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Collection Guides

The University of Central Florida Special Collections Manuscript collections contain unique and original personal papers and organizational papers that document local history, Florida history, travel and tourism, and many other topics.

Please be aware that collections must be used in the Special Collections reading room and due to the nature of original sources, may take extra time to research. All materials have a guide with information on the contents of the collection. Some are available online, while others are available for use in the Library. For use of collections that are being processed, please contact Special Collections before visiting the department.

Unprocessed Collections are also available for research and may not be available for immediate access. Staff may review materials for sensitive and private information such as social security numbers and medical records. Please contact Special Collections before visiting.

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African Americana

African American Legacy: The Carol Mundy Collection, 1794-2010 – 24 boxes, 60 flat files, 19.5 linear feet

Collected by Carol Mundy, this collection contains over 1,500 items relating to African American history. The collection includes books, manuscripts, sheet music, pamphlets, journals, newspapers, broadsides, posters, photographs and rare ephemera which all speak to the black experience. While the collection is comprehensive both nationally and internationally, the collection does contain materials that relates to local African American history.

Carol Mundy: African American Legacy Research Files, 1790-2012 – 5 boxes, 2.25 linear feet

This research collection primarily looks at African American Legacy in small town Florida, including Eatonville, Apopka, and Ocoee. Through photographs, manuscripts, census data, historic home registers, and so much more; you can dive deep into researching these historic African American cities. Delve into the historic homes and their inhabitance of these historic cities through this collection. The documents in this collection are primarily photocopies, or photographs of original documents. The documents in this collection as a result were printed or created recently.

Fred Rodgers and Dr. Francis Martin Jr. Collection, 1829-2006 – 8 boxes, 1 flat file, 3 art frames, 3.25 linear feet

The Francis Martin Jr. and Fred Rodgers collection contains a plethora of art pieces, correspondence, and photographs that correlate with numerous artists. The art pieces have varying subjects which include many species of canaries, depictions of Black Americans (mostly created by E. W. Kemble), and various Mexican landscapes by Pataky. A key piece is the portrait of Alexander Hamilton by William Sartain. E. W. Kemble is mostly known for his artistical satire of Black Americans in the 19th Century. The collection also contains meticulously hand drawn comics by Charles Crumb and beautifully rendered art by Winslow Homer found in antique magazine issues of publications such as Appleton’s Journal and Harper’s Weekly. Dr. Francis Martin Jr’s processes in collecting information regarding his thesis on E. W. Kemble which includes many items of correspondence with Kemble’s family can also be found in the collection.

Artist’s Papers

Beth Urban Collection on Doris Leeper, Circa 1930-2013 – 4 boxes, 1.75 linear feet

Doris “Doc” Leeper (1929-2000) was a well-known abstract painter, sculptor, and environmental activist. She was the founder of the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She also played major role of establishing the Canaveral National Seashore and the Spruce Creek Preserve. Her collection consists of personal files, various publications, and photographs that highlight her artwork, activities with the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and her personal life from early age through her continued impact many years after her passing.

Rose Feinman Papers, 1938-2002 – 4 boxes, 2.75 linear feet

Rose Feinman was an actress and comedienne who only began performing professionally in her 70s. After performing many stand-up comedy shows, writing plays, and working for movies and theaters, she and her husband, Jerome Saul Feinman, decided to retire and moved to Orlando from New York City. She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild (S.A.G.) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (A.F.T.R.A.). Rose Feinman, 100, passed away at the Jewish Home on December 7, 2012. Her funeral was held at the Farone & Son Inc., Funeral Home in Syracause, New York. The collection includes family and professional photos, scripts, ephemera, correspondence, news clippings, audio and video tapes. Most of the collection is on scripts, poems, and ad music written by Feinman dating from 1938 to 2002.

Vincent J. Fonelli Collection, 1906-1985 – 4 boxes, 2 linear feet

The Vincent J. Fonelli Collection includes materials on the life and personal artwork of Fonelli, who lived from 1906 to 1972. The collection consists of architectural drawings, paintings, photographs, hand drawings, and sculptures done by Fonelli around his time at Columbia University. Polish posters and newsletters are also featured in the collection.

Walter Gaudnek Collection, 1945-2009 – 7 boxes, 6 portfolios, 1 flat file, 7.25 linear feet

The collection consists of catalogs and brochures from exhibitions in the United States and Germany bound in volumes documenting Gaudnek’s long career as an artist in Central Florida. Several of Gaudnek’s paintings are on permanent display in the Library.

Iva Kitchell-Webster Papers, 1947-1984 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

Though she lived her life creating satire, this collection of papers show the very real life of artist, satirist, and dancer Iva Kitchell-Webster. Correspondence, performance programs, photographs, and news clippings highlight the life and career of Kitchell-Webster who created her dance career upon her ability to satire popular dances of the day. Kitchell-Webster relocated to Flagler Beach, Florida with her husband, painter and aeronautical engineer Stokely Webster only one year before her death in 1984

Doris Leeper Papers, 1951-1999 – 2 boxes, 27 scrapbooks, 8 linear feet

Doris “Doc” Leeper was a renowned Florida artist and environmental activist. Papers consists of exhibition catalogs as well as scrapbooks created by the artist containing newspaper clippings, correspondence and other information documenting the life, work and environmental activities. The scrapbooks cover the years 1951-1999 and roughly coincide with the years the artist spent living in New Smyrna Beach. The exhibit catalogs are from exhibitions of the artist’s works throughout Florida and the Southeast from approximately 1964 to 1997.

Sol and Sadie Malkoff Papers, 1900-1999 – 9 boxes, 9.5 linear feet

The collection, assembled over 60 years by graphic artist Sol Malkoff, demonstrates the principles of good calligraphy, typography, graphic design, and book design. Includes correspondence, photographs, research, and collected materials including over a hundred typography and font specimens.

Albin Polasek Collection, 1897-2004 – 9 boxes, 3.75 linear feet

The Collection includes materials on the life and work of the Czech sculptor and Winter Park resident Albin Polasek. The collection contains four photographic scrapbooks made by the artist, correspondence, business records, certificates and speeches, photographs, pamphlets, programs and invitations, and news clippings.

Joy Postle Papers, 1910-2015 – 11 boxes, 96 Art Pieces, 13 Murals, 1 Easel, 9.25 linear feet

The materials contain papers and photographs documenting Joy Postle’s life and work. Postle was an artist best known for her murals and paintings of Florida wildlife, especially birds. Her papers include newspaper clippings, a scrapbook, some correspondence and many photographs. Most of the collection is devoted to her art in all its forms and photographs that she used for inspiration.

Joseph and Mary Velezdy Papers, 1947-2000 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

Pictures, songs, lyrics, sheet music, poems, and news clippings that chronicle the musical lives of a violinist husband and his composer wife.

University of Central Florida Student Zines Collection, 1996-2018 – 3 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

Zines are non-commercial, small circulation “Do It Yourself” (DIY) magazines. They provide the public with a space for open discussion on issues of importance in our democracy. The majority of zines in this collection were created by students in Professor Kristin G. Congdon’s Theory and Criticism in the Visual Arts and Aesthetics classes at UCF.

Book Arts & Typography

Book Arts Collection

A resource collection of books, or book-like objects, created by artists as works of art. Also includes examples of fine press books, periodicals, and other books related to bookbinding, papermaking, calligraphy, typography, and printing.

Book Arts Ephemera Collection, 1993-2007 – 2 boxes, 1 linear feet

The Book Arts Ephemera Collection is comprised of various materials related to the book arts community. Items from publishers, art exhibits, and persons involved with book arts are included.

Walter and Dorothy Donnelly Family Papers, 1887-1994 – 12 boxes, 1 flat file, 6.25 linear feet

The collection includes works in world literature, art, book arts, and travel, and approximately 380 titles from the collection are housed in Special Collections. The other 4,000 titles in the collection have been added to the Library’s general collection.

Howard J. Duerr Collection, 1911-1978 – 9 boxes, 9.75 linear feet

Collector of horror, fantasy, and adventure literature, Duerr donated the Special Collections Horror and Fantasy Book Collection. The Duerr papers include correspondence with genre authors and a collection of amateur journals, where fans self published zines, duplicating and sharing their own horror fantasy genre writing.

Susan King and Paradise Press Collection, 1908-2009 – 30 boxes, 27 flat files, 34.75 linear feet

Susan Elizabeth King founded Paradise Press in 1975, where she published her own artist books, as well as the works of others. King has also lectured, taught workshops, and has been an artist-in-residence at numerous universities and art centers. She has been a prolific author and artist, having received grants and awards with her work featured extensively in art collections and exhibitions across the United States and Europe. Her collection contains wide variety of materials, primarily related to her career as a book artist, including business files from her printing company, publications, and correspondence between King and colleagues.

Sol and Sadie Malkoff Papers, 1900-1999 – 9 boxes, 9.5 linear feet

The collection, assembled over 60 years by graphic artist Sol Malkoff, demonstrates the principles of good calligraphy, typography, graphic design, and book design. Includes correspondence, photographs, research, and collected materials including over a hundred typography and font specimens.

University of Central Florida Student Zines Collection, 1996-2018 – 3 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

Zines are non-commercial, small circulation “Do It Yourself” (DIY) magazines. They provide the public with a space for open discussion on issues of importance in our democracy. The majority of zines in this collection were created by students in Professor Kristin G. Congdon’s Theory and Criticism in the Visual Arts and Aesthetics classes at UCF.

Botany

Archival Collection of Dr. Henry H. Nehrling from the Collection of Michael D. Kahn, 1855-1934 – 2 boxes, 1.5 linear feet

These materials were in the possession of Betty Pooler Mitchell Nehrling, Henry Nehrling’s second wife. Dr. Henry Nehrling was a horticulturist famous for his gardens in Gotha and Naples, Florida. The collection consists of letters, documents, photographs, postcards and monographs which provides insight into the familial and financial affairs of the Nehrling Gardens. It also offers a look at Henry Nehrling during the tumultuous years of Florida’s boom and bust, and a glimpse of his failing physical and mental state while he sought refuge in a quiet communal colony in Southwest Florida.

Arthur S. Barclay Collection, 1940-1977 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

A collection of slides and photographs that belonged to American botanist Dr. Arthur S. Barclay. These images include personal photographs of Dr. Barclay and his family or subjects of Dr. Barclay’s research. Most notable are Dr. Barclay’s trip to Colombia while a student at Harvard University in 1956, samples of datura plants collected in the Southwestern United States, and the aftermath of automobile accident involving Dr. Barclay’s International Harvester B-120 Travelall.

Donald Alton Beadle Bromeliad Slides, 1977-1998 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

This collection is comprised of 3 half-boxes of photographic slides taken by Donald Alton Beadle. These slides show a variety of bromeliad plants. Beadle dedicated his time to hybridizing and creating different types of bromeliads, including the Billbergia ‘Hallelujah,’ eventually buying a nursery and photographing them so they could be displayed to a wider audience.

The Bromeliad Society International (BSI) Archive, 1942-2018 – 10 boxes, 1 flat file, 7.25 linear feet

The Bromeliad Society International (BSI) Archive consists of historical material, including photographs related to cultivation of bromeliads; field notes related to the collection of bromeliads in the wild; list of plant entries in judged bromeliad shows; incoming and outgoing correspondence from early bromeliad growers; biographies; administrative records of the BSI such as, copyright registrations, copies of meeting minutes, annual reports, and bylaws; BSI publications; and ephemera, including posters and pins.

The purposes of the Bromeliad Society International (BSI) are to promote and maintain public and scientific interest in the research, development, preservation, and distribution of bromeliads, both natural and hybrid, throughout the world.

Grant Groves Collection on Mulford B. Foster Collection, Circa 1920’s-1978 – 4 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

Grant Groves, owner of Color Zone Tropicals, Inc. in Winter Garden Florida, collected materials on Mulford B. Foster. He was a botanist, horticulturist, and a lifelong naturalist, also known as “Father of the Bromeliad”, born in 1888 in Elmer, New Jersey and passed away at the age of 89 in Orange County, Florida. Collection includes Foster’s black & white sketches, color drawings, oil paintings, three-fold screen art work, news clippings, publications, photographs, slides, negatives, correspondence, and blueprints of Foster’s house called “Bromel – La.”

Henry Nehrling Papers, 1886-1970 – 5 boxes, 3.25 linear feet

Henry Nehrling was a horticulturist famous for his gardens in Gotha and Naples, Florida. These papers are primarily manuscripts of his articles in the American Eagle and other writings about plants. They include a few news clippings, plant lists, correspondence and other documentation of a business and personal nature.

Paul O. Schallert Collection, 1935-1964 – 3 boxes, 1.5 linear feet

The Paul O. Schallert was born in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1879. He earned B.A. & B.S. from Marion College in Marion, Indiana and M.S. & M.D. degrees from University of Illinois College of Physicians & Surgeons. After practicing medicine in Wisconsin and North Carolina, he joined the United States Army as a contract surgeon. During his long career as a physician, he became interested in botany and collected various herbal and botanical samples. Schallert’s collection includes photocopy of his autobiography and original hand-written diaries (1943-1956); botany index and correspondence; miscellaneous newsclippings, faculty of medicine oath, and two photographs. Collection also includes a photocopy of his unpublished manuscript called “Russia; Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”. The purpose of the Paul O. Schallert Collection is to captivate specific events and accomplishments in his lifetime.

Michael A. Spencer Bromeliad Research Collection, 1754-2014 – 88 boxes, 88 linear feet

Collector, Michael A. Spencer amassed this collection of publications, photographs, drawings, correspondence programs and other materials focusing on the discovery, taxonomy and cultivation of bromeliads. Mulford B. Foster, Racine Foster and Lyman B. Smith are among the significant bromeliad collectors whose work is documented here.

Michael A. Spencer Collection on Theodore Mead, 1887-1939 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

Theodore Mead was a horticulturist who owned an orange grove in Eustis, Florida and developed a property in Oviedo, Florida to research and hybridize plants. The collection contains Mead’s notebook and family correspondence, together with a brochure and news clipping about the founding of Mead Gardens in Winter Park, Florida.

Michael A. Spencer Collection on Julian Nally, 1902-2001 – 3 boxes, 1.7 linear feet

Julian Nally grew bromeliads on the property that had once belonged to Henry Nehrling at Gotha, Florida. This collection documents both his work at the property and his personal life.

Michael A. Spencer Collection on Henry Nehrling, 1894-1997 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

Henry Nehrling was a horticulturist famous for his gardens in Gotha and Naples, Florida. These materials were collected by Michael Spencer because of his interest in botany and his links with Central Florida. Of particular interest are Nehrling’s notebooks, correspondence, photographs and plant labels. The collection also contains a few materials, which belonged to Mr. Spencer concerning the attempts to save Nehrling’s Palm Cottage Gardens.

Walter Kingsley Taylor Papers, 1997-2013 – 2 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor papers include professional correspondence, pre-publication drafts, page proofs, corrected proofs, final copies, and working copies, unbound color prints and final printouts of his published monographs: Florida Wildflowers in their Natural Communities; Florida Wildflowers, a Comprehensive Guide; Andre-Michaux in Florida; A Guide to Florida Grasses; and, Florida Wildflowers: A Comprehensive Guide. In addition, a final copy of Introducing Florida Grasses sent to University Press of Florida.

Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor, a prolific UCF author, has lived in central Florida for over 43 years. After 35 years of continuous service, Professor Taylor retired from UCF, where he taught a variety of biology courses. Upon retirement in 2004, Dr. Taylor was named Professor Emeritus. The papers are open for research.

Caribbean West Indies

José Guerra Alemán Collection, 1887-2013 – 20 boxes, 17.5 Linear feet

The collection is filled with Cuban history and researched materials on society’s past was created by Cuban and American journalist José Guerra Alemán. The materials range from photographs of his travels to cultural sites and countries to personal notes on literature of other scholars’ works and his published books. He is most notable of his published four-volume encyclopedia on Cuban history called Cuba Infinita.

William L. Bryant West Indies Collection

A scholarly collection of over 1,800 books and periodicals on the history, geography, economy, and social life of the West Indies and the Caribbean area. The collection also includes paintings, graphics, sculptures, maps, sound recordings, and anthropological artifacts. Books and periodicals may be found in the Library catalog by searching the series: William L. Bryant Foundation West Indies collection.

William J. Bryant was interested in archaeology and collected these pottery pieces, bones, stone tools and shells from sites in Florida, the Virgin Islands and the West Indies.

Link to William J. Bryant Archaeological Artifacts Collection

      • Bryant West Indies Audio Collection, 1940-1974 – 4 boxes, 3.25 linear feet

The Bryant West Indies Audio Collection contains vinyl record albums and audio cassette tapes, all containing various genres of music from the Caribbean Islands. These records and cassettes were purchased or collected on trips sponsored by the William L. Bryant Foundation.

Link to Bryant West Indies Audio Collection

      • Bryant West Indies Slides Collection, Circa 1940-1981 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

The Bryant West Indies Slides Collection, c. 1940-1981, contains 35mm slides of various islands in the Caribbean as well as Florida and Venezuela. The slides were taken on collecting trips sponsored by the William L. Bryant Foundation, where books, music and art indigenous to the regions were gathered. They are organized by geographical location. The content of the slides vary and include landscapes, religion, houses, people and everyday life.

Link to Bryant West Indies Slides Collection

      • Bryant West Indies British Parliamentary Acts Collection, 1712-1873 – 2 boxes, 1 linear foot

This collection represents a sample of British Parliamentary Acts regarding the British West Indies. The West Indies were colonized by Great Britain beginning in the early seventeenth century, over one hundred years after their initial discovery by Columbus in 1492. The islands were crucial to the triangular trade that developed between Europe, Africa and the British colonies of North America and the Caribbean, especially regarding the exportation of raw materials like sugar. Therefore, the Acts in the collection often address issues of trade, both between the islands and between the islands and Great Britain.

Link to Bryant West Indies British Parliamentary Acts Collection

      • Bryant West Indies Ephemera Collection, 1682-1968 – 1 box, 1 flat file, 0.5 linear feet

This collection of tourism brochures, pamphlets and newspaper clippings documents the islands of the West Indies. The collection encompasses the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as the islands and nations of South America, and includes Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Surinam.

Link to Bryant West Indies Ephemera Collection

Civil War

William D. Chapman Collection, 1865, 1975 – 1 box, 0.5 Linear feet

William D. Chapman, University of Central Florida’s first registrar, recovered rare relic Civil War artillery in Citronelle, Alabama and donated the artifacts to Special Collections & University Archives in 2005. Collection includes four Confederate Grape Shot, a Minié Ball, and a wooden stand with plaque labelled “Confederate Shot & Grape Surrendered at Citronelle Ala. May, 1865 by Gen. Richard Taylor to Gen. E.R.S. Canby. Recovered by W. M. Dan Chapman, 1975.”

Civil War Map Collection, [1891-1895] – 11 flat files, 2 Linear feet

This collection has been rediscovered within the Special Collections after sitting idle for a period. The maps include historical civil war battles and plans as well as information on other minor operations and miscellaneous items. The dates of the maps and the battles that they accompany range from 1861 to 1865, some only reproductions from field reports and firsthand accounts in 1867. The collection is a proven testament to the extensive effort put into the preservation of this moment of United States history.

John O. Moench Collection, Circa 1861-1865 – 1 box, 0.1 Linear feet

Major General John Otto Moench (1921-2013), United States Air Force (Ret), recovered rare Civil War belt buckle while he was digging up a garden at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia. The oval shape belt buckle read “SNY” intended for the soldiers in the New York regiment, State of New York. The reverse has full lead and rusty remnants of the two iron hooks. In 1995, John donated the artifact to the University of Central Florida Libraries to be added to the Civil War Collection.

Steven C. Trelstad Olustee Battlefield Research Papers, 1986, 2010-2018 – 1 box, 0.25 Linear feet

The collection consists of reports, itinerary, maps, and magazines related to the American Civil War Battle of Olustee, the Olustee Battle Festival and Reenactment, and the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.

Floridiana

Archival Collection of Dr. Henry H. Nehrling from the Collection of Michael D. Kahn, 1855-1934 – 2 boxes, 1.5 linear feet

These materials were in the possession of Betty Pooler Mitchell Nehrling, Henry Nehrling’s second wife. Dr. Henry Nehrling was a horticulturist famous for his gardens in Gotha and Naples, Florida. The collection consists of letters, documents, photographs, postcards and monographs which provides insight into the familial and financial affairs of the Nehrling Gardens. It also offers a look at Henry Nehrling during the tumultuous years of Florida’s boom and bust, and a glimpse of his failing physical and mental state while he sought refuge in a quiet communal colony in Southwest Florida.

Christian Bauer Collection on the Orange County Big Box Store Task Force, 2006-2007 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

Christian Bauer is a University of Central Florida Professor who was on the Task Force that wrote numerous ordinances to regulate Big Box Stores. He collected meeting minutes and newspaper clippings that documented the work of the Task Force.

Michael Berman Florida Women’s Conference Photographs, 1977 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

This collection contains 21 photographs taken by Michael Berman that pertain to the Florida Women’s Conference of 1977. The first Florida Women’s Conference was held in July of the 15th, 16th, and 17th. It was run by forty Florida women selected by Jimmy Carter in order to help deal with the rift between those for Equal Rights Amendment and those against it.

Michael Berman Canoe Expedition Collection, 1973-1975 – 2 boxes, 1 linear foot

This collection contains over three thousand images taken by Michael Berman of his trip through Florida. These images were taken as he followed along the trail of William Bartram (1739-1823) who had made this same journey in the 1770’s as part of an ecological expedition into Florida. Berman had undertaken this journey through Florida due its marking of its bicentennial.

Children’s Home Society of Florida Collection, 1862-2019 – 68 boxes, 8 books, 19 flat files, 67 linear feet

The Children’s Home Society of Florida Collection contains organizational papers and ephemera that document the creation and operations of Florida’s oldest non-profit adoption agency. The collection includes organizational papers from its state and local divisions, photographs, news clippings, audio and visual media, scrapbooks, and blueprints of the many receiving homes in the state, but does not contain adoption records. Adoption records remain at the CHSFL Adoption Archive and are available by contacting the society directly.

Carey Hand Funeral Home Records, 1891-1955 – 9 boxes, 1 flat file, 34 funeral registers, 22 linear feet

During the first half first half of the twentieth century, the Carey Hand Funeral Home was the largest in Central Florida, the first funeral home in Florida to have a chapel, and housed the first crematorium built south of Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. Records include Undertaker’s Memoranda for June 1891 – December 1946, Funeral Registers for January 1919 – December 1952, Cremation Records for 1926 – 1949, records for the Palm and Greenwood Cemeteries circa 1900-1944, and Veteran’s and Orlando Air Base Records January for 1938 – March 1952, as well as other materials relating to the operations of the Orlando mortuary business. For information on using these records for genealogical research, please contact Special Collections.

James C. Clark Research Papers, 1937-1996 – 4 boxes, 1.75 linear feet

The collection consists of photocopies and printouts of government documents from FBI files, state and county court records, and electronic databases dating from approximately 1930 to 1990. The materials deal mainly with racism in Central Florida, the activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Orange Country, the death of Harry T. Moore, and the political career of Claude Denson Pepper. The files were collected by Dr. James C. Clark, who wrote a series of articles for the Orlando Sentinel based on the collected documents.

Clearwater American Association of University Women Records, 1960-2015 – 9 boxes, 4.5 linear feet

This collection contains materials related to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) from the Clearwater Branch, Florida. The AAUW women supported the advancement of equity of women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. They donated multiple scrapbooks consisting of photographs of meetings, conferences, and tea honorings along with newspaper clippings of current events throughout the year, club activities, and achievements of their members. Directories, awards, and proclamations can also be found in the collection.

Cultural Byways Project Collection, 2002 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

Research files for the Cultural Byways grant in Central Florida. Included in these materials are photographic negatives, oral histories, consent forms, building surveys, and grant information for the project.

Cultural Heritage Alliance Collection, 2002-2006 – 1 box, 0.2 linear feet

Reports, programs and interviews by students showing the work undertaken by the Cultural Heritage Alliance.

Educator’s Oral History Collection, 1997-2002 – 13 boxes, 5.6 linear feet

The collection contains oral history interviews with former and current educators primarily in the Central Florida area, recorded on audiocassettes or videotaped. In the interviews, the educators discuss their experiences in the education profession and their views on school vouchers, curriculum, and integration, among other topics. Interviews were conducted by graduate students in the College of Education as part of a class assignment for the educational studies graduate program. All interviews include a signed release form. Many of the interviews also include an interview summary and/or partial transcript of the interview.

Joseph Fleischmann World War I Medal Collection, 1916-1942 – 1 box, 1 linear foot

A collection of three bronze medals and a ribbon that honor the military service of New York-native Joseph Fleischmann during World War I. The collection consists of the Army Occupation of Germany – World War I Ribbon, the New York World War Service Medal, the World War I Victory Medal, and the Battle of Verdun Medal. Each represent the state, national, and international scope of the conflict.

UCF Home Movie Archives, Circa 1920-2014 – 278 8mm film reels, 19 Super 8mm film reels; 9 16mm film reels, 1 box, and 1 flat file.; 23.65 linear feet

The Home Move Archive houses films created by individuals that mostly depict their family interactions, ceremonies, celebrations, and vacations. Others depict famous moments in history such as the opening day of Walt Disney World or the 1964 World’s Fair. The origins of the footage in the collection span across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

University of Central Florida Faculty and Alumni Manuscripts Collection, 1972-2001 – 2 boxes, 2 linear feet

The University of Central Florida Faculty and Alumni Manuscripts Collection features original manuscript materials for several UCF affiliated writers. Many of the writers presented here are retired history professors of UCF. In some cases, these professors have provided their research notes in addition to their manuscripts. Other writers are UCF alumni who are still professionals in the Central Florida community.

Florida Ephemera Collection, Circa 1813-2007 – 26 boxes, 1 flat file, 13 linear feet

The Florida Ephemera Collection is a collection of brochures, advertisements and news clippings documenting the history of Florida. Although the collection includes information about Florida as a whole, it focuses on the Central Florida area, and Orlando in particular. The collection contains information about most aspects of life in Florida including business and industry, real estate and development, tourism and wildlife.

Florida Folklife Program Collection, 1984-2004 – 2 boxes, 1.4 linear feet

Research files for the Florida Folklife Program. These materials include city surveys, oral histories and photographs.

Florida Folklore Society Records, 1981-2006 – 3 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

The Florida Folklore Society advances the appreciation and study of Florida’s folk cultures. Its activities are documented in minutes, newsletters, treasurer’s reports, correspondence and photographs.

Florida Free Highway Association Papers, 1947-1953 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

The Florida Free Highway Association Papers contains organizational information that documents the mission and goals of this anti-toll road association. The collection includes a mission statement, association goals, correspondence, press releases and a member’s directory.

Florida Homesteaders Photographs, Circa 1908 – 5 boxes, 2 linear feet

This collection is comprised of 75 gelatin silver photographs mounted on stiff card stock. Many bear the stamp of a single photographer, Edwin A. Brush. A wide variety of homes, family groups, and economic situations are pictured. It is assumed the images illustrate Florida homesteaders in the early 20th century.

Florida Image Collection, 1898-1986 – 3 boxes, 1.65 linear feet

The images document all aspects of Central Florida history including prominent people and families, places around Florida, Florida wildlife and plants, as well as, images from the Kennedy Space Center and Disney. The majority of the collection dates from 1900-1960. The collection consists of primarily photographic images, both black and white as well as color. There is also a sizeable number of postcards in the collection.

Florida Lifestyle Radio Collection, 1997-1999 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

This small collection consists of thirteen audio cassette tapes of several programs aired between 1997 and 1999. They cover issues and subjects aimed at older people living in Florida. Most programs had a special guest who discussed a particular topic in depth with Reagan Smith and E. Bentley Lipscomb.

Florida Maps Collection, 1837-2007 – 1 box, 3 flat files, 1 linear feet

The Florida Maps Collection is a compilation of various maps spanning over hundred years of Florida history. Included are maps documenting the growth of Florida’s tourism industry via railroads, interstate highways, and attractions as well as the state’s vast natural and historical resources.

Florida State Music Teachers Association Records, 1934-2013 – 6 boxes, 5.5 linear feet

The collection of the Florida State Music Teachers Association is comprised of records from their meetings dating as far back as 1935. There are the minutes, agendas, newsletters and scores. It also has the bylaws and procedures, annual bulletin reports and a few other small folders comprised of annual correspondence.

Otto Frohlich Collection, 1897, 1956-1969 – 7 boxes, 4.5 linear feet

The collection comprises published 25 music scores produced by Otto Frohlich and a book called “Lohengrin: a Romantic Opera in Three Acts” written and composed by Richard Wagner, published in 1897 by G. Schirmer, New York. Frohlich composed more than 35 compositions during his long career as a professor of music and composer, only selected scores were donated to the University of Central Florida Libraries.

J. Paul Hartman Slide Collection, 1605-2006 – 2 boxes, 1.75 linear feet

John P. Hartman collection includes his research materials relating to canals, bridges, railways, transportation systems and historical engineering in Florida. Entire collection range from 1605 to 2006, but are concentrated in the era when population in Florida exploded between 1905 and 1993. The collection includes clippings, correspondence, maps, pamphlets, papers and over 1,200 slides related to Florida.

Identity and Home as Interpreted by Central Florida Asian-American Women, 1998-2000 – 2 boxes, 1.75 linear feet

Collected by Linda T. Carpenter, this collection includes many sources of information on the impact and increase of Asian American immigration to Central Florida. This collection contains photographs, interviews, digital files, and research that display how the lives of ten Asian American women changed since they immigrated to Central Florida. These women had mixed experiences since they left their respective countries, and the clash between their family values and the American lifestyle persisted.

Into the Unknown: The X-1 Story Research Files, 1942-2013 – 15 boxes, 8.25 linear feet

A UCF Graduate, Louis C. Rotundo had always been fascinated with the myths and the mystery that had surrounded the story of the X-1 plane and the individuals that worked on it. This interest led him to write a book with the purpose of dispelling the numerous falsehoods that surrounded the project, titling the work: “Into the Unknown: The X-1 Story.” This collection includes many files and photographs used by Rotundo in his creation of his book regarding the X-1 project.

Bob Kealing Kerouac Research Collection, 1958-2008 – 2 boxes, 1 flat file, 1 linear feet

The Bob Kealing Kerouac Research Collection contains documents and research notes related to Kealing’s book Kerouac in Florida: Where the Road Ends, book drafts, legal documents, articles written by Kealing, articles related to the Kerouac House, and other materials regarding the Writer in Residence Program.

Bob Kealing Tupperware Collection, 1940-2006 – 3 boxes, 1.25 linear feet

The Bob Kealing Tupperware Collection contains interviews, news clippings, letters, legal documents, photographs, audio tapes, and research notes related to Kealing’s book Tuppwerware, Unsealed: Brownie Wise, Earl Tupper, and the Home Party Pioneers.

League of Women Voters of Volusia County Collection, 1958-2012 – 3 boxes, 1 scrapbook, 2.75 linear feet

The collection of the League of Women Voters of Volusia County is comprised of materials created by the League, including annual meeting notes, handbooks, minutes, financial statements, by-laws, corespondence, photographs, certificates, scrapbooks called “Press Book”, and newsletters published by the League.

Dr. John McMillon Correspondence, 1929-1935 – 1 box, 0.4 linear feet

Dr. John McMillon was a doctor living in De Leon Springs in the early 1030’s. His correspondence shows the extent of his practice and the amount of diagnosis apparently carried out by letter rather than in person.

Elena Pathak Collection about the Ben White Raceway, 1936-1979 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

Collected by Elena Pathak, this collection includes information and materials about the Ben White Raceway. The key information it contains is found in the directories. These directories describe which horses are staying at the raceway, the company that owns them, the trainers, and which barn they are being housed in. In addition, postcards and a photograph are included in this collection to further emphasize the grandeur of the Ben White Raceway, and to remember the founder, Ben White.

Susan M. Pittman Collection, 1923-1988 – 4 boxes, 3.25 linear feet

Susan M. Pittman was the younger daughter of Colonel Wallace Fisher Stovall, the founder of the Tampa Tribune Publishing Company, Florida. The collection includes Susan’s personal files, seven scrapbooks detailing her life and activities, materials related to her first husband Richard A. Mack, various greeting cards, letters, and stamps. A stitched landscape of Pittman’s childhood home which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places is also found in the collection.

Walter Kingsley Taylor Papers, 1997-2013 – 2 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor papers include professional correspondence, pre-publication drafts, page proofs, corrected proofs, final copies, and working copies, unbound color prints and final printouts of his published monographs: Florida Wildflowers in their Natural Communities; Florida Wildflowers, a Comprehensive Guide; Andre-Michaux in Florida; A Guide to Florida Grasses; and, Florida Wildflowers: A Comprehensive Guide. In addition, a final copy of Introducing Florida Grasses sent to University Press of Florida.

Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor, a prolific UCF author, has lived in central Florida for over 43 years. After 35 years of continuous service, Professor Taylor retired from UCF, where he taught a variety of biology courses. Upon retirement in 2004, Dr. Taylor was named Professor Emeritus. The papers are open for research.

Thomas & Georgine Mickler Estate Collection

UCF was one of six state university libraries that arranged to purchase materials on Florida from the Estate of Georgine Mickler, founder and owner, with her husband Thomas, of Mickler’s Antiquarian Books. In 1999, the UCF Library received a collection of books, maps, diaries, sermons, postcards, photographs, and ephemera from the Mickler Estate. These materials created the basis for the Floridiana Collection, a collection of historic Florida materials and one of the six collecting areas for UCF Special Collections & University Archives.

Thomas and Georgine Mickler ran a small publishing company, Mickler House, and a thriving mail-order business, Mickler’s Antiquarian Books, out of their Chuluota home for almost 40 years. The Mickler Estate Collection includes materials related to the history of Florida books, maps, diaries, letters, sermons, photographs, newspaper clippings, deeds, legal documents, pictorial works, albums, postcards, booklets, brochures and pamphlets.

Book materials, along with selected pamphlets and diaries may be searched by using the UCF Online Catalog for the series “Thomas and Georgine Mickler Collection”. Some material has been digitized for online access through the PALMM Collection Florida Heritage Collection.

Manuscript materials from the Mickler Estate were divided into collections by format. Collected Ephemera forms the basis of the Florida Ephemera collection. Photographs and Post Cards form the basis of the Florida Image Collection. Diaries, Sermons, and Maps each have their own guides. Please contact Special Collections for inventories and more information

      • Thomas & Georgine Mickler Collection of Arnold, Bennett, and Tanner Family Diaries, 1899-1974 –  2 boxes, 2 linear feet

The majority of over 100 diaries in this collection are from Seth J. Arnold and Edwin Arnold, who were residents of the Orlando area. The earliest diary dates from 1899, with the most current dating from 1974. A few items that consist of single pages or excerpts from diaries or journals not contained in the collection are to be found in the Florida Ephemera. Additional diaries have been individually catalogued and shelved in the Mickler Book Collection. These can be searched using the Online Catalog.

Link to Thomas & Georgine Mickler Collection of Arnold, Bennett, and Tanner Family Diaries

      • Thomas & Georgine Mickler Sermon Collection, 1880-1933 – 3 boxes, 3 linear feet

A collection of over 200 sermons, eulogies, speeches, addresses, orations and correspondence dating from the late 19th and early 20th Century. The sermons are possibly all the work of one person, Congregationalist Reverend George Loring Hanscom.

Link to Thomas & Georgine Mickler Sermon Collection

      • Thomas & Georgine Mickler Map Collection, 1735-1995 – 1 box, 5 flat files, 7.5 linear feet

The Thomas and Georgine Mickler Map Collection is a collection of various kinds of maps, including general atlas maps, road maps, topographical land maps, charts and political maps. While the collection mostly consists of maps of Florida, the Southeastern United States and the West Indies/Caribbean, there are also maps of other areas such as Egypt, France and Costa Rica.

Link to Thomas & Georgine Mickler Map Collection

Henry Nehrling Papers, 1886-1970 – 5 boxes, 3.25 linear feet

Henry Nehrling was a horticulturist famous for his gardens in Gotha and Naples, Florida. These papers are primarily manuscripts of his articles in the American Eagle and other writings about plants. They include a few news clippings, plant lists, correspondence and other documentation of a business and personal nature.

Old Florida Structures Photographs Collection, 1971-2002 – 4 flat files, 1.75 linear feet

Richard Spencer was a professional photographer whose work has been displayed in newspapers, magazines and exhibits. This collection contains his photographs of old structures in Florida.

Photographs of Winter Park, Circa 1880-1900 – 7 boxes, 1.75 linear feet

The collection is comprised of 43 photographs taken of Winter Park in the late 19th century. The collection features a variety of images taken of the town and the surrounding area. The focus of the photographs varies and includes subjects such as agriculture, nature, people, and buildings and other structures, both public and private.

Alice Lossing Rountree Seminole County School District No. 1 Board of Trustee Meeting Minutes, 1948-1950, 1953 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

The collection contains the Meeting Minutes of Seminole County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees from 1948 to 1950 and 1953. The Minutes, recorded by secretary Alice Rountree, detail the decisions made by Board of Trustees ranging from maintenance of the schools within the district to the appointment of principals. This includes segregated schools in the district during the Jim Crow Era..

S. F. Travis Company Collection, 1921-1939 – 5 boxes, 2.5 linear feet

S. F. Travis Company was established in September 1885 by Colonel S. F. Travis, who served in the American Civil War. He sold various merchandise to locals mainly to the settlements along the riverbanks by traveling on a boat going up and down the St. Johns River from Jacksonville to Fort Pierce. The collection includes his business transactions from 1921 to 1935. The ledgers show each transactions reflect the sale of general merchandise, such as dry goods, notions, ladies’ and gents’ furnishings, groceries, and hardware.

Sanford Municipal Court Records, 1920-1972 – 60 volumes, 18 linear feet

This collection contains bound manuscript volumes from the City of Sanford which includes fifty-three municipal court dockets (January 12, 1920-December 29, 1972); four police dockets (July 16, 1926-April 13, 1946); and 3 jail records (April 25, 1924-May 4, 1942).

James E. Shepherd Jr. Papers, 1965-2015 – 2 boxes, 1.75 linear feet

James E. Shepherd, Jr. was born on November 1, 1944 and grew up in the small town of Sanford, Florida. By his own admission, he got in trouble with local police department, resulting in his commitment to a mental institution. He had amassed financial problems, social problems, and educational deficiencies before he had reached maturity. Since that time, he has authored a book variously titled “Portrait of a Genius”, “Portfolio of an Undiscovered Howard Hughes”, and “Portrait of Genius: A Collage in the Key of Life”. His collection also includes excerpts from “Insight on the Scriptures”, an essay titled “The King James Version of the Holy Bible- The Only True Bible?”, various letters addressed to world leaders, and his comprehensive resume.

Collection of Spanish Plays, 1835-1941 – 1 box, 1.25 linear feet

Published copies of 92 plays written in Spanish from the 19th and early 20th century.

Michael A. Spencer Bromeliad Research Collection, 1754-2014 – 88 boxes, 88 linear feet

Collector, Michael A. Spencer amassed this collection of publications, photographs, drawings, correspondence programs and other materials focusing on the discovery, taxonomy and cultivation of bromeliads. Mulford B. Foster, Racine Foster and Lyman B. Smith are among the significant bromeliad collectors whose work is documented here.

Michael A. Spencer Collection on Theodore Mead, 1887-1939 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

Theodore Mead was a horticulturist who owned an orange grove in Eustis, Florida and developed a property in Oviedo, Florida to research and hybridize plants. The collection contains Mead’s notebook and family correspondence, together with a brochure and news clipping about the founding of Mead Gardens in Winter Park, Florida.

Michael A. Spencer Collection on Julian Nally, 1908-1977 – 3 box, 1.7 linear feet

Julian Nally grew bromeliads on the property that had once belonged to Henry Nehrling at Gotha, Florida. This collection mostly contains photographs of Nally’s plants and family, but it also holds one letter to Nally from the Department of Agriculture.

Michael A. Spencer Collection on Henry Nehrling, 1894-1997 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

Henry Nehrling was a horticulturist famous for his gardens in Gotha and Naples, Florida. These materials were collected by Michael Spencer because of his interest in botany and his links with Central Florida. Of particular interest are Nehrling’s notebooks, correspondence, photographs and plant labels. The collection also contains a few materials, which belonged to Mr. Spencer concerning the attempts to save Nehrling’s Palm Cottage Gardens.

Glenn “Marty” Stein Collection of Cartoon Art, 1955-2013 – 17 boxes, 1 flat file, 8 linear feet

The cartoon art collection consists of published and unpublished original drawings, sketches, comic strips, 1990 US Waveski Championships items, and one piece of editorial cartoon art by Bruce Shanks (1955).

The collection was acquired from editorial cartoonist Glenn “Marty” Stein, who started drawing editorial cartoons and illustrations for the Orlando Business Journal. Afterwards, Marty worked for The Apopka Chief, and finally 8½ years for La Prensa (Orlando), a Spanish-language newspaper where he created weekly editorial cartoons in Spanish. In addition, he wrote and drew his original comic strip El Oasis for over 3½ years.

United Daughters of the Confederacy Medal Collection, 1899-1968 – 1 box, 1.25 linear feet

The collection contains six bronze medals and one badge from the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The medals were created to honor either Confederate veterans for their service in the Confederate Armed Forces or their descendants who served in the United States military during the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), and the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The badge commemorates the Twenty-Fourth Annual United Confederate Veterans Reunion in 1914 and was given those in attendance.

United Faculty of Florida Collection, 1971-2007 – 31 boxes, 33 linear feet

Phyllis J. Hudson, former University of Central Florida (UCF) Librarian, was elected to the office of President of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF) in 1989 and represented UCF on the UFF negotiations committee. She was a member of the UFF Contract Enforcement Committee and was active in the UFF/UCF chapter. Her collection includes all of her activities with the organization from 1971 to 2004 such as bargaining agreements, by-laws, reports, minutes, list of union members, correspondence of the UFF’s local chapter activities, publications, newspaper clippings, negotiations, newsletters, surveys, training materials, calendar directories, and various ephemera.

University of Central Florida Special Collections Vertical Files, 1872-2016 – 6 boxes, 6.5 linear feet

The Vertical Files Collection, 1872-2016, is an artificial collection, contains a wide variety of collected materials documenting or relevant to Central Florida’s local history. Collection also includes subject materials such as book arts, typography, travel, tourism, and the West Indies. Included are newsletters, magazines, news clippings, reports, pamphlets, documents, photographs, and handbooks.

UCF Community Veterans History Project, 2011-2021 – 7 boxes, 8.5 linear feet

As part of Regional Initiative for Collecting the History, Experiences and Stories of Central Florida (RICHES), University of Central Florida intends to record, and make accessible oral history interviews of Central Florida veterans. Diversity is a main focus for this project since there are many different subgroups under the group veterans, all with important stories. While the histories will be largely archived and made available through the UCF library, a portion will be contributed to the ongoing Veterans history Project based out of the Library of Congress. Collection includes audio and video recordings, biographical data forms, veteran’s release forms, interviewer’s Release forms, audio-video recording logs, and an interview abstracts prepared by interviewers.

Wekiva River Basin Maps and Aerial Photographs Collection, 1956-1990 – 5 flat files, 1 linear foot

The collection consists of maps and aerial photos of the Wekiva River Basin collected by the Wekiva Resources Council for use in their educational programs and research projects. The majority of maps and aerial photographs come from the USGS (United States Geological Survey).

Ben White Raceway Papers, 1946-1978 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

Ben White Raceway was the largest training facility and winter home for champion racehorses, located on a 120- acre tract in Fairview Park, near downtown Orlando, Florida, the raceway was owned and maintained by the City of Orlando. The papers include historical background, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and directories of the many champion horses that trained at the facility throughout its 30 year existence.

Volusia County Music Teachers Association, 1955-2015 – 1 box, 1 linear foot

Volusia County Music Teachers Association is an organization that is focused on the enrichment of music studies and opportunities for its members and music students. The collection is comprised of correspondence, meetings, news clippings, photographs, scrapbooks, and year books from the organization.

Collected Materials on the Zora Neale Hurston Festival, 1989-2017 – 1 box, 0.6 linear feet

The collection contains documents related to the festival bearing the name of the late poet, writer, anthropologist, and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. Since 1990, the Zora Neale Hurston Festival has attracted individuals from across the country in academic and artistic disciplines wishing to celebrate Zora Neale Hurston and African American culture as a whole. The following folders contain the programs from festival years 1990 to 2017. In addition to its annual festival, the Association to Preserve Eatonville, Inc. has expanded its focus and community activities to inform and celebrate the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston and Eatonville.

Literary Papers

Howard J. Duerr Collection, 1911-1978 – 9 boxes, 9.75 linear feet

Collector of horror, fantasy, and adventure literature, Duerr donated the Special Collections Horror and Fantasy Book Collection. The Duerr collection includes correspondence with genre authors and a collection of amateur journals, where fans self published zines, duplicating and sharing their own horror fantasy genre writing.

Howard W. Eves Audio Cassette Collection, Circa 1990 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

A collection of twenty eight recordings of Professor Howard Whitley Eves teaching his Spring Semester class, the History of Mathematics, at the University of Central Florida. Professor Eves taught at the University of Central Florida from 1986 to 1991. The subject ranges from mathematics in the natural world to the development of mathematics across the globe during the early Middle Ages.

Howard W. Eves Unpublished Manuscript, 1997-1998 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

The collection includes 197 pages of an unpublished manuscript entitled “What Happened in Mathematics on this Date?” by Howard Whitley Eves. Eves was an accomplished mathematician with a focus on geometry, who also authored many books on the histories of mathematics.

Harrison A. Finney Collection, 1913-1958 – 2 boxes, 1.5 linear feet

Harry Anson Finney was a well-known American accountant, teacher, and an author. He joined the Haskins & Sells Accounting firm in 1923 and later on he resigned and founded the firm, Baumann, Finney & Company. He taught at the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois as a Professor of Accounting until his retirement in 1944. Finney published serious of textbooks known as “Principles of Accounting” and also served as an editor for the Journal of Accountancy from 1920 to 1928. Harry A. Finney collection is comprised of his certificates, correspondence, photographs, publication advertisements, books, and a wooden plaque given to Finney from one of his former students.

John W. Senders Working Collection, 1880-2014 – 28 boxes, 25.25 linear feet

John W. Senders Working Collection contains materials on human factors engineering. Senders is one of the pioneers of the field of Engineering Psychology, with a long and influential career spanning six decades as a psychologist and human factors engineer. He was one of the first scientists to apply mathematical models on human behavior in applied settings. Senders collection includes selected reprints representatives of the scientific literature on various topics in Engineering Psychology and Human Factors mainly from circa 1945 to 2013.

University of Central Florida Faculty and Alumni Manuscripts Collection, 1972-2001 – 2 boxes, 2 linear feet

The University of Central Florida Faculty and Alumni Manuscripts Collection features original manuscript materials for several UCF affiliated writers. Many of the writers presented here are retired history professors of UCF. In some cases, these professors have provided their research notes in addition to their manuscripts. Other writers are UCF alumni who are still professionals in the Central Florida community.

Political Papers

Dr. A. Val Bradley, National Labor Relations Board Collection, Circa 1950s-Circa 1980s – 3 boxes, 2.25 linear feet

Dr. A. Val Bradley was the president of A. Val Bradley Associates, Inc., a lecturer, and an executive-in-residence at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He offered his company research files to Walter A. Bogumil, Jr., an Associate Professor of Management at UCF specialized in labor relations and human resources. Dr. Walter kept the materials in his possession and later on donated to Special Collections and University Archives. Materials include reports, statements, correspondence, and handbooks created by A. Val Bradley Associates, Inc. Collection also consists of legal case files, court hearing transcripts, news clippings, and published materials related to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and labor union in the United States.

Democratic Women’s Club of Florida Inc. Collection, 1945-2020 – 41 boxes, 37 scrapbooks, 1 flat file, 41 linear feet

Scrapbooks and records document the activities and achievements of the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida. The organization oversees local clubs throughout the state and is a member of the National Federation of Democratic Women.

John L. Ducker Collection, 1863-2007 – 8 boxes, 1 flat file, 6.25 linear feet

This collection is comprised of research files, correspondence, news clippings, certificates, medical records, photographs, and a scrapbook that belonged to attorney and politician John L. Ducker, who was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1960-1968 and the Florida state Senate from 1968-1971. Items in the collection pertain to his personal activities, in addition to his longtime interest in politics, world and local events of the day, as well as legal affairs. John L. Ducker was one of the sponsors of the legislation establishing Florida Technological University (FTU) what is now University of Central Florida (UCF). The entire collection is open for research.

Beatrice B. Ettinger Papers, 1964-1998 – 7 boxes, 1 flat file, 5.3 linear feet

The Beatrice B. Ettinger Papers contain correspondence, leaflets, posters, minutes and reports that show women’s position in society in the 1970s and 1980s. Continuing Education is the focus of these papers since Ettinger accumulated many of the materials between 1970 and 1992 when she was President of the Council for Continuing Education for Women. This organization established a Center that was based first at Valencia Community College and later at the University of Central Florida. Ettinger also collected documents concerning other organizations in which she was interested that fostered women’s intellectual and political growth, such as, the Central Florida Women’s Resource Center Inc. and the League of Women Voters. Additional materials provide some personal information about Mrs. Ettinger.

John Young Gooch Collection [Photocopy], 1868-1916 – 2 boxes, 1 linear foot

John Young Gooch was a lawyer, state senator, and district judge of Palestine, Texas. This collection is comprised of correspondence and other documents that belonged to Gooch, primarily letters exchanged with his wife, Belle Gooch, née Collins, and his two brothers, Gideon and Lucious Gooch.

Lou Frey Papers, 1947-2006 – 34 boxes, 28.5 linear feet

These papers include correspondence, photographs, campaign materials, articles, minutes, printed government documents, framed materials, video cassette tapes and artifacts that document Lou Frey’s life of public service. In the 1960s, he served the Orange County Young Republicans in several capacities and finally as President of the organization. Florida’s Republican Party benefitted from his expertise as General Counsel of the Florida Federation of Young Republicans and Treasurer of the Republican Party in Florida. Frey served ten years as a Congressional Representative for Central Florida from 1969-1979, which includes the time of the Watergate scandal. During his tenure, he served on the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, House Science and Technology Committee, the Republican Committee on Committees and the Republican Research Committee. Since then, Frey has served on the Florida Energy Commission and the Millennial Housing Commission. His membership of the Association of Former Members of Congress has taken him on fact-finding missions to other countries, and he initiated a project that created a book entitled Inside the House: Former Members Reveal How Congress Really Works. Frey founded the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida.

Phyllis J. Hudson Collection, 1966-2006 – 5 boxes, 5 linear feet

These materials were accumulated by Phyllis J. Hudson when she was active in issues concerning women and labor. In correspondence, bibliographies, leaflets, newsletters and memorabilia, this collection documents women’s concerns in employment, the Equal Rights Amendment, education, reproduction, domestic violence and women’s rights. Similar materials show how organizations worked to overcome social problems, such as, homelessness and an inadequate mass transit system. Most of the labor materials concern librarians, but one folder of newsletters and correspondence documents industrial action by the United Farm Workers.

The Judith and Warren Kaplan Collection, Women’s and Gender Studies, 1792-2016 – 34 boxes, 25.1 linear feet

This is a collection of personal archival materials comprising a broad spectrum of women’s history. This collection represents the culmination of Mrs. Kaplan’s stamp collecting interest, activism with the National Organization for Women and her entrepreneurial spirit. She collected resource materials to enable her to create the Women’s History Series of First Day Covers (FDC) to promote knowledge of women’s achievements, to lobby the U.S. Postal Service to issue more stamps commemorating women’s contributions and to raise money for the New York chapter of N.O.W. Collection also includes books, periodicals, letters, pamphlets, postcards, banners, graphics, stamps, art, photographs, and other ephemera relative to the history of women, especially the nineteenth century women’s suffrage movement.

Archimedes L. A. Patti Research Papers, 1919-1993 – 27 boxes, 1 flat file, 20.25 linear feet

This collection contains the research materials collected by Archimedes L. A. Patti for use in his historical writings. Known for his military career, his work in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and his relationship with Ho Chi Minh, Patti was recognized later in life as a respected researcher and historian on Indochina affairs. Notes, manuscripts, ephemera, photographs, maps, books and scrapbooks are held in this collection. Of important note are photographs given to Patti by Ho Chi Minh in 1945.

Lynda Van Scoyoc Women’s Political Caucus, 1970-2001 – 6 boxes, 6 linear feet

The Lynda Van Scoyoc Women’s Political Caucus Collection contains the materials collected by Lynda Van Scoyoc during her time working with the National Women’s Political Caucus, Florida Women’s Political Caucus, and the Metropolitan Orlando Women’s Political Caucus. This collection reflects the growth of each organization during the late 20th century as well as chronicling the struggle by each group in their efforts to make positive changes to women’s rights.

George L. Stuart Jr. Collection, 1952-1991 – 93 boxes, 85.25 linear feet

These papers document the political career of George L. Stuart Jr. from his election as Orlando City Commissioner in 1978 to his run for Governor in 1990. Most of the materials chronicle his activities as Florida Senator for District 4 from 1978-1989, and they include correspondence, news clippings, photographs, reports, video and audio tapes, and memorabilia.

Van Sickle Leftist Pamphlet Collection, 1900-1993 – 2 boxes, 2 linear feet

A collection of political pamphlets on socialism and communism collected by Miss Van Sickle, a staunch Canadian Socialist from the 1920s through the 1970s. Topics covered in the pamphlets include liberal or leftist causes from the time period collected such as: world pacifism, anti-racism, anti-Semitism, British and world labor movements, communism, socialism, women’s rights, and the “ban-the-bomb” movement. Many of the items in the collection are extremely rare, and possibly unique to the UCF collection. Over 3,000 pamphlets have been catalogued and can be found in the Online Catalog by searching the series “Van Sickle Leftist Pamphlet Collection”. Another 80+ pamphlets are uncatalogued and can be searched using the guides listed below.

Space Program

NASA Ephemera Collection, 1969-2006 – 5 boxes, 1 flat file, 3.25 linear feet

This collection contains a wide variety of NASA memorabilia including pictures, patches, pins and stickers; ranging from 1969 to 2005. Also included are a number of mission charts, a wide range of crew photos and an assortment of space news publications including the Lockheed Horizons, The Rockwell News, Space News Roundup, Space Port News and Star Gazer. Of significant interest is the collection of photos (several signed) and memorabilia from the ill-fated 1986 Challenger mission Space Transportation System (STS) 51L.

NASA Information for the Press, 1990-2002 – 1 box, 1 flat file, 0.6 linear feet

This collection contains a variety of mission press kits (1990-2002) produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These materials were donated to the University of Central Florida, Libraries by Meg and Rick Scharf. Mr. Scharf attended a number of launches as a member of the press and collected these press kits. A few Space Shuttle Mission Chronology reports (1981-2001) and John F. Kennedy Space Center Facility maps (1996-1997) can also be found in the collection.

NASA Photographs Collection, 1962-2001 – 27 boxes, 32.75 linear feet

The black and white and color photographs in this collection document selected projects undertaken by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration between 1962 and 2001. Atlas-Agena, Ranger, Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, Jupiter Probe, and Space Shuttle missions are all included in the collection.

Share Your Mercury Memories Time Capsule Collection, 1960-2003 – 4 boxes, 4 linear feet

Mercury Time Capsule was unveiled during the Mercury worker union at Launch Complex 14 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Gordon Cooper’s May 15, 1963 flight and the close of Project Mercury. Project Mercury veterans shared their memory by writing a few inner reflections of Project Mercury and sealed them in a provided envelope which are scheduled to be opened on July 21, 2038 at noon. The contents of the envelopes cannot be viewed until that time. Collection also includes the Florida Space Coast History Project gathered artifacts all pertain to Project Mercury which are provided for display purposes once the capsule is opened.

Mercury Time Capsule will open in…

Scott H. Simpkinson Collection, 1943-1989 – 13 boxes, 1 flat file, 1 frame, 12.8 linear feet

Scott H. Simpkinson collected these materials during his tenure as a NASA staff member from the 1950s until the early 1980s. The collection includes documents, photographs and objects related to the various NASA projects Simpkinson worked on, including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Viking and the Space Shuttle program. In addition, the collection contains various materials produced by NASA and outside engineering firms including a large number of reports, such as, numerous mission reports, daily status reports and accident investigation reports, as well as publications, photographs and objects. This collection also contains some of Simpkinson’s personal effects.

Wagar Space Collection, 1944-1986 – 6 boxes, 37 volumes, 1 flat file, 18.6 linear Feet

The collections of Howard Wagar represent his main collecting interest, the United States’ space program, particularly the Apollo space missions, the lunar module landing, Skylab 1 and 2. The collection also includes materials from major world events that occurred during the same time period. These events include the post-World War II testing of atomic bombs, the rise of Fidel Castro to power in Cuba, and the assassination of President Kennedy. These subjects were collected in the forms of periodicals, newspaper clippings, public relations materials, technical manuals, photographs and prints from the 1940’s until the 1980’s.

Travel and Tourism

Thomas E. Azzari Theme Parks and Attractions Collection, 1973-2018 – 3 boxes, 32 flat files, 1 tube, 5.5 linear feet

Thomas E. Azzari was a set designer for Sea World, designing open-air salt-water sets for several different aquatic animals like whales, dolphins, otters, and many more. Over his fifteen years as a theme park set designer, Thomas collected numerous reports, letters, photographs, drawings, construction plans, and memorabilia. Most of his collection focuses on his time as a set designer for Sea World, but it also contains some of the work he did for other theme parks, Silver Springs and Weeki Wachee.

William L. Bryant West Indies Collection

A scholarly collection of over 1,800 books and periodicals on the history, geography, economy, and social life of the West Indies and the Caribbean area. The collection also includes paintings, graphics, sculptures, maps, sound recordings, and anthropological artifacts. Books and periodicals may be found in the Library catalog by searching the series: William L. Bryant Foundation West Indies collection.

William J. Bryant was interested in archaeology and collected these pottery pieces, bones, stone tools and shells from sites in Florida, the Virgin Islands and the West Indies.

Link to William J. Bryant Archaeological Artifacts Collection

      • Bryant West Indies Audio Collection, 1940-1974 – 4 boxes, 3.25 linear feet

The Bryant West Indies Audio Collection contains vinyl record albums and audio cassette tapes, all containing various genres of music from the Caribbean Islands. These records and cassettes were purchased or collected on trips sponsored by the William L. Bryant Foundation.

Link to Bryant West Indies Audio Collection

      • Bryant West Indies Slides Collection, Circa 1940-1981 – 1 box, 0.5 linear feet

The Bryant West Indies Slides Collection, c. 1940-1981, contains 35mm slides of various islands in the Caribbean as well as Florida and Venezuela. The slides were taken on collecting trips sponsored by the William L. Bryant Foundation, where books, music and art indigenous to the regions were gathered. They are organized by geographical location. The content of the slides vary and include landscapes, religion, houses, people and everyday life.

Link to Bryant West Indies Slides Collection

      • Bryant West Indies British Parliamentary Acts Collection, 1712-1873 – 2 boxes, 1 linear foot

This collection represents a sample of British Parliamentary Acts regarding the British West Indies. The West Indies were colonized by Great Britain beginning in the early seventeenth century, over one hundred years after their initial discovery by Columbus in 1492. The islands were crucial to the triangular trade that developed between Europe, Africa and the British colonies of North America and the Caribbean, especially regarding the exportation of raw materials like sugar. Therefore, the Acts in the collection often address issues of trade, both between the islands and between the islands and Great Britain.

Link to Bryant West Indies British Parliamentary Acts Collection

      • Bryant West Indies Ephemera Collection, 1682-1968 – 1 box, 1 flat file, 0.5 linear feet

This collection of tourism brochures, pamphlets and newspaper clippings documents the islands of the West Indies. The collection encompasses the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as the islands and nations of South America, and includes Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Surinam.

Link to Bryant West Indies Ephemera Collection

Disney Ephemera Collection, 1966-2017 – 5 boxes, 1 flat file, 5 linear feet

The Disney Ephemera Collection is a collection of reports, brochures, memorabilia, articles and news clippings about Disney Enterprises and the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida. The collection contains materials related to the different locations within the resort complex, including information about the Disney parks, resorts and other attractions. Publications in the collection were produced by both the Disney Corporation and outside sources.

Disney World Land Purchase/RCID Collection, 1958-2009 – 6 boxes, 3 flat files, 4 linear feet

This collection was acquired from Robert P. Foster who worked with Walt Disney as an attorney responsible for land purchases, in the early stages of Walt Disney World Development. The collection consists of: Foster’s unpublished manuscript The Founding of a Kingdom, which chronicles and describes the selection process of the site, purchase of the land for Walt Disney World (WDW), and creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) that encompasses the property; four books of tax assessor’s plats for Orange, Osceola, Polk, and Seminole Counties, in Florida used to identify and evaluate alternative WDW sites as explained in the manuscript; original Geological Survey maps, work documents, photographs of WDW site and construction; newspaper articles, magazines and periodicals; feasibility studies; miscellaneous Disney Company news releases; and, two books which include names, biographies, and positions of legislative and governmental personnel identified in the manuscript as parties who played significant roles in the formation of RCID and WDW. The entire collection is open for research.

Robert L. Glasser Collection, 1956-2016 – 8 boxes, 1 flat file, 6.5 linear feet

Robert “Bob” Lewis Glasser worked as a Contract Administrator and a Senior Environmental Analyst for the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. During his employment with Disney, he collected various reports, promotional materials, publications and memorabilia mainly related to the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) Center. Bob also worked for the Office of Florida’s Secretary of State between 1962 to 1970 as a Director for Buildings & Grounds Division and gathered a few campaign and election materials which can be found within the collection.

Stephen Danks Lodwick Collection, 1964-2002 – 6 boxes, 5.5 linear feet

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Stephen Danks Lodwick, a theme park ride designer. Original artwork and ride concept designs for parks such as Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and the Paramount Parks can be found here as well as a collection of Disney publications and art books Lodwick collected when he worked on interactive areas for various Disney theme parks. Also included are publications, maps, and memorabilia that Lodwick collected pertaining to the famous highway, Route 66.

George and Anne Millay Collection, 1959-2006 – 22 boxes, 8 flat files, 5 framed items, 21.25 linear feet

The Father of the Waterpark, George Millay founded both SeaWorld and Wet ‘n Wild. He and his wife Anne collected correspondence, reports, shareholder information, marketing materials, planning documents, memorabilia and framed items about SeaWorld and Wet ‘n Wild.

Harrison “Buzz” Price Papers, 1948-2006 – 178.9 Linear Feet (357 boxes, 8 flat files)

Harrison “Buzz” Price was an economics consultant for the attractions and themed entertainment business. He began his career by assisting with the placement of Disneyland in Anaheim, CA in the early 1950’s and later Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL in the 1960’s. The papers are divided into eight series: Images, Price Company Files, Project Research Materials, Proposals, Reports, Speeches, Subject Research Materials, and World’s Fairs.

Harris Rosen Collection, 1896-2019 – 49 boxes, 40 film reels, 33.25 linear feet

Harris Rosen Scrapbooks and Home Movie Archives document all aspects of his life and work. First collected and created by Rosen’s father, Jack Rosen, including materials such as correspondence, photographs, autographs, drawings, greeting cards, memorabilia, and home movie archives of Harris Rosen. Rosen carried on the tradition and still continues to create scrapbooks to document his life and family, along with his work as an influential Orlando hotelier and philanthropist. This is an ongoing project, therefore additional scrapbooks will be added as acquired.

Al Turner, Splash Magazine Collection, 1986-2002 – 8 boxes, 1 flat file, 4.25 linear feet

Splash Magazine, published by the World Waterpark Association from circa 1985-2002. Splash was the magazine for the water park industry. The collection includes a wide array of information on the water park industry.

UCF Home Movie Archives, Circa 1920-2014 – 278 8mm film reels, 19 Super 8mm film reels; 9 16mm film reels, 1 box, and 1 flat file.; 23.65 linear feet

The Home Move Archive houses films created by individuals that mostly depict their family interactions, ceremonies, celebrations, and vacations. Others depict famous moments in history such as the opening day of Walt Disney World or the 1964 World’s Fair. The origins of the footage in the collection span across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Wet ‘n Wild Collection, 1975-2002 – 1 box, 0.25 linear feet

This collection contains materials relevant to the opening of the world’s first water park, Wet ‘n Wild. There are newspaper articles, advertisements, brochures, photographs, and other materials about Wet ‘n Wild from before the park opened through 2002.

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