Discover how military records can uncover ancestral information
Orange County Library System Genealogy Events – November 2023 OCLS’s West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center offers events that cover a range of basic and beginning genealogy research. This month you can learn how to learn more about your family tree using newspapers, among other virtual classes. For more information
The Haunts of Downtown Sanford
By Kara Kovalev, Registrar, Orange County Regional History Center Sanford’s charming historic district sits along the shores of Lake Monroe. The town was incorporated in 1877 by Henry Shelton Sanford and ten years later suffered a devastating fire that took out most of the downtown area. Fortunately, its residents were
The Story of Brownie, the Town Dog of Daytona Beach
by Halifax Historical Society & Museum “Brownie, the Town Dog” is the inscription on the burial marker located at the south end of Riverfront Park in downtown Daytona Beach. Who was Brownie, and where did he come from? In 1940, a large brown short-haired dog wandered into the downtown area.
The Koehnes of Gotha: German Heritage and a Literary Link
By Rachel Williams, Historian, Orange County Regional History Center How is the influential American author Kurt Vonnegut historically tied to the Orlando area? In July 2023, we posted on the History Center’s Instagram account about a scrapbook we found during a research visit with a member of the Koehne family
Research your Hispanic ancestors with help from the library
Orange County Library System Genealogy Events – October 2023 OCLS’s West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center offers events that cover a range of basic and beginning genealogy research techniques, including how to interpret DNA results, census records, vital statistics, land records, probate records, and immigration records. As part of our
Launching the Kennedy Space Center
By Rachel Williams, Historian, Orange County Regional History Center From recollections from folks who lived in Central Florida decades ago to the reflections of people making history today, the oral histories in the Orange County Regional History Center’s collection reveal the rich diversity of our region, including its role in
I Am Not a Floridian, But . . .
By Justine Truc, 2023 University of South Carolina Oral History Fellow Through the generosity of one of our donors, the History Center is able to offer two paid fellowships each summer through the University of South Carolina’s graduate public history program. These virtual fellowships typically involve working with the museum’s
Oral History: Navigating Histories and Memories and Illuminating a Historical Landmark
By Adedoyin E. Adekunle, 2023 University of South Carolina Oral History Fellow Through the generosity of one of our donors, the History Center is able to offer two paid fellowships each summer through the University of South Carolina’s graduate public history program. These virtual fellowships typically involve working with the
The Stetson Mansion: More Than a Home for Hats
By Kara Kovalev, Registrar, Orange County Regional History Center John B. Stetson is best known for his design of the modern cowboy hat. What’s less well known is the impact he had on the town of DeLand, home of Stetson University. His Gilded Age mansion on Camphor Lane stands as
Sam Rivers (1923-2011): A friend remembers the local legend
By Matt Gorney This story originally ran in the Jan. 4, 2012, issue of Orlando Weekly. It is reprinted here with permission. It’s as if this one was all for you, Orlando. Sam Rivers was truly among us from 1991 until the time he split on Dec. 26. If you’ve