Bonnie Georgiadis Releasing Rehabilitated Bald Eagle
Mermaids--Florida--Weeki Wachee--History
Weeki Wachee Springs Bird Department Manager Bonnie Georgiadis about to release one of the two bald eagles she helped rehabilitate. She rehabilitated an eagle in 1985. The eagle got caught in some barbed wire and broke its collarbone at a cattle ranch near Weeki Wachee. The 4-year-old female dubbed Victoria recovered at Busch Gardens for four months and was then sent to Weeki Wachee to be rehabilitated for two months. In order to retrain the eagle, Bonnie had to train the bird to fly short distances from perch to perch and reward Victoria with treats. Bonnie Georgiadis worked at Weeki Wachee for a total of 37 years. 13 years as a mermaid and trainer, 7 as a show producer and choreographer, and the rest of her time at the park as the bird department's manager. Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.
Original color photograph of Bonnie Georgiadis and Bald Eagle, c. 1980s: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Collection.
RICHES
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, Florida
The band, Boot, in a photograph was taken during a photo shoot for the group's 1972 self-titled record. Drummer Jim O'Brock is wearing a boot. Recorded at James Brown's Starday/King Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, the record was produced by the Texas-based Agape Records. In 1963, the band formed in Port Richey, Florida, as The Kingsmen. the band would change their name to The Allusions, The Split Ends, and finally, Boot, an acronym for Blues Of Our Time. The group featured Dan Eliassen on bass and vocals, Bruce Knox on lead guitar and vocals, Mike Mycz on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Jim O'Brock on drums and vocals. All four original members remained together for 10 years before breaking up in 1973. Career highlights include performing on Dick Clark's "Happening '67" Tour and the Dick Clark band contest show, "Happening '68," as well as performing with The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, The Outlaws, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, B. B. King, and Neil Diamond.
Original black and white photograph: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society
The album cover for Boot's 1972 self-titled record. The album cover features a photograph of the four band members from the waist down, standing side by side. Drummer Jim O'Brock is wearing a boot. Recorded at James Brown's Starday/King Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, the record was produced by the Texas-based Agape Records. In 1963, the band formed in Port Richey, Florida, as The Kingsmen. the band would change their name to The Allusions, The Split Ends, and finally, Boot, an acronym for Blues Of Our Time. The group featured Dan Eliassen on bass and vocals, Bruce Knox on lead guitar and vocals, Mike Mycz on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Jim O'Brock on drums and vocals. All four original members remained together for 10 years before breaking up in 1973. Career highlights include performing on Dick Clark's "Happening '67" Tour and the Dick Clark band contest show, "Happening '68," as well as performing with The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, The Outlaws, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, B. B. King, and Neil Diamond.
Original black and white photographic album cover: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
A legal document for the dedication of five acres land for the Boston Hill Cemetery, an African-American cemetery located at 199 Boston Cemetery Road in Oviedo, Florida. The dedication deed was signed by Prince Butler Boston and E. Garvin, who were representing the Board of Trustees of the Boston Cemetery, on October 12, 1926. The document was approved by N. E. Douglass, the Seminole County Clerk, on November 3, and was then approved by A. M. Weeks, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the following day, The deed was then notarized on June 6, 1927, and approved by surveyor Allen H. Stone on November 4, 1928. Prince Butler Boston was the son of a Georgia slave owner, Dr. Alexander Atkinson, who moved to Central Florida in 1885, when he was 14 years old. After the citrus freeze during the 1890s, Atkinson abandoned citrus growing and migrated to Miami, leaving most his land to his son. Boston was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for nearly 61 years, beginning in 1886 until his death in 1947. He was ordained as a deacon in the church and also became the superintendent of the Sunday school. Once membership in the church began to grow, he designed a second choir stand and two additional classrooms.
Original 1-page dedication deed: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
Boston Police Commendation Report of Proceedings
A page from the Reports of Proceedings of the City of Boston Police Commendation for the year beginning with January 3, 1955 and ending with December 29, 1955. The document records the proceedings conducted by the City Council of the City of Boston, including information about key legislation, commendations, reports, and executive decisions that occurred. A notable individual listed is Edward Connolly. In January 1955, the City of Boston announced a commendation for Connolly for his bravery during a robbery attempt a few days earlier that left him critically injured. Born October 31, 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts, Connolly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on December 26, 1942 and served during World War II. On December 26, 1945, he was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal. After his service, he returned to Massachusetts, where he served as a police officer. He was injured in the line of fire in 1955, forcing him to retire. He married Thelma Snell with whom he had two sons, Kevin and Mark. Connolly died on September 7, 1995 and is buried in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
City of Boston Administrative Services Department
Digital reproduction of original reports of proceedings.
Located at 100 East First Street on the corner of Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida, Bower & Roumillat was the first business to occupy the Brumley-Puleston Building that was completed in 1923. Roy C. Bower and Gene Roumillat opened the store together. By 1947, after receiving his pharmacy license at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Francis E. Roumillat, Jr. began working for his father at the Roumillat and Anderson Walgreen Agency. Known for its curbside service and milkshakes, the store operated for 55 years before closing in 1977. This 1920s-era bottle is from the original store and likely contained liquid medicine or perhaps a white powder used to make compounds.
Original color digital image, 2015: Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Branding Calves on the C. C. Ranch Postcard
A postcard showing ranchers branding calves in Adamana, Arizona. Now a ghost town with only four inhabited buildings, Adamana was once home to 30 families, and had a hotel until 1965 and a post office until 1969. It was known as the "Gateway to the Petrified Forest" because the Santa Fe Railroad stopped at the hotel and passengers stayed the night before continuing into the forest. 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 black and white postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Brass Rail, Chamberlin Natural Foods, and Cervantes Spanish Restaurant
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features Brass Rail, Chamberlin Natural Foods, and Cervantes Spanish Restaurant. Brass Rail was a bar and restaurant. Cervantes was one of the first Spanish restaurants to come to Orlando. Cervantes was one of the first Spanish restaurants to come to Orlando, Florida. It was run by Paul Vines and his wife, Annie Vines, and their business partner, C. Menendez. The restaurant sat at 19 East Church Street and stayed at that location for nearly 20 years. The restaurant had moved to that location in 1937 and remained there until the mid-1950s, when it was replaced by J & G Fine Foods, owned by a Gladys Barnett. This lot, as well as the rest of the block, was later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
Original color painting by James Stoll: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Downtown Orlando Information Center, Orlando, Florida.
Cervantes Spanish Restaurant, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Chamberlin Natural Food, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Brevard County Planning Department Summary Proposal Form
A summary proposal form completed by John W. Hannah of the Brevard County Planning Department. As Brevard County, Florida, began to experience rapid growth, new studies were proposed in order to figure out how best to adjust to accommodate this growth. The growth of the county was partially due to the expanding tourism industry in Central Florida that was the result of the development of attractions like Walt Disney World. Hannah proposed to investigate the development of analysis techniques for utilization of remote sensing data in urban and regional planning. The investigation would include the east Central Florida region of Brevard County, Indian River County, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminoles County. The data would be presented in reconstituted color infrared and computer-compatible digital magnetic tape formats.
Original summary proposal form by John W. Hannah: Lou Frey Papers, Digital Shared Files, Lou Frey Institute of Politics & Government, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
The Brevard Zoo, located at 8225 North Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida, in 2000. Pictured in the photograph are, from left to right: an unidentified child, Alicia Lynn Cepero; Robert "Bobby" James Lenahan, Jr.; Laura Lynn Cepero; and Lynn Lenahan (née Sabatino). Construction for the zoo was spearheaded by the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. (ECZS) and began in 1992. The zoo opened on March 26, 1994.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 2000: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
A poster for the Orlando Gay Chorus concert, “Bringing Down the House”. The event was held at the CityArts Factory, located at 29 South Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida, on March 31 and April 1, 2007. The event featured music and songs from Broadway. Tickets were $20 in advance through Urban Think, The Center, and orlandogaychorus.org and $25 at the door. The poster features a bright red background with a black marquis title and a photograph of dancers' shoes. Featured artwork includes the logos of the OGC and various sponsors across the bottom of the poster. The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Orlando Gay Chorus
Original color poster: University of Central Florida Special Collections, Orlando, Florida.
Bringing Down the House, March 31 & April 1, 2007
A program for the Orlando Gay Chorus' concert, "Bringing Down the House", on March 31 &amp
April 1, 2007, at the CityArts Factory in Orlando, Florida. The program includes short biographies on the Artistic Director Mark W. Hardin, the Arranger in Residence James F. Konkel, the Accompanist Absalón Figueroa, the ASL interpreters Eliezer Sierra, Debbie Drobney, program notes, an outline of the show's itinerary, a list of chorus members and contributors, and a history of GALA Choruses. The Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization, and part of the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a host of community events, such as Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World AIDS Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Original 44-page colored program, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Broadway in Downtown Oviedo, Florida, during the 1940s. The Timucuan Native Americans originally inhabited the area of present-day Oviedo, although the remains of their settlements have disappeared. Homesteaders arrived along the shores of Lake Jesup in 1865 just after the Civil War ended and began growing celery and citrus. The area was called the Lake Jesup Community until March 13, 1879, when postmaster Andrew Aulin, Sr. (1843-1918), a Swedish immigrant, chose the name Oviedo.
Original black and white newspaper photograph: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
A postcard depicting a view of the Brooklyn Bridge, which was built in 1883 to span the East River in order to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City, New York. It is a National Historic Landmark and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its construction. 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.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York
Browdy's Mini-Mart, a convenience store located at the north side of the intersection of Avenue B and East Broadway Street/County Road 419 in Downtown Oviedo, Florida.
Original black and white photograph: Oviedo Historical Society, Downtown Oviedo, Florida.
Browdy's Mini-Mart, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
A postcard depicting Brulatour Courtyard, one of the most famous courtyards in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was built in 1816 and is currently being converted into a museum on the history of the French Quarter. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 3 x 5 inch color postcard by A. Hirschmitz: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Brulatour Courtyard, French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
View of the former Brumley-Puleston Building, located at 100 East First Street in Sanford, Florida. Doctors L. A. Brumley and Samuel Puleston commissioned famed builder George A. Fuller to construct the building. Construction began in 1922 and completed a year later. On May 5, 1923, Roumillat and Anderson Drug Store opened in the building.
Original color digital image by Austin Smith, December 19, 2010.
RICHES of Central Florida
A ticket stub for a concert featuring Bryan Adams (b. 1959) at the Orange County Civic Center on May 25, 1985, at 8 p.m. The ticket price was $13.50, including tax. The concert was presented by Beaver Productions and the Beach Club. The Orange County Civic Center, also known as the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and the Orange County Convention and Civic Center (OCCCC) is located at 9800 International Drive in Orlando, Florida. Adams is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter who has enjoyed over three decades of success. Selling over 100 million records, he is the best-selling Canadian rock artist of all time.
Original ticket stub: Private Collection of Julie Wahl.
Orange County Civic Center, Orlando, Florida
A postcard depicting a painting of Buachaille Etive, or "Shepherd of the Glen," one of the Munro mountains in Glen Coe, Scotland. 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 6 x 5 inch color postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1A (non-U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Buachaille Etive Mòr, Glen Coe, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom
A statue known as "Bucking Horses", which was erected in 1962, by Earl J. LaPan (1908-1996). It was commissioned by the First Federal bank, and located in front of its Lake Park, Florida, location. Due to lack of repair, one of the horses fell during a storm in 2005, and the other was deemed a danger to pedestrians. Thus, the entire statue was replaced a year later. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on August 24, 1908, Earl J. LaPan was an accomplished artist, who is credited for creating over 300 murals depicting tropical scenes. Beginning his career as an artist in New Jersey, Earl LaPan moved to Florida sometime around 1933. He was drafted into the United States Army Air Corps on October 29, 1943. After World War II, LaPan moved to Miami, Florida, where he resumed his work as an artist. LaPan died in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 19, 1996, at the age of eighty-seven. He is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program 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.
First Federal Bank of Florida
Digital reproduction of original color photograph.
Business card for the band, Buckwheat. The names of the band members appear at the top of the card, with "Buckwheat for live entertainment" printed in the center. The name Randy Stone and a phone number appear at the bottom. Known for their spontaneous blues-based jams and the pyrotechnics of their guitarist, Danny Richard, Buckwheat was a three-piece high energy rock band that performed in the Tampa Bay area from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. In addition to Richard on guitar and vocals, Dwight Saunders played bass and Richard Radloff played drums. The band performed at Battle of the Bands and teen venues throughout the region, including the "Star Spectacular concert series" at Clearwater Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach, Rowlett Park, and the old "Quest Inn" Coffee House in Downtown Clearwater.
Original business card: Buckwheat, Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Building Block Applications: A Guide to Turbine Element Selection
A guide to turbine element selection. This booklet was produced by Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Steam Turbine Division in 1973 as an applications guide for customers, power plant engineers, and Westinghouse salesmen in the field. At the time, the Steam Turbine Division was located at the site of the old Westinghouse factory in Lester, Pennsylvania. In 1982, the Steam Turbine Generator Division moved its office personnel from Pennsylvania to Orlando, Florida. The new World Headquarters building was located at The Quadrangle on Alafaya Trail, across the road from the University of Central Florida (UCF). In 1998, Westinghouse (then the CBS Corporation) sold its Power Generation Business Unit to Siemens, which, as of 2016, occupies the property at the Quadrangle. Originally called the Westinghouse Electric Company, George Westinghouse (1846-1914) founded his manufacturing company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 8, 1886. In 1889, he renamed his business The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Westinghouse's primary products include turbines, generators, motors and switchgear related to the generation, transmission, and use of electricity. The first Westinghouse steam turbine, a 1500kW unit, was placed in service at Hartford Power and Light Company in 1901. Since that time, Westinghouse, or Westinghouse licensees, have supplied approximately half of the steam turbine generators placed in service in the U.S. and around the world. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Westinghouse steam turbine engineers designed and developed a series of "turbine elements" called "Building Blocks." These standardized designs for the high pressure (HP), intermediate pressure (IP), and low pressure (LP) sections or elements of the full steam turbine unit comprised the full range of Westinghouse Steam Turbine products, the largest of which were rated at some 1600MW. Turbine building block designs were developed for both fossil (3600RPM) and nuclear (1800RPM) applications.
Original 7-page booklet: Private Collection of Harry L. Jaeger.
Steam Turbine Division, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Lester, Pennsylvania
A newspaper article about the building permits awarded in Sanford, Florida, in 1926. By November of that year, the annual building total was about $80,000 short of the figure for 1925, which was a record year for construction in Sanford. The first 10 months of 1926 showed a sum of $1,602,689, whereas as the sum for the first 10 months of 1925 was $1,393,607. Fifty building permits were issued for the month of November in 1926, with over four-fifths designated for improvements, costing an estimated $2,000 or less. There were several large permits issued for the construction of: the Colonial Company's warehouse, which would cost $15,000; the Sanford-Oviedo Truck Growers' warehouse, costing $6,500; and 38 small swellings in Lockhart's First and Second Subdivisions, expected to cost $22,800. The Sanford-Oviedo Truck Growers was also one of the first vendors to lease a stall at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market when it first opened in 1934.
Original newspaper article: "Building Comparisons." Sanford Today, Vol. 01, No. 20, November 27, 1926. Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Building of the G.A.R. Memorial Hall Postcard
A postcard depicting the construction of the G.A.R. Memorial Hall in St. Cloud, Florida. The front of the postcard features four men with a wheelbarrow standing on top of the partially-constructed building. A row of men sit on a bench on the ground in front of the building. Behind them are two rows of men standing. The back of the postcard features a purple stamp in the upper left corner that says, "A.A. MARTIN, KOZY STUDIO, ST. CLOUD, FLA." Handwritten notes say, "ST. CLOUD, FL. 95-" and "half-Built G.A.R. HALL". The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was a fraternal organization of veterans of the United States Union Army, Union Navy, Marines and the United States Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 inch black and white postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
G.A.R. Memorial Hall, St. Cloud, Florida
Building Permit for the Oviedo Woman's Club
A building permit for the new clubhouse for the Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC). The permit approved L. L. Faulk and Son has the building contractor for the construction of the new clubhouse. The permit was signed by the town auditor and clerk, Dorothy M. Courier, on April 3, 1961. The Oviedo Woman's Club, which was founded in 1906 as the Oviedo Magazine Club by seven charter members: H. B. McCall, Edith Meade, Georgia Lee Wheeler, Lillian Lee Lawton, Mattie Aulin Wheeler, Milcah Yonge, and Mary King. The first clubhouse was constructed in 1914 and also served as Oviedo's first library. In 1916, the club joined the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs (FFWC) and officially changed its name to the Oviedo Woman's Club. In 1923, the woman's club was federated under the umbrella of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs (GFWC). A new clubhouse was built in 1961 on property donated by R. L. Croom, a former member, which is located at 414 King Street. The Oviedo Woman's Club is involved in many civic projects, including the annual Great Day in the Country Arts and Crafts Festival, the Spring Fundraiser, Tasting Luncheons, and Celebrate Spring Teas.
Original permit by Dorothy M. Courier, April 3, 1961: Private Collection of Beatrice Gestrich.
Oviedo Woman's Club
The Bumby Hardware Building, located at 102-110 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida,in 2001. Originally from England, Joseph Bumby, Sr. relocated to Orlando and built a large, Late Victorian Commercial-style building across the street from his warehouse. The red brick structure was one of Central Florida's first non-wooden buildings. Bumby Hardware became a major retailer in Downtown Orlando and was operated by Bumby until his death in 1911. His sons continued to operate the business for several decades, but eventually closed the store in the 1960s and leased the building briefly to Goodwill Industries. The Bumby family then sold the site in 1966 to Bob Snow, the developer of the Church Street Station entertainment complex. The Bumby Building was designated an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. The original building still remains and houses the Buffalo Trading Company, a Western-themed clothing store; a seafood restaurant; ice cream shop; a wine cellar; and several offices for the interior.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Bumby Hardware Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Burial Island from the Massacre of Glencoe Postcard
A postcard depicting the burial island where the MacDonalds of Glencoe were massacred by the soldiers of William III of England, who in 1691 offered bribes and threats to bring peace to the Scottish Highlands. 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 5 x 3 inch black and white photographic postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1A (non-U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Glen Coe, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom
Burning $1,572,650 Worth of Cancelled Bonds
The burning of canceled bonds from Mayor Forrest Lake's (1869-1939) on January 5, 1932. Before this scandal surfaced, Lake was considered an accomplished politician, who was elected eleven times, and helped create Seminole County. However, the pace of Mayor Forrest’s run turned sour when an article in the The Sanford Herald wrote an article with false facts about Lake’s use of city funds. According to the article, Lake sold "previously unsellable city bonds at a price of more than 95 percent of their face value; in reality, it was less than 90 percent. Lake was indicted following the investigation. It was proven that Lake sold the bonds for less, which caused the city to lose money, and he used illegal loans for personal use. This caused the city of Sanford to fall into $1,000,000 in debt, an increase in property tax, salary cuts, and cuts to public city services, such as the police department. After being sentenced for sixteen years, the City of Sanford protested Lake’s actions by burning over $1.5 million worth of cancelled bonds. Ex-Mayor Forrest Lake’s reputation has been tarnished, and today in Sanford, is considered to be “Sanford’s forgotten mayor.”
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photographs by Chase & Company, January 5, 1932: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Business Card of E. D. Gothberg, Owner of Weeki Wachee Motor Lodge
Business card of E. D. Gothberg, owner and operator of Weeki Wachee Motor Lodge and Mermaid Motel. The Weeki Wachee Motor Lodge was located near the attraction and the motel was directly across from Weeki Wachee Springs. Many mermaids lived in the motor lodge. E. D. Gothberg owned the motel until 1966, when Holiday Inn was put in the motel's place. 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 business card of E. D. Gothberg, c. 1950s: Collection of Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
Business Section in Midget City on U.S. 17-92 Postcard
A postcard depicting the business section of Midget City, which was a tourist attraction of miniatures located on U.S. 17-92 halfway between Orlando and Sanford, Florida. The attraction has since closed, and little is known about it. 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 black and white photographic postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Kodak
The Bust of Simón Bolívar at Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2013. This life-sized, 150-pound bronze bust is set on a polished stone plinth and was erected in March 1996. The monument was donated to the City of Orlando by Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez, the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999. The monument honors Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco, the founder of Bolivia and the liberator of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. The Bust of Simón Bolívar was the first in a series of sculptures of international heroes that lines International Plaza and Bridge. Bolívar, considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas, was a major player in Latin America's struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire during the early 19th century. Bolívar was also fundamental in the foundation of Gran Colombia, the first union of independent Hispanic nations, and led as its president from 1819 to 1830.
Original digital color image by Robin Dunn, September 21, 2013.
Bust of Simón Bolívar, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Caracas, Metropolitan Region of Caracas, Venezuela
A postcard depicting the exterior of Butler's, advertised as the first restaurant in Florida on U.S. Route 17. Butler's was located at the junction of US 17, Florida State Road 200 (SR 200), and Florida State Road A1A (SR A1A) in Yulee, a census-designated place that is now known for a golf course designed in part by Arnold Palmer (1929-). This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 3 x 5 inch color postcard by Dexter Press, Inc.: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Cactus, Bloodrock, Potliquor, Dr. John, and Heaven Ticket Stub
A ticket stub for a concert featuring Cactus, Bloodrock, Potliquor, Dr. John (b. 1940), and Heaven at the Tangerine Bowl, located at 1610 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, on April 1, 1972. The ticket was $4 and the show began at 1 p.m. The Tangerine Bowl has been also known as Orlando Stadium, the Citrus Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and is currently known as Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. It opened in 1936 and has been home to numerous sporting and entertainment events throughout its existence. Cactus is an American hard rock and blues band formed in 1969 in New York. They were known as "the American Led Zeppelin." Bloodrock was an American hard rock and blues band from Fort Worth, Texas, that enjoyed considerable success from 1969 to 1975. Potliquor was a Southern Rock band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that formed in 1969 and disbanded in 1979. Dr. John, the stage name of Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, is an American multi-instrumentalist wh.ose music blended New Orleans blues, jazz, rock, and R&B Heaven was a British jazz-influenced rock band that formed in 1968 and disbanded shortly after the release of their 1971 album.
Original ticket stub: Private Collection of Carl Knickerbocker.
A postcard depicting a dress parade outside of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. Built in 1820, the original citadel stood on what is now Marion Square. In 1842, Governor John Peter Richardson III (1831-1899) called for the conversion of The Citadel and the nearby Arsenal into military academies. It was occupied by Federal troops during the American Civil War, but reopened in 1882. At that time, Marion Square was created in front of it as a military plaza. 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.
Cake for the Grand Opening of Bwernai House
The cake served at the grand opening of Bwerani House, a village house operated by Dedra Jenkins and her mother, Christine McClendon, beginning in 2000. The Center for Drug Free Living sponsored the grand opening, and they set up tents, sports, and Uno in the backyard. In Swahili, "Bwerani" means "Come (You Are Welcome)," which is what is written on the cake. The village house provided a place for children ages 10 to 18 to go after school, in hopes that they would not get involved with drugs. Jenkins taught the young men and women about communication, cleaning, cooking, and relationships, much of it based on Biblical principles. She also helped them complete craft projects, such as baking soda volcanoes and making candy apples. Children were also welcomed at the Bwerani House on weekends. In 2009, when the youngest attendees became adults and McClendon became ill, Jenkins discontinued services at Bwerani House.
Original 4 x 6 inch color photograph by Dedra Jenkins, February 2000: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Bwernai House, Holden-Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Cake in Honor of John Herschel Glenn, Jr. and Friendship 7
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
At an event in honor of the return of astronaut John Glenn (1921-), who had become the first American to orbit the Earth, Henri Landwirth (1927-), a hotelier in the area, had a cake baked. The cake was between 700-900 pounds and shaped like the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule. Landwirth had the cake baked in mid-January of 1962 for Glenn's expected launch. However, Friendship 7 was delayed and did not launch until February 20. Landwirth had to improvise refrigeration of the cake in the delivery truck by using airconditioners, to assure it did not spoil. On February 23, Glenn arrived back at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Original color photographic prints, February 23, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Chronopoints
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cal Fowler and Others at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
Dr. Calvin D. Fowler with others at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14). Dr. Fowler is photographed second from the right. Dr. Fowler was the manager of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 during the final three launches of Project Mercury. From the blockhouse at Complex 14, after confirming the mission was a go, Dr. Fowler pressed the button to launch Wally Schirra (1923-2007), Scott Carpenter (1925-2013) and Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) into space aboard their respective rockets. He is pictured chatting with workers at the launch site.
Original black and white photographic print: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida
California Classics: Homes by Wm Lyon: Huntington Series
William Lyons Home, Inc. is a California-based, residential home builder. William Lyons, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, founded the company in 1954, then called Luxury Homes. In 1968, William Lyons Home sent Hymen Lake, a Central Florida real estate developer, a brochure of his California Classic model homes. Lake is best known as the developer of Sky Lake, a residential community and unincorporated area in located approximately seven miles south of Downtown Orlando between Lancaster Road and Sand Lake Road. The community was developed in late 1950s and 1960s, and it became one of the first housing developments to be racially integrated. The brochure highlights four model homes from the Huntington Series and list numerous options available with each model.
Original brochure: Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.
William Lyons Home, Inc.
Camellia Blossoms from Charleston Gardens Postcard
A postcard depicting a man holding a variety of camellia blossoms from gardens in Charleston, South Carolina, including Middleton Gardens and the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Magnolia Gardens, which introduced hundreds of varieties of the plant to the United States, has an extensive collection of camellia plants, and continues to organize and implement a worldwide search for Ancient Camellias which are in threat of extinction. 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.
Middleton Place, Dorchester County, South Carolina
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, South Carolina
Canaveral Leaves Mind Sharp Bits Amid Clutter
A newspaper article from The Baltimore Sun published on May 20, 1963. Written by Stephen A. Bennett, the article provides details Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA-9), the final manned space mission for Project Mercury. MA-9 launched from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Cape Canaveral, on May 15, 1963. Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) traveled in Faith 7, successfully orbiting the Earth 22 and a half times before returned to Earth the following day.
Original newspaper article: Bennett, Stephen A. "Canaveral Leaves Mind Sharp Bits Amid Clutter." The Baltimore Sun, May 20, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
The Baltimore Sun
A postcard depicting the Canaveral Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Now called the Cocoa Beach Pier, planning for the pier began in 1925, following the began election of Gus C. Edwards as mayor, although pier was not constructed until 1962. The Canaveral Pier offered a "grandstand seat" for spacecraft launches from Cape Canaveral, then called Cape Kennedy, during Project Mercury, Project Apollo, and the Space Shuttle program. The pier was also the hub for surfing in Cocoa Beach, which was known as the Surfing Capital of the East Coast. In 1983, the Canaveral Pier underwent modeling and expansion, and its name was changed to the Cocoa Beach Pier the following year. This photographic postcard likely shows the pier in the 1960s.
Original 9 x 14 centimeter color photographic postcard: Private Collection of Bob Van Horn.
A page from the 1958 City Directory for Canton, New York. The directory lists the names of the head of the household and in the case of a married man, the name of his wife. The directory also gives shorthand descriptions of the occupation and place of employment of the head of the household as well as their address. Advertisements from local businesses are also included. A notable individual listed is Nelson Phelps (1899-1989). Born on August 4, 1899, in Gouverneur, New York, Phelps served in the United States Navy during World War I after enlisting on January 28, 1918. He served as a Landsman for Electrician General Training at the Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Naval Operating Station in Hampton Roads, Virginia. After the war, he returned to New York, marrying Marguerite Magdaline Burkhard, and fathering two daughters: Margaretta and Catherine. He spent much of his working life as a superintendent and inspector at the Sheffield Farms Milk Company. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Hillsborough County, Florida. Phelps died on March 22, 1989, and is buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
City of Canton
Digital reproduction of original city directory.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 13 Launch Tote Board
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 13 (LC-13) was the sister site of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) and was used for unmanned Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), rocket tests, and Atlas-Agena launches. As was the tradition, a launch tote board, posted at the blockhouse, listing the launches and rocket configurations was typical for launch sites.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 13 Blockhouse, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Blockhouse
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14), where some of the United States' first astronauts were launched into space, had a heavily built concrete and steel blockhouse which housed the actual rocket firing button. This blockhouse was built to withstand a rocket exploding on or close to the launchpad, which can seen in the background of the third photograph. Two months before Leroy "Gordo" Gordon Cooper, Jr.'s flight on the Mercury-Atlas rocket named Faith 7, the launch site stood ready.
Original black and white photographic prints, March 15, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Blockhouse, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Blockhouse Launch Tote Board
The Launch Tote Board at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) detailed the rocket launches carried out at the facility. Posted outside of the blockhouse, it showed the vehicle type, designation and launch date.
Original black and white photographic print, March 15, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Capital Cogeneration's Westinghouse 501D5 Gas Turbines
Capital Cogeneration's 450MW Westinghouse 501D5 (W501D5) gas turbines in Pasadena, Texas. This power plant was built by H. B. Zachry Company from 1983 to 1984 as is considered the first Westinghouse PURPA plant (named in reference to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act). The pipe in foreground delivers Qualifying Facility (QF) steam to adjacent chemical plant. The plant is now known as the Clear Lake Power Plant is owned by Calpine Corporation. Originally called the Westinghouse Electric Company, George Westinghouse (1846-1914) founded his manufacturing company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 8, 1886. In 1889, he renamed his business The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Westinghouse's primary products include turbines, generators, motors and switchgear related to the generation, transmission, and use of electricity. The company changed its name to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945. In 1981, the company began to relocate its division headquarters for the Steam-Turbine Generator Divisions from Pennsylvania (turbines from Lester and generators from Pittsburgh) to Orlando, Florida. The Power Generation Business Unit (PGBU) building was located in The Quadrangle, at 4400 Alafaya Trail. Originally, Westinghouse had purchased a large plot of land for future development that extended westward from Alafaya Trail to Rouse Road. The original headquarters was located on several acres of that land parcel close to Alafaya Trail. As the PGBU grew in size, other buildings were rented and then, after PGBU was sold to Siemens Corporation, additional buildings were added to the complex. In 1994, after a major corporate management shuffling and commitment to change from an industrial manufacturing company to primarily a broadcasting/communications company, Westinghouse bought the CBS Network and changed its name to the CBS Corporation. As the PGBU grew in size, other buildings were rented and then, after PGBU was sold to Siemens Corporation in 1998, additional buildings were added to the Quadrangle.
Original color photograph: Private Collection of Harry L. Jaeger.
Calpine Clear Lake Power Plant, Pasadena, Texas
An newspaper article published in The Palm Beach Post announcing the graveside services for Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954). Coe was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on February 3, 1856, to William Henry Coe (1824-1879), who founded the town of Glencoe, and Deborah Little Archer Coe (1824-1912). In 1874, his family migrated to Jacksonville, Florida, due to his father's poor health. At age 18, Coe began working for the Jacksonville Tri-Weekly Union. In 1875, Coe moved to New Smyrna Beach and started his first newspaper, The Florida Star. Coe was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs for the port at New Smyrna in 1879, after his father died. In 1880, Coe moved to Glencoe and began producing photographs. Seven years later, the moved to back to Torrington, where the met and married Emma Sophia Johnson (1846-1931). The following year, Coe moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and then later to Highlands, where the established The Highlands Star. In 1889, the moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Government Printing Office (GPO). Coe published Red Patriots: The Story of the Seminoles (1898), a book about the plight of the Seminole tribe. A copy of Red Patriots was given to every member of Congress, which later passed legislation allowing Seminole land rights in Florida. In 1912, Coe returned to Florida and spent the next 20 years traveling the coast in his cabin cruiser called The Buccaneer. After retiring from the GPO in 1921, Coe spent much of his time exploring Florida's coast as an amateur archaeologist and publishing books, including Juggling a Rope (1927), The Art of Knife Throwing (1931), and Debunking the So-Called Spanish Mission (1941). He died of pneumonia on March 23, 1954.
Original newspaper article: "Capt. Chas. Coe Rites Set Today." The Palm Beach Post, March 26, 1954: Private Collection of Andrew M. Foster.
The Palm Beach Post
Woodlawn Cemetery, West Palm Beach, Florida
A business card with a photo of the home of Capt. J. F. Chase in St. Petersburg, Florida. The card reads on the front, "Capt. J. F. Chase. Special Agent for Veteran City on the Gulf of Mexico. 5 miles from St. Petersburg by Trolley. Dealer in Real Estate of all descriptions. Orange Groves. Orange Lands". On the back of the card is a photo of J. F. Chase. and a small biography, which reads, "Capt. J. F. Chase. The founder of Veteran City. Aiide-de-Camp on Staff of Commander in Chief G.A.R., Commander of Department of Florida of the United Veterans of the Blue and Grey. Past Commander Department of Florida G.A.R. No. 1 Cannonier of the 5th Me. Battery. Received forty-eight wounds at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Received a Medal of Honour from Congress for meritorious conduct at the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863. Past Commander Kit Carson Post G.A.R. Now living at St. Petersburg, FLA." This business card is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 black and white business card: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
Captain Aquilla A. Calhoun, Jr., a native of Panama City, Florida. Capt. Calhoun attended the University of Florida (UF) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. It was upon his graduation that Capt. Calhoun enlisted as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Upon his enlistment, he entered the 92nd Field Artillery's 2nd Armored Division in Fort Benning, Georgia. His unit gained the nickname the Brave Cannons, which has stuck throughout the 92nd Field Artillery's career. With the intensification of World War II, the Allied began to execute the Omaha Beach Normandy Invasion in June of 1944. After the invasion, Capt. Calhoun made his way to Northern France, where he played a vital role in the liberation of Bresles, a commune in the Picardie region of France. Capt. Calhoun died during his service in France and is currently buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France. Calhoun is one of 85 Florida residents interned at Epinal. His death led to the creation of a tribute site and memorial in his honor in Bristles.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photographic print: Private Collection of Christope Clemente. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=56371478&PIpi=73216445.
Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Dinozé, France
Captain Aquilla A. Calhoun, Jr. and Lillian Luke Calhoun
Captain Aquilla A. Calhoun, Jr., a native of Panama City, Florida, with his wife Lillian J. Luke Calhoun (b. 1922). Capt. Calhoun attended the University of Florida (UF) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. It was upon his graduation that Capt. Calhoun enlisted as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Upon his enlistment, he entered the 92nd Field Artillery's 2nd Armored Division in Fort Benning, Georgia. His unit gained the nickname the Brave Cannons, which has stuck throughout the 92nd Field Artillery's career. With the intensification of World War II, the Allied began to execute the Omaha Beach Normandy Invasion in June of 1944. After the invasion, Capt. Calhoun made his way to Northern France, where he played a vital role in the liberation of Bresles, a commune in the Picardie region of France. Capt. Calhoun died during his service in France and is currently buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France. Calhoun is one of 85 Florida residents interned at Epinal. His death led to the creation of a tribute site and memorial in his honor in Bristles.
Original black and white photographic print.
The headstone of Captain Lee Silver (ca. 1922-1945). Capt. Silver was born to in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Herman Silver and Bertha Silver, around 1922-1923. His parents were Herman Silver and Bertha Silver. By 1940, the Silver family had migrated to Miami, Florida, where Lee attended Miami Beach Senior High School. During World War II, Capt. Silver served in Company G, of the 42nd Infantry Division (42ID)'s 232rd Infantry Regiment. He died near the Haardt Mountains of France on February 23, 1945, and was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Capt. Silver is currently buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France, with a Star of David headstone, indicating Jewish heritage.
Original black and white photographic print: Private Collection of Dwight Anderson. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=56375510&PIpi=116774522.
A poster for the Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) concert, “Carry a Torch.” The event was held at the Annie Russell Theater at Rollins College, located at 1000 Holt Avenue in Winter Park, Florida, on June 22 and 23, 2002. Tickets were $15 in advance through Rainbow City, Joy MCC, and orlandogaychorus.org and $18 at the door. The poster has a soft background that fades from yellow to blue top to bottom and left to right with three vector torches on the right-hand side. Featured artwork includes the logos of the OGC and various sponsors across the bottom of the poster. The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Annie Russell Theatre, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
A program for the Orlando Gay Chorus' concert, "Carry a Torch", on June 22 &amp
23, 2002, at the Annie Russell Theater at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. The program includes short biographies on the Artistic Director Terry Thomas, the Soloist Kathy Slage, and the Accompanist Genoa Minga, program notes, an outline of the show's itinerary, a list of chorus members and contributors, and a history of GALA Choruses. It also includes one ticket stub. The Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization, and part of the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a host of community events, such as Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World AIDS Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Original 24-page program, and 1 ticket stub, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Annie Russell Theater, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
Cary Marshall and Martha Marshall in the yard of their home in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Cary worked at the Indian Creek Golf Club in Miami Beach. Martha also worked in Miami Beach, for a local attorney. Their neighbor's house, seen in the background, is under construction in this photograph.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph: Private Collection of Cary Marshall Felton.
Castillo de San Marcos (Saint Augustine, Fla.)
A brochure describing the history of the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Located at 11 South Castillo Drive in St. Augustine, Florida, the fort was designed by Ignacio Daza and constructed from 1672 to 1695, during the first Spanish period in Florida history. When the British gained control of the Florida Territory in 1763, St. Augustine became the capital of East Florida and the Castillo de San Marcos was renamed Fort St. Mark. The name was changed back in 1783 when Spain regained control of Florida. In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States and the U.S. Army renamed the site Fort Marion. The fort was declared a national monument in 1924 and was deactivated as a military site in 1933. The original name of Castillo de San Marcos was restored in 1942.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white postcard, 1958: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
U.S. Government Printing Office
Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida
Casualty Questionnaire for Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Eason and Completed by First Lieutenant George J. Arnold
A Casualty Questionnaire completed by First Lieutenant George J. Arnold in relation to the death of Florida native Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Eason (1922-1945). According to this document, SSgt. Eason was Killed in Action (KIA) during the bailout procedure after his crew's airplane was shot. SSgt. served for over three years in the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) as a waist gunner on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet and Lovely" and "Princess Pat." SSgt. Eason completed 28 missions in both the Pacific and European Theaters of World War II. On January 20, 1945, he was killed near Altenheim, France, after his airplane was shot down by enemy combatants. Over the course of his service, SSgt. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Digital reproduction of original 1-page handwritten questionnaire by George J. Arnold.
Catalog and Price List, 1908-1909: Isleworth Nurseries
A catalog and price list for Isleworth Nurseries from 1908 to 1909. The nursery was owned by Chase & Company and managed by J. W. Hoard. The catalog offers tips for citrus growers for selecting land, planting crops, pruning, cultivating, fertilizing, and irrigating. The catalog also includes price lists for varieties of oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and kumquats. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original catalog: Pepper Publishing and Printing Company, Gainesville, Florida: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 24, folder 6.46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke is located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue in Dowtown Orlando, Florida, and was founded in 1867 by Francis W. Eppes (1801-1881), the nephew of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The congregation originally worshipped in a log cabin and services were conducted by Eppes, despite his status as a layman. In October 1882, William Crane Gray (1835-1919) was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida, which included Central Florida and Orlando, at the time. A new church building for St. Luke's was erected under Reverend C. W. Ward during that same year. The building was enlarged in 1884, and again in 1903. On March 31, 1902, Bishop Gray designated St. Luke's as the official Cathedral Church for South Florida and appointed Reverend Lucien A. Spencer as the cathedral's first dean. In 1922, the cathedral building was relocated to make room for a new cathedral designed by Frohman, Robb, and Little of Boston, Massachusetts. During that same year, the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida was admitted to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as the Diocese of South Florida. On April 13, 1925, Bishop Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. However, as the land bust struck Florida in 1926, the building remained only partially constructed and a temporary wall was built to seal the altar side of the church. Over the years, the building has received a number of structural additions and renovations, including an educational unit memorializing members of the congregation who died serving in World War II; the Chapter House erected in the 1950s; the renovation of the cathedral nave, the erection of the choir gallery over the narthex, and the installation of a 88-rank pipe organ in the early 1970s; and the removal of the temporary wall and the competition of the building's original design during 1986 and 1987. In 1970, the Diocese of South Florida was divided into three smaller dioceses; St. Luke's became the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Central Florida.
Original black and white photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Cathedral Church of St. Luke
Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue in Dowtown Orlando, Florida, in 2014. The church was founded in 1867 by Francis W. Eppes (1801-1881), the nephew of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The congregation originally worshipped in a log cabin and services were conducted by Eppes, despite his status as a layman. In October 1882, William Crane Gray (1835-1919) was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida, which included Central Florida and Orlando, at the time. A new church building for St. Luke's was erected under Reverend C. W. Ward during that same year. The building was enlarged in 1884, and again in 1903. On March 31, 1902, Bishop Gray designated St. Luke's as the official Cathedral Church for South Florida and appointed Reverend Lucien A. Spencer as the cathedral's first dean. In 1922, the cathedral building was relocated to make room for a new cathedral designed by Frohman, Robb, and Little of Boston, Massachusetts. During that same year, the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida was admitted to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as the Diocese of South Florida. On April 13, 1925, Bishop Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. However, as the land bust struck Florida in 1926, the building remained only partially constructed and a temporary wall was built to seal the altar side of the church. Over the years, the building has received a number of structural additions and renovations, including an educational unit memorializing members of the congregation who died serving in World War II; the Chapter House erected in the 1950s; the renovation of the cathedral nave, the erection of the choir gallery over the narthex, and the installation of a 88-rank pipe organ in the early 1970s; and the removal of the temporary wall and the competition of the building's original design during 1986 and 1987. In 1970, the Diocese of South Florida was divided into three smaller dioceses; St. Luke's became the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Central Florida.
Original color digital images by Rachel Williams, July 24, 2014.
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Postcard
A postcard depicting the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina, which was built in 1907 on the site of a former cathedral that burned down in 1861. 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.
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Charleston, South Carolina
Cathedral of St. John-the-Baptist Postcard
Original 3 x 5 inch color postcard by E. C. Kropp Company: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
A postcard depicting a view of the cathedral spires in Yosemite National Park, located on the eastern side of the canyon through which Bridalveil Creek flows. The spires are just opposite El Capitan, and are part of Yosemite Valley, a 3,000-year-old glacial carved granite valley in California. 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.
A Catholic procession in Downtown Orlando, Florida, sometime between 1939 and 1941. Altar servers are followed by the bishop, priests, and congregants. In these processions, a cross bearer and candle holder, who are not pictured, led the procession and were followed by any extra servers, deacons, priests, and in this case, a bishop. If a bishop is present, at least two servers will follow behind to be ready to take his crosier and his mitre. During a Confirmation ceremony or any other special mass, members of the congregation may process in between the cross and candle bearers and the deacons. In the background, a sign for Walter Menges' Clothier To Men can be seen. The store was located on North Orange Avenue in between Jefferson Street and Robinson Street. Other shops near here included a Rexall drug store and Brenner's Ladies Dress Shop.
Original black and white photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Downtown Orlando Post Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida.
Walter Menges' Men's Clothing Shop, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Caucasian Mothers with Children at the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall
A number of caucasian mothers with their newborn children at the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall, located at 621 East Sixth Street in Georgetown, an historic black neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The house was originally the home of Reverend John R. Hurston, the father of Zora Neale Hurston. Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown. Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.
Original color photographs: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.
Jones-Francis Maternity Hall, Georgetown, Sanford, Florida
Cecil W. Boston, principal of Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, from 1954-1964. Boston developed a Diversified Cooperative Training Program that allowed students to attend classes in the mornings and work in vocational jobs in the afternoons. Located in the Parramore/Lorna Doone neighborhood of downtown Orlando, Jones High School was the first area public school for African-Americans. The original building was located on the corner of Garland Avenue and Church Street, but the school was renamed the Johnson Academy and moved to a new building on the corner of Chatham Avenue and West Jefferson Street. In 1921, the school was renamed in honor Principal L. C. Jones and a brick colonial revival building was constructed on the corner of Parramore Avenue and Washington Street. The school was finally moved to its current location at 801 South Rio Grande Avenue in 1952.
Jones High School
Original black and white photograph: Jones High School Historical Museum, Orlando, Florida.
A wooden cut-out of a man and woman dressed for the Celery Ball. The Celery Ball is a fund raising event held by Creative Sanford, a non-profit organization created to manage Celery Soup: Florida's Folk Life Play community theater productions, each year. For the Celery Ball, several "kings" and "queens" compete to raise money to support Creative Sanford's mission, the highest male and female fundraisers being crowned the top king and queen. The Celery Ball in 2014 was The Great Gatsby-themed and featured silent auctions. The original idea for the Celery Soup project came from Jeanine Taylor, the owner of a folk-art gallery on First Street in Sanford, Florida. Their first production was Touch and Go, a play focusing on the people of Sanford and their determination to overcome various obstacles, including the Freeze of 1894-1895, the fall of Sanford's celery industry, and the closing of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford in the 1960s. Richard Geer and Jules Corriere, partners from Community Performance International, were in charge of assessing oral histories, converting them into scenes for the play, and writing original songs. Director Geer also used an all-volunteer cast from the local community, many of whom were not experienced actors. In the process of producing the show, Creative Sanford decided to rehabilitate an historic building, the Princess Theater, which is located on 115 West First Street and owned by Stephen Tibstra. The Creative Sanford offices are housed in the Historic Sanford Welcome Center, located at 203 East First Street.
Original color digital image by Autumn Reisz, October 11, 2013.
Newspaper article in the Florida Grower on the Sanford State Farmers' Market in 1940. The article also discusses other features of Central Florida. The Sanford State Farmers' Market, located at 1300 South French Avenue, was founded in 1934 in order to provide a central location in which farmers would sell their produce directly to consumers. The idea for the Sanford State Farmers' Market was devised by Fred Dorner and Gus Schmach, both members of the Seminole Agricultural Club. Sanford Chamber of Commerce president Harry M. Papworth also contributed to the development of the market. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) authorized construction plans on June 11, 1934. On June 20, 1934, the City of Sanford donated a portion of the Alex V. French properties to the State Marketing Board, which selected the northwest corner of French Avenue and Thirteenth Street. The board approved the installation of telegraph and telephone equipment, as well as a three-pump filling station. The Sanford State Farmer's Market opened on December 18, 1934. By 1939, the Farmers' Market was bringing a total volume of business of $627,065.81. In 1941, business volume reached over $700,000. On April 4, 1957, a fire destroyed the building and caused damages estimated at $2.5 million. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Farmers' Market was expected to re-open by the fall of 1957. In 1991, plans were created to restore, preserve, and convert the citrus packing house into a museum.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "Celery Capital." Florida Grower, May 1940, pages 6 and 12: State Farmers' Market Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
American Fruit Grower Publishing Company
Sanford State Farmers' Market, Sanford, Florida
Seminole Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida
A newspaper article published by The Central Florida Press on June 20, 1930. This article argues the need for Seminole County to develop a cooperative for celery growers. Seminole County, especially Sanford, was well-known in the late 19th and early 20th century for its celery industry. The origins of Sanford's connection to celery farming began on December 26, 1894, when a freeze damaged the area's citrus groves. They began to recover during a warm and wet January which promoted new shoots, but a second freeze hit on February 7, 1895, practically wiping them out. The 24 degree temperature was the coldest known in Florida to that point. The freeze was so intense that the sap froze inside the trunks, many of which split open, sounding like gunshots, and crashed to the ground. The population quickly dropped from 5000 to 2000 as the groves were abandoned. I. H. Terwilliger stayed after the freezes and is believed to have planted the first celery grown in Sanford in 1896. By 1898, celery became the crop synonymous to Sanford, with the town earning the nickname "Celery City."
Original newspaper article: "Celery Cooperative Needed." The Central Florida Press, Vol. 1, No. 9, June 20, 1930, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A postcard featuring the agricultural laborers working at a celery field in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well, with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as the Church Street Station entertainment complex. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Original black and white postcard: "Celery Field, Orlando, Fla.": Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, Florida.
Celery Growing, City of Jacksonville Steamboat in the Background
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
Steamboats--Florida--St. Johns River--History
Postcard of a celery farm along the riverfront with the City of Jacksonville steamboat in the background. The origins of Sanford's connection to celery farming began on December 26, 1894, when a freeze damaged the area's citrus groves. They began to recover during a warm and wet January which promoted new shoots, but a second freeze hit on February 7, 1895, practically wiping them out. The 24 degree temperature was the coldest known in Florida to that point. The freeze was so intense that the sap froze inside the trunks, many of which split open, sounding like gunshots, and crashed to the ground. The population quickly dropped from 5000 to 2000 as the groves were abandoned. I.H. Terwilliger stayed after the freezes and is believed to have planted the first celery grown in Sanford in 1896. J.N. Whitner and B.F. Whitner Sr. planted 3/4 acre in 1897 with celery imported from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Chase & Company also converted to celery cultivation and by 1898, celery became the crop synonymous to Sanford. By the mid-1880s, Sanford, Florida had become a major distribution center due to the city's strategic location along Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. Even before Florida obtained statehood, steamboats frequented the St. Johns River carrying U.S. Army soldiers to Fort Mellon, located on the shores of Lake Monroe, to defend the area against Native Americans during the Seminole Wars. Steamboats were used at the fort and during the Battle of Camp Monroe to relocate Seminoles, explore the St. Johns River, and to distribute military forces. During the second half of the 1830s, steamboats were used to tow barges from the river to Lake Monroe in order to stimulate trade. The first commercial steamboat was developed as the Brock Line in the early 1850s. As trade grew, various wharves and docks were built in locations such as Mellonville Avenue, Palmetto Avenue, Oak Street, and Sanford Avenue. The Debary-Baya Merchant Line began transporting passengers in 1883, which further developed the steamboat industry. The line was purchased by the Clyde Line in 1886 and remained open until 1933. The growth of railroads was the primary cause of the decline of the steamboat industry.
Original 9 x 14 centimeter color postcard by A.C. Bosselman & Company: Postcard Collection, call number PC3266, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
State Library and Archives of Florida
Two men loading crates of celery either onto rail car. The celery was shipped by M. Moses, who also leased two stalls at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market, on February 16, 1926, from Sanford, Florida. A. H. Moses & Son sold the celery upon the shipment arrival in New York City on February 24. The man pictured in the dark suit is likely one of the Moses brothers.
Original framed black and white photograph: "Celery Shipment Loaded on Railcar." 1926. Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The original idea for the Celery Soup: Florida’s Folk Life Play project came from Jeanine Taylor, the owner of a folk-art gallery on First Street in Sanford, Florida. Their first production was Touch and Go, a play focusing on the people of Sanford and their determination to overcome various obstacles, including the Freeze of 1894-1895, the fall of Sanford's celery industry, and the closing of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford in the 1960s. Richard Geer and Jules Corriere, partners from Community Performance International, were in charge of assessing oral histories, converting them into scenes for the play, and writing original songs. Director Geer also used an all-volunteer cast from the local community, many of whom were not experienced actors. In the process of producing the show, Creative Sanford decided to rehabilitate an historic building, the Princess Theater, which is located on 115 West First Street and owned by Stephen Tibstra.
The Princess Theater 115 West First Street Sanford, Florida 32771
Historic Sanford Welcome Center 203 East First Street Sanford, Florida 32771
Creative Sanford, Inc., Sanford, Florida
A twelve-car train transporting Chase & Company celery in Sanford, Florida, in 1936. The origins of Sanford's connection to celery farming began on December 26, 1894, when a freeze damaged the area's citrus groves. They began to recover during a warm and wet January which promoted new shoots, but a second freeze hit on February 7, 1895, practically wiping them out. The 24 degree temperature was the coldest known in Florida to that point. The freeze was so intense that the sap froze inside the trunks, many of which split open, sounding like gunshots, and crashed to the ground. The population quickly dropped from five thousand to two thousand, as the groves were abandoned. I. H. Terwilliger stayed after the freezes and is believed to have planted the first celery grown in Sanford in 1896. J. N. Whitner and B. F. Whitner, Sr. planted 3/4 acre in 1897 with celery imported from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Chase & Company also converted to celery cultivation and by 1898, celery became the crop synonymous to Sanford. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photograph, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.100, item CC79, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Census of Negroes Living and Working at Isleworth, November 1, 1933
An original census showing the number of white employee statistics at Isleworth Grove from November 1932 to November 1933. During this period, there were 78 African Americans living on the property and the average weekly wages per family was $8.00. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original document: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 24, folder 6.32, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Census of White People Living and Working at Isleworth Grove with Earnings, October 31, 1932-November 1, 1933
An original census showing the number of white employee statistics at Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida, from November 1932 to November 1933. During this period, there were 39 white people living on the property and the average weekly wages per family was $11.23. There were also 78 African Americans living on the property. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Centennial Book of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, Florida, 1874-1974
Centennial Book of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, which chronicles the history of the first 100 years of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke. The church is located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue in Dowtown Orlando, Florida, and was founded in 1867 by Francis W. Eppes (1801-1881), the nephew of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The congregation originally worshipped in a log cabin and services were conducted by Eppes, despite his status as a layman. In October 1882, William Crane Gray (1835-1919) was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida, which included Central Florida and Orlando, at the time. A new church building for St. Luke's was erected under Reverend C. W. Ward during that same year. The building was enlarged in 1884, and again in 1903. On March 31, 1902, Bishop Gray designated St. Luke's as the official Cathedral Church for South Florida and appointed Reverend Lucien A. Spencer as the cathedral's first dean. In 1922, the cathedral building was relocated to make room for a new cathedral designed by Frohman, Robb, and Little of Boston, Massachusetts. During that same year, the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida was admitted to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as the Diocese of South Florida. On April 13, 1925, Bishop Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. However, as the land bust struck Florida in 1926, the building remained only partially constructed and a temporary wall was built to seal the altar side of the church. Over the years, the building has received a number of structural additions and renovations, including an educational unit memorializing members of the congregation who died serving in World War II; the Chapter House erected in the 1950s; the renovation of the cathedral nave, the erection of the choir gallery over the narthex, and the installation of a 88-rank pipe organ in the early 1970s; and the removal of the temporary wall and the competition of the building's original design during 1986 and 1987. In 1970, the Diocese of South Florida was divided into three smaller dioceses; St. Luke's became the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Central Florida.
Original book: Centennial Book of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, Florida, 1874-1974. Orlando, Fla: Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 1974.
Centennial Celebration: GFWC Oviedo Woman's Club Anniversary Tea
A booklet for the Oviedo Woman's Club's (OWC) centennial celebration held on February 10, 2006. The Oviedo Woman's Club was founded in 1906 as the Oviedo Magazine Club by seven charter members: H. B. McCall, Edith Meade, Georgia Lee Wheeler, Lillian Lee Lawton, Mattie Aulin Wheeler, Milcah Yonge, and Mary King. The first clubhouse was constructed in 1914 and also served as Oviedo's first library. In 1916, the club joined the FFWC and officially changed its name to the Oviedo Woman's Club. In 1923, the woman's club was federated under the umbrella of the GFWC. A new clubhouse was built in 1961 on property donated by R. L. Croom, a former member, which is located at 414 King Street. The Oviedo Woman's Club is involved in many civic projects, including the annual Great Day in the Country Arts and Crafts Festival, the Spring Fundraiser, Tasting Luncheons, and Celebrate Spring Teas.
Original booklet, 2006: Private Collection of Beatrice Gestrich.
Central Ave., Looking West from Court House Postcard
Elks, Benevolent and Protective Order of
Postcard posted February of 1919 that shows Central Avenue (now Central Boulevard) at the corner of Court Avenue. Pictured is the Elks Club, as well as the intersection of Central and Orange Avenue. The Orlando Lodge of the Elks was founded on June 28, 1907. The Lodge rented space, first from the Odd Fellows and later the YMCA, prior to purchasing the land at Court Street and Central Boulevard for $1,250. The building was constructed circa 1910 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and cost $8,500 to build. It was made in the Modern Eclectic style with Bungalow elements. Orange County eventually bought the property and demolished the building in 1955, at the same time the 1892 Orange County Courthouse was being torn down in preparation of the building of the Courthouse Annex building. The ground where the Elks Building once stood was turned into a parking lot for the Courthouse. The Elks Club moved to 409 East Central Boulevard and remained there until a fire destroyed their lodge in 1969. Afterward, the Elks moved to 12 North Primrose Avenue. The parking lot was eventually redeveloped into Heritage Square after the demolition of the Orange County Courthouse Annex in the late 1990s. Heritage Square opened in 2000.
Original 5.5 x 3.5 inch color postcard, 1919: E. C. Kropp Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
A colorized postcard of the Central Christian Church in Fitzgerald, Georgia. The building is still in use today, as the Faith Baptist Church. This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 colored postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
Central Christian Church, Fitzgerald, Georgia
The cover from the October 1986 issue of the Central Florida magazine, which highlights the economic boom in Orlando, Florida, under Mayor Bill Frederick (b. 1934), who served as mayor from 1980 to 1992. The growing city was, during this time, facing numerous internal issues, including an inadequate sewage system, heavy traffic, and a congested metropolitan center that locals worried was detracting from the beauty of the city. Mayor Frederick was considered instrumental in implementing many structural and economic reforms from a new transportation system to the construction of major city landmarks. During his time in office, Mayor Frederick would be responsible for several major renovations, including the refurbishment of Lake Eola, the expansion of Orlando International Airport, and the erection of a new city hall. A strong supporter of education and the arts, Mayor Frederick would also work to improve public schools for the city and go on to lay the foundation necessary for the construction of what would eventually become Central Florida’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Original magazine: Central Florida Magazine, October 1986: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando City Hall, Orlando, Florida.
Central Florida Magazine
Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida
Central Florida Personalities: Walton MacJordan
Walton MacJordan (b. 1905) was born in 1905 in Kentucky and attended college at the University of Alabama. He moved to Georgia and started his career in retail by becoming the youngest manager of a department store in the South. In 1932, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and started working for Sears, Roebuck & Company as a merchandise manager. A year later, he relocated to Orlando where he became the manager of the Sears store located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue. MacJordan left Orlando in 1937 for Chicago, Illinois, to work at the headquarters of Sears as a General Merchandise Manager of all stores. In 1942, during World War II, MacJordan served in the United States Air Force. During his service as a lieutenant, he used his experience he had in retail to manage the supplies and maintenance for several bases. He soon became a public relations officer for the southeastern portion of the country and was promoted to captain. In 1945, he returned to Orlando to manage Sears again. MacJordan also served his community as chairman of the American Red Cross in Orlando in 1950 and a member of the board of directors of the Central Florida Exposition.
Photocopy of original black and white newspaper cartoon: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Sears, Roebuck & Company, Jacksonville, Florida
Sears, Roebuck & Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Sears, Roebuck & Company, Chicago, Illinois
The Central Florida Railroad Museum, located at 101 South Boyd Street in Winter Garden, Florida. Originally the Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot, the building was constructed in 1913 at a cost of $1,765. The western portion, built of Florida sand brick, contained the agent's office and passengers' waiting rooms. The eastern portion of the building, made of wood covered with tin, was used for freight and baggage storage. This building replaced the original 1899 structure that was located on the other end of the block facing Main Street. The T&G Railroad was well known for both excellent customer service and frequent derailments. It had many nicknames, including "the Turtle and Gopher," "the Tug and Grunt," and "the Try and Go." Even with only 32 miles of track running from Tavares to Ocoee and a 6-mile spur to Clermont, the railroad was active and productive when Winter Garden was the largest citrus shipping point in the world. In 1949, the T&G generated more perishable freight per mile of track than any Class I railroad in the United States. On December 31, 1969, the line between Winter Garden and Astatula was abandoned. The station continued to operate as an agency for the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad until March 1978, when it was closed and all services were transferred to a mobile agency. In 1979, the Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society purchased and rehabilitated the building for use as its headquarters. The railroad museum opened in 1983. In 2003, the museum became part of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
Original color digital image: Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Winter Garden, Florida.
Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot, Winter Garden, Florida
National Railway Historical Society Headquarters, Winter Garden, Florida
Central Florida Railroad Museum, Winter Garden, Florida
Five ceremonial shovels rest on the wooden steps of the Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum at a groundbreaking ceremony on February 13, 2023. A banner hangs at the top of the doors that reads, "Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum, Inc. hocsmuseum.org." A brown welcome mat that reads, "Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum, Inc." sits at the foot of the steps. In 2000, Gloria Godwin and Gracia Muller Miller began talking about a reunion for the Jackson Heights Elementary School, a colored school in Oviedo during segregation. Reunion Historian, Judith Smith, began to look for artifacts from that era and struggled to locate any pictures or other information. She put the word out amongst the former students, asking to borrow photographs or other materials related to the colored school. Immediately, items began to pour in, and the result was a book entitled: “A Written and Pictorial History of the Oviedo Area Colored Schools 1890-1967, Oviedo Elementary, Jackson Heights Elementary, Geneva, Wagner, Kolokee (Snowhill), Gabriella (Jamestown).” From there, the mission was born.
3 original color photographs: RICHES, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum, Oviedo, Florida
Certificate of Appointment for William H. Coe
A certificate of appointment for William Henry Coe (1824-1879), the founder of Glencoe, Florida. The certificate was issued by Collector of Customs Thomas F. House and confirmed by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury on April 10, 1879. Coe was appointed as Deputy Collector of Customs for the District of St. Augustine. the was responsible for collecting import duties on foreign goods that entered the United States through the port at New Smyrna until his death on October 23. Shortly thereafter, his son, Captain Charles Henry Coe, was appointed to the position. Due to poor health, Coe moved with his wife and children from Connecticut to Jacksonville in 1874 and established an orange grove the following year four miles west of New Smyrna, an area that would later become Glencoe. In 1877, Coe became an editor for The Florida Star, a newspaper founded by his son, Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954). In April of 1879, Coe was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs for the port at New Smyrna. Just a few months later, on October 23, Coe died of silicosis, likely a result of his work as a copper miner in Illinois during the 1840s. Coe is buried in at Hawks Park Cemetery in Edgewater.
Original certificate of appointment, April 10, 1879: Private Collection of Andrew M. Foster.
The birth certificate of Moddie Miller, the father of Algerine Miller. He was born in Orangeburg County, South Carolina on June 17, 1909. His parents are listed as Irvin Miller and Carrie Whaley. The birth certificate incorrectly spells Miller's first name as "Modie." Miller later moved to Sanford, Florida and purchased property in the Pine Level Subdivision with his wife, Alberta Miller.
Reprinted birth certificate by J. E. Gramling, May 5, 1943: State of South Carolina, Orangeburg County, South Carolina.
State of South Carolina
Certificate of Death for Charles Crummer, 1934
The certificate of deawth of Charles Crummer (1894-1934). He died in a veterans' hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee. The record includes the facility's name, as well as Crummer's name, age, race, and time and cause of death. Charles Crummer was born on August 24, 1894 in Palatka, Florida to his parents Walter and Maria. He lived there with his parents and five brothers until sometime between 1900 and 1910, when the family moved to St. Augustine. After receiving an education that allowed him to read and write, Crummer worked as a chauffeur. On April 1, 1918, he was drafted for service, and served for a short time in the 151st Depot Brigade, a unit responsible for training and processing new recruits. He then became part of Company A of the 36th Infantry, which he served in from April 24, 1918 until his discharge on April 2, 1919. After being discharged, Crummer returned home to his mother and continued to work. Between 1920 and 1927, he and his new wife, Jennie, moved to their own house, where they lived together until Crummer was admitted to a veterans' sanitorium in Johnson City, Tennessee for chronic pulmonary issues and a spinal condition. He lived there until his death in 1934 due to complications with diabetes and septicemia. Crummer is buried in the St. Augustine National Cemetery at Plot A Grave 38. 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 certificate of death, August 22, 1934: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958, Roll Number 8.
Certificate of Death for Charles Wade, 1938
The certificate of death for Charles E.T. Wade. The form lists the city, county and state an individual died in, their full name, spouse’s name, race, gender, age, occupation, birthplace and other personal information. Charles E.T. Wade was born in the West Indies and migrated to Maryland. Before serving in the United States Army, he worked as a laborer. On March 25, 1899, Wade enlisted as a Private in the Company K Ninth United States Cavalry Regiment in Baltimore, Maryland. He served in the Western United States, escorting funds for Native Americans. In the early 1900s, during the Philippine-American War, the Ninth Cavalry was stationed in the Philippine Islands, guarding small villages and military bases. Wade was honorably discharged on March 24, 1902, in Draga, Philippines, and remained there following his service. He married a Philippine woman named Seage Awai Soong and had a daughter, Federica Wade, born in 1910. On July 2, 1935, Wade traveled back to the United States and died three years later on December 10, 1938, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was interned at St. Augustine National Cemetery on December 28, 1938, in section A row 218. 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 certificate of death, December 10, 1938: Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Certificate of Death for John W. Donaldson, 1946
The certificate of death for John W. Donaldson (1897-1946). John was admitted to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerr County, Texas, on February 9, 1946, for tuberculosis treatment. After arrival at the hospital, he suffered a cerebral thrombosis and was pronounced dead at 10pm on February 11 at the age of 48. Other information provided on the document included his parents' names and his marriage status. John W. Donaldson (1897-1946) was born on September 8, 1897, to John F. and Hattie Donaldson in Waldo, Florida. He enlisted in the United States Army in March of 1918, at the age of 20, and was assigned to the Motor Transport Corps of the 5th Division. John trained at Camp Johnston in Jacksonville, Florida, before leaving for New Jersey, where he set sail aboard the USS America on June 10, 1918, and arrived at Brest, France, on June 19, 1918. He spent some time at Camp Pontanezen, a crowded rest camp, where soldiers performed construction work. In France, John served as a chauffeur in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During the intense six-week battle, John sustained shrapnel wounds on his left knee and burns on his neck. Before being honorably discharged on May 3, 1920, he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major, the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer. Donaldson returned to Florida after discharge, where he married Archie K. Hughes in 1924, in Winter Haven. In 1929, they had a son named Delbert. The couple divorced in 1931. He visited VA hospitals in North Carolina and Bay Pines, Florida, for tuberculosis treatment. On April 10, 1937, John married again to Lillie May Holloway, but they divorced some time after. John was admitted to the VA hospital in Kerrville, Texas, on February 9, 1946, and died two days later due to cerebral thrombosis. He rests in Bay Pines National Cemetery at Section 11, Row 2, Site 13. 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.
Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of State Health Services
Digital reproduction of original certificate of death, February 11, 1946: State Registrar Office, Austin, Texas, certificate number 8907.
Certificate of Marriage for Edward John Seidel and Harriet Bender
Certificate of marriage for Edward John Seidel (1915-1996) and Harriet Bender in Arlington, Virginia, on September 20, 1967. The marriage certificate includes information about the bride and groom's age, race, number of times previously married, occupation, industry or business, birthplace, parents' full names, mailing address, and date and place of proposed marriage. The couple married on September 25, 1967. Born on March 6, 1915, in Buffalo, New York, Seidel grew up in New York State before moving to Northern Virginia to work for the United States Department of Agriculture. He married his first wife, Mildred Lunsford, in 1938, and fathered four children: Lance, Mary Ann, Walter and Daniel. Seidel enlisted in the United States Army on May 7, 1945. In 1967, Seidel and his wife divorced. After marrying Harriet Bender in 1967, the family lived in Delaware before moving to Central Florida in 1992. On September 1, 1996, Seidel passed away at the age of eighty-one. The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, placed a memorial headstone in honor of Seidel and his service. 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.
Commonwealth of Virginia
Digital reproduction of original marriage certificate recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, September 20, 1967.
Certificate of Marriage for Merrill Hart McGlamery and Julia Jane Galloway
Certificate of marriage for Merrill Hart McGlamery and Julia Jane Galloway in Williamsburg, Virginia on December 24, 1944. McGlamery was living at the United States Naval Hospital at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The marriage certificate includes information about the bride and groom's age, race, number of times previously married, occupation, industry or business, birthplace, parents' full names, mailing address, and date and place of proposed marriage. Merrill Hart McGlamery was born in 1924 in Tampa, Florida. He spent his childhood in Tampa and grew up in a large family. In January of 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and then also served in the United States Marines. McGlamery served in a signal battalion, through which he took courses in radio operation. After his World War II-era service, McGlamery attended Davidson College and graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1948. He then re-enlisted in the military and served from 1949-1973. He had a long career as an engineer, including work for General Electric as an electronics engineer. McGlamery was also involved in the space program. He later returned to his home state of Florida and was living in Dunnellon when he passed away in 2000. McGlamery is memorialized at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. 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 marriage certificate recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, December 22, 1944.
Certificate of Marriage for Willie Roberts and Ruth Plessley
Certificate of marriage for Willie Roberts and Ruth Plessley in Bradford County, Florida, on November 10, 1920. An affidavit representative affirms the legitimacy of the marriage between the groom and bride, detailing their age at the time of marriage along with their signatures. The certificate also lists the date of sworn notary and the name and signature of the authorized affidavit representative. Willie Roberts enlisted in his hometown of Starke, Florida, on April 26, 1918. He served in the United States Reserve Labor Battalion, Quartermaster Corps till his discharge with rank of private on April 11, 1919. Born on March 25, 1892 in Starke, Florida, Willie Roberts spent his entire life in the state of Florida. He served in the United States Army during World War I. After the war, he married Ruth Plessley he had a daughter named Geneve. Roberts worked in the railroad industry, eventually moving to Jacksonville working as a train porter. Roberts died on February 29, 1992, in Lake City, Florida and is buried in the Bushnell National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original marriage certificate recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, November 10, 1920.
Certificate of Midwifery for Marie Jones Francis
A document certifying Marie Jones Francis as a Lay-Midwife for the year of 1977. The certificate was issued by the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services Health Program Office and was signed by the Staff Director. The Governor and Secretary at the time of issuance were Reubin O'Donovan Askew and William J. Page, Jr., respectively. Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown. Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.
Original certificate, 1977: Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, Florida: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.
Cervantes Spanish Restaurant was one of the first Spanish restaurants to come to Orlando, Florida. It was run by Paul Vines and his wife, Annie Vines, and their business partner, C. Menendez. The restaurant sat at 19 East Church Street and stayed at that location for nearly 20 years. The restaurant had moved to that location in 1937 and remained there until the mid-1950s, when it was replaced by J & G Fine Foods, owned by a Gladys Barnett. This lot, as well as the rest of the block, was later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Downtown Orlando Information Center, Orlando, Florida.
The Chabad of Greater Orlando, located at 708 Lake Howell Road in Maitland, Florida, in 2005. Chabad-Lubavitch is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish movements. "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for chochmah, binah, and da'at (wisdom, comprehension, and knowledge, respectively). "Lubavitch" is the name of the Russian town where the movement was founded by Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) in 1755. Like other Orthodox Judaic denominations, Chabad Jews strictly follow the laws and ethics of the Torah, the Jewish religious text. The worldwide Chab movement numbers approximate 200,000 adherents.
Original color photograph by Laura Lynn Cepero, 2005: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Chabad of Greater Orlando, Maitland, Florida
A poster for the Orlando Gay Chorus concert, “Changing Hearts”. The event was held at The Plaza Live, located at 425 North Bumby Avenue in Orlando, Florida, on May 19 and 20, 2012. The poster features a silhouetted man standing on a green ground with rainbows coming up out of his upturned hands to surround the title. The sky blue background features the names of songs in slightly darker text. Featured artwork includes the logos of the OGC, the Plaza Live, and various sponsors across the bottom of the page. The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
The Plaza Live Theatre, Orlando, Florida
A poster for the Orlando Gay Chorus, entitled "Changing Hearts and Minds for 25 Years". The poster is not for an event, but commemorates a range of concerts held between 1990 and 2015. The OGC logo is in the center, surrounded by thumbnails of approximately 65 posters from previous shows arranged in chronological order. The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
A program for the Orlando Gay Chorus' concert, "Changing Hearts", on May 19 &amp
20, 2012, at the Plaza Theater in Orlando, Florida. The program includes short biographies on the Artistic Director Jim Brown, the Assistant Artistic Director Jedediah C. Daiger, the Choreographer Bob Smith-Trent, Principle Accompanist Sue Glerum, the ASL interpreter Debbie Drobney, program notes, an outline of the show's itinerary, a list of chorus members and contributors, and a history of GALA Choruses. The Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization, and part of the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a host of community events, such as Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World AIDS Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Original 24-page colored program, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
The chapel at the New Tribes Mission, located at 1000 East First Street in Sanford, Florida. This room was formerly a hotel ballroom for the Mayfair Inn. Originally named after the Sanford Mayor and president of Seminole County Bank, construction of the Forrest Lake Hotel began in 1916. Local architect Elton J. Moughton designed the hotel. In 1925, Hotel Forrest Lake opened and became a popular destination for tourists visiting Sanford. By 1929, the hotel closed after the stock market crash and the downfall of Florida's tourism and real estate boom. William E. Kirchhoff leased the building in 1934 and the hotel reopened in 1935 with the new name Mayfair Hotel. Under Kirchhoff's ownership, the Mayfair Hotel became known as one of the finest hotels in the South. Kirchhoff sold the hotel in 1948 to Horace Stoneham, owner of the New York Giants. Stoneham then sold the building to the Bernard McFadden Foundation. After the Naval Air Station Sanford acquired $1.3 million to fund the construction of a naval academy in 1963, the Foundation made significant alterations to the building to house students from the Sanford Naval Academy. The Foundation later sold the building to the New Tribes Mission in 1977. The New Tribes Mission's goal is to reach tribes who have no access to the Gospel through translated publications and missionary work.
Original color digital image by Laura Cepero, June 10, 2011.