Cesar Becerra Logging Industry Collection, 1971-1994

Summary

Extent:

8.31 Linear Feet

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

This little known part of Florida history was extensively documented in 1994-1995 by South Florida filmmaker and historian Cesar Becerra. This collection represents his work and research that has subsequently been used in exhibits and at least one court case. It contains photographs, interview transcripts, and video pertaining to his research efforts.

Biographical / historical:

You would never think of the Florida Everglades as a major contributor to Florida's logging industry, but from the 1920s through the early 1950s, it was. The epicenter was the long-abandoned Collier County town of Jerome, located on State Rd.29 just north of U.S.41. The Jerome lumber mill once was among the most productive in the United States. During the 1940s, loggers cut and finished about 100,000 board feet every day. About a thousand workers, mostly African-American men, kept the mill going. In addition to the dangers inherent in this kind of work, the men dealt with snakes, alligators, and oppressive heat. This little known part of Florida history was extensively documented in 1994-1995 by South Florida filmmaker and historian Cesar Becerra. This collection represents his work and research that has subsequently been used in exhibits and at least one court case. It includes photographs taken during the industry's heyday, government documents, videos, and oral history interviews with former loggers.

Acquisition information:

Materials were donated by Cesar Becerra

Arrangement:

The materials in this collection are arranged in the following series':

Series 1: Papers Series 2: Photographs Series 3: Videos Oversize Items Slide Carousel

Physical facet:

5 Banker Boxes 1 Small, flat box 1 Large, flat box 2 Slide Carousel boxes

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related

Other descriptive data:

The materials in this collection concern the environmental impacts of industry in the Florida Everglades. For further research, the Franklin Adams Collection (SPC 9000) also relates to the Big Cypress Preserve.

Additionally, the James A. Haley Congressional Papers and the Andy Ireland Congressional Papers--both collections housed at Florida Southern College--relate to Big Cypress and the broader Everglades region.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Conservation
Environmental policy
Environmental justice
Florida panther
Logging

Places:

Big Cypress National Preserve (Fla)
Big Cypress Swamp (Fla)

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact Special Collections & University Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the SPCUA's ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.

Terms of access:

The Cesar Becerra Logging Collection is owned by Florida International University. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

For more information please visit: https://library.fiu.edu/find/copyright/general

Location of this collection:

FIU Special Collections

Florida International University

11200 SW 8th Street

Miami

FL

33199

USA

Contact:

https://specialcollections.fiu.edu/