Author Archives
jsmith532
Professor,
Communication, Arts, and the Humanities
The University of Maryland Global Campus
May 29, 1904, late afternoonChipley Florida After Walter and Frank Mayes left the house, I picked up my satchel, put a book and an apple in it, and took a walk downtown. I didn’t expect anything to be open late Sunday afternoon; I wanted to get away from the house, […]
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
In the early 1900s, if you got your name in the newspaper, it was a big deal. It indicated prominence in your community. In Pensacola, these columns were mostly found in the Society section of the paper, with little headings over each news blurb; if you were a businessman or […]
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
May 29, 1904Chipley, Florida No one met me at the depot in Chipley when my train pulled in right before 11 am, but I didn’t expect anyone to on a Sunday morning. Most everyone around here is in church at this time. The few who are milling around are here […]
Estimated reading time: 23 minutes
May 28, 1904Marianna, Florida When I got home to Marianna, Cephas and Lula had a congratulatory supper at the house, just family members. At the table, Lula insisted on hearing about the ceremony, the speeches, and the celebration afterwards at the President’s house. After dinner, when we gathered into the […]
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
May 27, 1904Jacksonville, Florida Oh, God, my head. I awoke gripping my head between my hands, in a fetal position on the bed. Somewhere, there was this loud pounding that was echoing and resonating on the inside of my skull. The pain was so intense; I opened my eyes a […]
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
May 26, 1904Jacksonville, Florida Two days after the ceremony at Stetson, on May 26, seven of our eight-member, freshly graduated class went to Jacksonville to be admitted to the Florida Bar. After we were sworn in at the Duval County Courthouse by Judge Locke, and were officially lawyers, we decided […]
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
June 4, 2020Chevy Chase, Maryland I want to share with you the story of this research and why it is coming together across different dates, places and times: It took several years to assemble the information I have — I neither have a research assistant, nor the budget for one […]
Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
May 23, 19049:15 pmJohn B Stetson University AuditoriumDeland, Florida The auditorium was crowded, hot and stifling, with guests in finery and suits, students, and graduates wearing three-piece suits under silk robes. Even though it was after 9 pm, men were fanning themselves with their straw hats and ladies who had […]
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
May 10, 1903East Hall, Stetson UniversityDeLand, Florida Grandfather died on May 5, 1903. I was there. I ran all the way home from the depot as soon as I got off the train, not waiting for a carriage. The house was full of family and friends. My mother’s brother, Uncle […]
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes