In the first half of the 20th century the doctrine of “separate but equal,” supported by the landmark 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson case, constitutionally allowed for the separation of races in public places as long as facilities remained equal. (1) Winter Park adhered to this doctrine, as did most other southern towns in the U.S.,… Read More Self-Help Culture and the Ideal Woman’s Club of Winter Park
Although Rollins College did not have an African American student body until the mid-1960s, the College was nevertheless a strong advocate for black education in the years before integration, and this is quite evident by the College’s early philanthropy and support for the Hungerford Vocational School of Eatonville. Located only 4 miles from Rollins College… Read More Rollins and African American Higher Education Before Integration
In 1948 Susan “Susie” Weasley became the first African American to receive the Decoration of Honor at Rollins College, a prestigious award given to very few individuals over the years. (1) Susie was loved by both faculty and students at Rollins and her very public recognition was supported by President Hamilton Holt himself. Susie was… Read More Respected or Discriminated? African American Staff at Rollins in the First Part of the 20th Century
Gentrification — the process by which a wealthy population begins to take over and redevelop an area traditionally inhabited by minorities and/or a lower-income population — has become an increasingly pressing issue in Winter Park since the 1990s. Though this problem is a more recent one, its roots originate a century prior with the practice… Read More Rollins College and the Gentrification of Winter Park
The founding citizens of Winter Park who moved from upper-class Northeastern communities needed housing accommodations for both themselves and their maids, servants, and other “help.” To support a vibrant service industry for these elite newcomers, Hannibal Square (a set of small plots to the west side of the railroad tracks) was built into the urban… Read More African American Employment in Early Winter Park
Today, Rollins College has a vibrant and diverse student body. “Diversity and Inclusion” initiatives include a number of student organizations and cultural heritage celebrations throughout the school year. (1) The social transition that made Rollins a college with a diversity-positive attitude took place over the course of several decades after the college integrated in 1964. Africana… Read More Diversity and The Africana Fest at Rollins College
After the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 which determined that segregation was no longer legal anywhere in the United States, the South predictably resisted the order to change traditional educational enrollment. (1) In many school districts, white protests erupted in violence and kept black children from entering the previously… Read More The First Black Faculty Members at Rollins College
Zora Neale Hurston was an African American author and anthropologist from Central Florida. She grew up just a few miles away from Rollins College, in the historic town of Eatonville. Zora dedicated her life to showcasing and celebrating the disenfranchised lives of people of color in her creative arts and writing. During her lifetime Hurston… Read More From Sun to Sun: Zora Neale Hurston and Rollins
An Introduction to Student Research Findings The mission of Rollins College Archives and Special Collections is to acquire, preserve, and make accessible unique and rare materials that document the history of Rollins College and the Central Florida community. Our holdings include a wide range of physical and digital materials open to both the Rollins community… Read More A Note From the Archives