Early Winter Park
Authors
One
hallmark of Winter Park citizens: A love of literature
Even in its infancy, Winter Park attracted people who
were interested in intellectual and literary pursuits. This was in evidence
as early as 1883. And, as the town developed, so too did Rollins College.
Thus, the concept of "town and gown" was frequently used to describe the
relationship between of the city and the college . . . a relationship of
mutual benefit and interdependence. Here are a few examples of this town's
love of the written word . . . dating back to the first decade of its
existence:
1883: The Winter Park Social Club was organized,
meeting weekly in the town hall for literary and social culture.
1885: A reading circle was organized . . . which later grew into the
Circulating Library Association of Winter Park.
1885: Out of five applicants, Winter Park was chosen as the site for a
new college . . . which was later named Rollins College.
1887: The first issue of the town's first newspaper was published: The
Lochmede.
1888: The Young People's Literacy Society of Osceola was formed.
1888: The Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle was organized.
1889: The first issue of The Advocate newspaper was published.
Later, noted authors made their home here, such as
"Pansy" Alden and Irving Bacheller. Eventually, many Rollins College
professors had their works published as well. Some early examples of this group
include professors Edwin Osgood Grover (Books), Rhea Marsh Smith (History) and Willard Wattles
(English).
In 1926, Winter Park's love of the written word was
once again demonstrated, as the first edition of the Animated Magazine
came to life. This was a concept that Rollins College president Hamilton
Holt developed. The Animated Magazine was a "live" event that brought
great minds to the stage at Rollins . . . to speak their prepared
"articles" aloud. It drew thousands of people to Winter Park annually.
In 1943, librarian William F. Yust published a booklet
that was entitled The Literary Colony of Winter Park, Florida: A Partial List of
Authors and Their Books.
**Books
listed below can be found in the Winter Park Public Library catalog:
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