research Studio and a close, personal friend of artist Jules André Smith. The painting in the photograph is a portrait of Smith. The portait was painted by Orr, who is photographed on the right. Growing up in Michigan, Orr worked breaking in mustang ponies. When World War II broke out, Orr joined the U.S. Army and was a member of the cavalry regiment. Later seeing action on Okinawa in the Pacific Theater, he was among the first servicemen to serve in Japan after the war. Orr found his way to the Research Studio in 1961 after applying for a position through a newspaper advertisement. Orr, along with Maury Hurt, was instrumental in leading the movement to save the Art Center from developers in the 1960s. As an artist he made a living doing life-size portraits of horses. He would go on to establish himself as a leading equine artist, a tribute to his lifetime love of horses.
Original black and white photograph: Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
A ticket stub for a concert featuring Atlanta Rhythm Section at the Orlando Sports Stadium, which was also known as the Eddie Graham Sports Complex. The concert took place on February 23, 1979. The show was presented by Zeta 7 and produced by Bishop Productions. The doors opened at 7 p.m. and the showtime was at 8 p.m. The ticket price was $5.00, including tax. Once host to some of the top names in sports and music, the Orlando Sports Complex was demolished by the Orange County Building Department in 1995 due to code violations.
Original ticket stub: Private Collection of Julie Wahl.
Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Station on West French Avenue
This location contains was home to a two-story brick Atlantic Coast Line passenger station, Sanford's third train station, which was built for a cost of $70,000 and opened on January 14, 1913. It served passengers until 1952, and was torn down in the 1960s. The Atlantic Coast Line, controlled by J. P. Morgan, operated throughout the American Southeast during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, The ACL had numerous lines throughout Florida and played a major role in building up Central Florida's infrastructure during the early 20th century.
Original black and white photograph: Photographic Collection, box 3, folder Transportation--Railroads, General Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the portion of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad running through Central Florida. The Atlantic Coast Line was formally established in 1889 and became a major interstate railway system in the southeastern United States. In 1902, the Atlantic Coast Line extended its services into Florida when it purchased all of the Plant tracks. In Central Florida, these lines included the Sanford and Everglade Railroad. In 1967, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was formed and took over all of the tracks operated by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Seaboard Air Line.
Coordinates compiled as part of a RICHES student project.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Passenger Cars at Fort Pierce
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) passenger cars at the depot in Fort Pierce, Florida, during the 1950s. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint by Harry Wolfe: Reference Collection, shelf number 14025, image number RC03667, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Fort Pierce, Florida
A railroad spike from the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). This railroad spike most likely came from the discontinued lines in the Orlando-Sanford area of Florida. These railways were in use from 1902 to 1967 when the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) was formed and took control of the former ACL tracks. The railways were a main mode of transporting goods in Central Florida, until the roads were paved with the economic boom of the post-World War II era. These railroads helped the cattle, dairy, and citrus industry thrive in Central Florida and help create the economic boom in post-war years.
Original railroad spike: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando City Hall, Orlando, Florida.
The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) railroad depot located on West Eighth Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida, around 1900. W. H. Hill and Company can also be seen to the right side of the photograph. This depot was originally part of the South Florida Railroad, which held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new railroad station on Oak Avenue in 1880, with former President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) in attendance. In 1893, the South Florida Railroad was bought out by Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) to save it from bankruptcy and incorporated into his own railroad system. Shortly thereafter, in the winter of 1894-1895, a freeze hit Sanford, destroying the entire citrus crop. This brought an end to what had been Sanford's thriving citrus industry prompting the development of its vegetable industry. By the 1900s, Sanford was one of the largest vegetable shipping centers in the United States gaining the nickname of "The Celery City" for its most successful crop. Upon Plant's death in 1902, his widow, Margaret Josephine Loughman, sold his railroad system to the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL). The arrival of the ACL in Sanford brought many new railroad workers as the city grew into a hub for shipping produce to surrounding areas. Rand Yard, the ACL's freight yard, housed a car shop, engine servicing facility, small locomotive shop, and the state's largest railroad ice plant. In the early 1900s, Lake Jesup farmers began demanding that the ACL build a line for them to ship their produce into town. The ACL refused; in response, the give biggest growers chartered the Sanford and Everglades Railroad with Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) as the president. The new line was completed as an ACL branch at Lake Charm. The ACL was prompted to buy out the new line in 1913 when the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) showed interest in buying it, thus incorporating the branch which became the most profitable in the ACL system. By the mid-1900s, the amount of good farmland was shrinking in Sanford due to development, driving farmers further south to farms with much more acreage. This, coupled with the establishment of Naval Air Station Sanford (NAS Sanford), turned the city's focus from agriculture to the military. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) and later was acquired by CSX. Today, the railroad station originally built by the ACL is no longer in use.
Original 7.125 x 5 inch black and white photographic print: Vincent Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Atlantic Coast Line Depot, Sanford, Florida
Atlantic Coast Line Workers at Sanford Railyard
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) workers at the railroad depot located on West Eighth Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida, around 1906. This depot was originally part of the South Florida Railroad, which held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new railroad station on Oak Avenue in 1880, with former President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) in attendance. In 1893, the South Florida Railroad was bought out by Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) to save it from bankruptcy and incorporated into his own railroad system. Shortly thereafter, in the winter of 1894-1895, a freeze hit Sanford, destroying the entire citrus crop. This brought an end to what had been Sanford's thriving citrus industry prompting the development of its vegetable industry. By the 1900s, Sanford was one of the largest vegetable shipping centers in the United States gaining the nickname of "The Celery City" for its most successful crop. Upon Plant's death in 1902, his widow, Margaret Josephine Loughman, sold his railroad system to the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL). The arrival of the ACL in Sanford brought many new railroad workers as the city grew into a hub for shipping produce to surrounding areas. Rand Yard, the ACL's freight yard, housed a car shop, engine servicing facility, small locomotive shop, and the state's largest railroad ice plant. In the early 1900s, Lake Jesup farmers began demanding that the ACL build a line for them to ship their produce into town. The ACL refused; in response, the give biggest growers chartered the Sanford and Everglades Railroad with Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) as the president. The new line was completed as an ACL branch at Lake Charm. The ACL was prompted to buy out the new line in 1913 when the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) showed interest in buying it, thus incorporating the branch which became the most profitable in the ACL system. By the mid-1900s, the amount of good farmland was shrinking in Sanford due to development, driving farmers further south to farms with much more acreage. This, coupled with the establishment of Naval Air Station Sanford (NAS Sanford), turned the city's focus from agriculture to the military. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) and later was acquired by CSX. Today, the railroad station originally built by the ACL is no longer in use.
Original 6.625 x 4.625 inch black and white photographic print: Vincent Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Atlantic Coast Line Railyard, Sanford, Florida
An Atlas core arriving at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Skid Strip. The core was flown from the manufacturer, Convair/General Dynamics, to Cape Canaveral, where it was unloaded and prepared for launch. This particular core was used for one of the four Mercury Atlas missions.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Skid Strip, Cape Canaveral, Florida
A chart showing the four original configurations of the Atlas family of missiles: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Mercury-Atlas, Atlas-Agena, Atlas-Centaur. The Atlas booster was originally developed as an ICBM in the mid-1950s. First flown in 1957, the Atlas was eventually deployed to multiple sites for the U.S. Air Force. Early in the manned space program, the Atlas was selected to place the first American astronauts into orbit. Atlas was retired as an ICBM in the early 1960s and became a civilian launch system. Atlas continued to operate as a civilian launch system until 2004, when the last of the Atlas rockets, based upon the original design, was launched.
Original chart: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida
General Dynamics/Aeronautics, San Diego, California
Atlas ICBM at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base
Amongst the first operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sites in the United States, Warren I was an above-ground "soft site" for launching the missiles at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The missiles were stored at ground level and with minimal protection from a preemptive strike. The missile was the "D" variant of the Atlas missile, which was later man-rated for use in Project Mercury by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Warren I had the missile clustered closely around the launch control blockhouse because this variant of the missile required direct guidance control.
Original black and white photographic prints: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming
Atlas ICBM Fueling Test at Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base was the location for this early fueling test of an Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was likely an Atlas E or Atlas F. As one of the early locations for ICBM deployment, Fairchild AFB deployed Atlas E/F missiles in "coffin sites," because the missile was stored horizontally in a semi-hardened silo until launch. Much of the ballistic testing for the Atlas ICBM was conducted at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Atlas ICBM Installation at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, near Cheyenne, Wyoming, was one of the earliest sites of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) deployment. In previous deployments at Warren (Warren I and II), the U.S. Air Force installed the Atlas D in non-hardened launch site. With the Atlas E and Atlas F, the Warren III was semi-hardened in order to sustain some of the pressure effects of an atomic explosion. These sites were called "coffin sites," because the missile lay horizontal in a semi-hardened silo and were raised vertical to be launched. Much of the ballistic testing for the Atlas ICBM was conducted at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
A test launch of an Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from an indeterminate location. In the photograph, one can see the engines ignited and liquid oxygen venting against the night sky. First flown in 1957, the Atlas was eventually deployed to multiple sites for the U.S. Air Force. Early in the manned space program, the Atlas was selected to place the first American astronauts into orbit. Atlas was retired as an ICBM in the early 1960s and became a civilian launch system. Atlas continued to operate as a civilian launch system until 2004, when the last of the Atlas rockets, based upon the original design, was launched.
Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Fuel Loading Test at Fairchild Air Force Base
General Dynamics/Astronautics conducting a fuel loading test for the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Fairchild Air Force Base, near Spokane, Washington.
Atlas Rocket Under Construction at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
In the final launch of Project Mercury, the Atlas launch vehicle sits on its side before being fully assembled and lifted vertically on the gantry. The Atlas was America's first rocket capable of lifting a man into orbit. Faith 7's Atlas booster eventually lifted it into orbit, allowing astronaut Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) to circle the Earth 22 and a half times.
The audience at the Geneva Community Center in Geneva, Florida. The three photographs were taken from the back of the room before a memorial program. The Geneva Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. held a 100 year memorial on October 10, 2018, for Roderick Perry Taylor of Geneva, Florida, and the other 564 people who died on the R.M.S. Leinster when it was hit by three German torpedoes in the Irish Sea on Oct. 10, 1918. Most of those killed were young military men and women. The ceremony was held at 2:00 PM at the Geneva Community Center. While memorials were also held on the same day in Ireland and other Allied countries, this was the only memorial in the United States that honored the six American soldiers who drowned.
Original color photographs: RICHES, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Geneva Community Center, Geneva, Florida