Frank Stirling Collection, Circa 1916-1949
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 13 Hollinger Boxes
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
The Frank Stirling Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
The Frank Stirling Collection contains correspondence including telegrams and letters, book logs, bills, pamphlets, journals and receipt books related to Frank Stirling. Frank Stirling was the first mayor of Davie, Florida, a state representative and a horticulturist. The collection documents his time in the state legislature from 1945 to 1948. It also extensively documents his involvement in horticulture and agriculture, including the daily business matters such as the effectiveness of various fertilizers, hiring Bahamian farm workers, and payroll. The correspondence contains detailed information about different types of crops grown in Broward County, as well as experiemental crops being grown in the area. It also contains information about the creation of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
- Biographical / historical:
Frank Stirling (1878-1949) was a member of the Florida State House of Representatives, mayor and horticulturist. He was born on April 13, 1878 in Gallipolis, Ohio and studied agronomy, biology, and entymology. He worked as a horticulturist in Washington and California and in 1907 moved to Deland, Florida to manage the John B. Stetson Packinghouse. While working at John B. Stetson Packinghouse, he became a leading figure in the fight to eradicate citrus canker, a bacterial disease that affects citrus fruit trees. In 1913, Stirling became the chief inspector for the Florida Plant.
In 1915, Stirling worked as an instructor at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In 1924, he moved to Davie, Florida and focused his life on improving issues as it pertains to horticulture and civic concerns. On November 16, 1925, Stirling became the first mayor of Davie, Florida.
Stirling created multiple groves, packinghouses, and nurseries throughout south Florida, including the Sitrling and Sons Nursery in Davie. He was an early grower of melaleuca trees, and was a proponent of using them to help control flooding in the Everglades. In 1927, Stirling along with Floyd Wray and Clarence P. Hammerstein, planted citrus trees in Flamingo Groves, and helped Floyd Wray to develop the botanical garden at Flamingo Gardens. He worked to improve flood control in South Florida.
He served in the Florida House of Representatives representing Broward County from 1945 until the 1948 term. Frank Stirling died from cancer on November 12, 1949.
- Processing information:
This collection received file level processing. The finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as aquisitions to the collection.
- Arrangement:
The Frank Stirling Collection is divided into three series: I. Correspondence II. Personal and professional papers III. Printed materials.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
- Preferred citation:
The Frank Stirling Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library100 S. Andrews AvenueFort LauderdaleFL33301USA
