Michael A. Spencer Collection on Theodore Mead, 1887-1939
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Spencer, Michael A.
- Abstract:
- Theodore Mead was a horticulturist who owned an orange grove in Eustis, Florida and developed a property in Oviedo, Florida to research and hybridize plants. The collection contains Mead's notebook and family correspondence, together with a brochure and news clipping about the founding of Mead Gardens in Winter Park, Florida.
- Extent:
- 0.25 Linear Feet 1 Box
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
Michael A. Spencer Collection on Theodore Mead, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Background
- Scope and content:
Series I: Writings, 1887-1934 contains correspondence written or received by the Mead family. Transcripts of the letters were created by Julian Nally, but he apparently had access to letters that Mr. Spencer did not acquire because there are transcripts for letters that are not in this collection. Series II: Printed Matter, 1938-1939 holds a brochure and news clipping about establishing the Mead Garden.
- Biographical / historical:
Theodore Mead was born on 23rd February 1852 at Fishkill, New York to Samuel H. and Mary C. Luqueer. He graduated from Cornell University in 1877, and he worked at Cornell after graduation doing research in natural history. His first interest was in butterflies, and he published Report upon the collections of diurnal Lepidoptera made in portions of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, during the Years 1871, 1872, 1873, and 1874, with notes upon all species known to inhabit Colorado in 1875. Mead first visited Florida in 1869 and moved to Eustis, Florida in 1881 where he spent five years developing an orange grove. He then purchased eighty-five acres of land in Oviedo, Florida where he hybridized orchids and amaryllis and later, caladiums. Mead worked with Cornell University in studying orchids. He died on 4th May 1936. The Mead Gardens in Winter Park, Florida are dedicated to his memory.
- Acquisition information:
- Michael A. Spencer donated these materials to the University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Department in 2006 (CFM2006_08b).
- Processing information:
Processed by Judith Beale; finding aid prepared by Judith Beale.
Materials were placed in pH neutral folders and boxes and fragile items were sleeved in polyester. Loose sheets in the notebook were interleaved with pH neutral tissue to protect the book.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
The entire collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
Unpublished records are protected by copyright. Permission to publish quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
- Preferred citation:
Michael A. Spencer Collection on Theodore Mead, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
- Location of this collection:
-
John C. Hitt Library12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2OrlandoFL32816-8030USA
