Oral History Program Archives

People

Joseph Wittenstein Joseph Wittenstein presents a Jewish History of Orange County, 1875 to 1925, and early Jewish settlers in Orlando. Joseph Wittenstein reads from his Chronology of the Early Jewish Settlers in the Orange County Area from 1875 to about 1 ... Read more

People

Bishop Henry Irving Louttit

Henry Irving Louttit, retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida was interviewed on April 9, 1975, by Bart Kimball. Born the son of a telegrapher in Buffalo, NY, on January 1, 1903, Bishop Louttit served south Florida for thirty years as a ... Read more

People

Norma Gettier

Hattabel Hyer presents another installment of the Pioneer Party Line. Part One is an interview with Norma Gettier. Ms Gettier was one of the founding members of Orlando's first Christian Science Church. Ms Gettier speaks of her childhood and format ... Read more

People

Viola A. Fosgate

Viola and her husband, real estate salesman Charles Francis Fosgate moved to Orlando from Boston in 1919 along with the other Fosgate brothers, Chester Crawford Fosgate (citrus grower) and Stanley P. Fosgate, drawn here by their father, Leo E. Fosgate . ... Read more

People

Edward W. Fishback

Born here in 1911, the son of Davis Erwin and Lillian (Wilmot) Fishback. In this recording Mr. Fishback reads and discusses his recollections of life here in Orlando. This interview was conducted by James R. Spence on November 8, 1994. We are gratef ... Read more

People

Charlie Finley

Charlie Finley was well known around town for the family's paint and wallpaper business but he also had a small cattle business on the side and was an avid hunter. In the late 1930s he served the state of Florida as a Game Warden ("for 11 years") and ... Read more

People

Jenkins Dolive

Thomas Jenkins Dolive ("doe-leave") was born in Orlando February 27, 1890 and interviewed in December of 1971 by Hatabel Hyer. He was well known to many in Orlando as were his parents and siblings. According to Eve Bacon's Orlando: A Centennial History ... Read more

People

Katie Bell Demps

Mrs. Demps was known as the oldest woman in Zellwood at the time of this recording, a title she questions (in part two.) "Oldest [child care] provider in Zellwood" she readily boasts! This interview was conducted in 1976 for the Friends of the Orlando ... Read more

People

Rev. Dr. Marshall C. Dendy and wife, Nan

Dr. Marshall C. Dendy was senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando from June 1, 1942 to December 1952. Dr. Dendy and his wife, Nan, were interviewed on July 12, 1976 by James R. Spence for the Friends of the Orlando Public Library's Or ... Read more

People

Orville Rhoads Davis

Orville Rhoads Davis came to Orlando in 1929 to serve as principal of Memorial Junior High School, which was located on Rosalind Avenue, facing Lake Eola, where The Metropolitan at Lake Eola condominiums stands today. (Many may remember this location as ... Read more

People

Nixon S. Collins

Nixon Steever Collins came to Orlando in 1920 from Chuluota, Florida. His uncle owned the first automobile in Chuluota, a 1910 Buick. This interview was conducted on July 29, 1975 for the Friends of the Orlando Public Library's Oral History Committe ... Read more

People

Bess Coward

Bess Coward - Bud Coward's widow was interviewed with her brothers Alonzo and Clarence Woods on May 18, 1975 by Frank Manuel for the Friends of the Orlando Public Library's Oral History Committee. We are grateful for the Orange County Regional History C ... Read more