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Arthur N. Sollee, Sr. Papers, 1927-1984

 

Summary

Creator:
Sollee, Arthur N., 1900-1984
Extent:
17.75 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Arthur N. Sollee Papers, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

As Director of the Jacksonville Expressway Authority during the pivotal transportation years of 1956-1972, Mr. Sollee was a major influence in the development of the Jacksonville, Florida road system in Duval County, Florida in the mid-twentieth century. The collection consists primarily of correspondence, subject files and reports, and newspaper clippings relating to transportation projects in Duval County. It includes extensive documentation on the development of Jacksonville's road system, circa 1950-1970, consisting chiefly of numerous, albeit irregular, primary reports / studies; beach erosion / bulkhead data; and personal notes on Jacksonville transportation issues from the perspective of a prime participant. Historical source documents include project files relating to plans for Metropolitan Park and the Duval County Courthouse, and correspondence / newspaper clippings relating to the University of North Florida site selection. Few personal items are included.

Biographical / historical:

Arthur Neyle Sollee, Sr. was born near Tifton, Georgia on May 23, 1900. Four years later, his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he attended South Jacksonville Elementary School. After distinguishing himself in both academia and athletics, he graduated from Duval High School and served in the United States Army. Upon his discharge in 1918, he enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Florida and received a Bacholor of Science in Civil Engineering degree in 1922, and Civil Engineer degree in 1926.

His first professional position was as a field surveyor with the George B. Hills Company, where he remained from 1922 until 1928. His last assignment for the Hills Company was as Resident Engineer on the initial construction of Port Everglades for the Broward County Port Authority. Upon recognizing the potential challenges of this project, he accepted the position of Port Engineer in 1928, and saw the project to fruition in 1931.

Returning to Jacksonville in 1931, he was appointed Assistant County Engineer for for Duval County and, in 1939, County Engineer. In 1945, he received an additional appointment as the County's first Zoning Director. Notable achievements during his seventeen-year tenure as County Engineer include the preparation of a Duval County topographic map, significant drainage improvements, gasoline tax revenue revision, and numerous right-of-way acquisitions for future highways.

In 1956, he was appointed Executive Director for the Jacksonville Expressway Authority, later renamed the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (1971). As JEA executive director, Mr. Sollee laid out the basic plans for the city's expressway system and supervised the planning and construction of the Mathews and Hart bridges. (The J. T. Butler Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway bridge is named in his honor.)

After retiring in 1972, he worked on completing his memoirs, The Engineer Speaks, which was published in 1982. Mr. Sollee died on November 9, 1984.

Acquisition information:
The collection was acquired through donation from the Estate of Arthur N. Sollee, Sr., 1984
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research by appointment only. Please contact lib-special@unf.edu to schedule an appointment.

Terms of access:

Materials in the collection may be subject to copyright and are to be used for private study, scholarship, or research in accordance with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Use of reproductions of copyrighted works in excess of "fair use," may result in the user's liability for copyright infringement and be subject to the civil and criminal penalties of federal law. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for further information

Preferred citation:

Arthur N. Sollee Papers, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida.

Location of this collection:
Thomas G. Carpenter Library
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville
FL
32224
USA