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Fernando Rodriguez Mesa papers, 1937-1960, Date acquired: 4/26/2011

 

Summary

Extent:
1 boxes
0.42 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Fernando Rodriguez Mesa papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents the military service, federal employment, and geodetic survey work of Fernando Rodriguez Mesa. Materials include military records, federal employment records, and geodetic survey materials. The collection also contains newspaper clippings, programs, and invitations documenting Mesa's personal life and social activities in Tampa, Florida. Photographs include images of Mesa and community events in Tampa, including the Beaux Arts Masquerade Balls and Gasparilla Day. The collection is arranged by subject and format.

Biographical / historical:

Fernando Rodriguez Mesa was born on November 1, 1913, to Eladia Mesa and Estella Inesa Rodriguez. He had two brothers, Harold R. Mesa and Joseph R. Mesa. The Mesa family had made Tampa their home since 1909. His maternal grandfather, Frank Rodriguez, was a pioneer leaf tobacco dealer, and his father, Eladio, was well known at the firm Humphrey Motors, Inc.

Fernando retired from the Civil Service and the Base Exchange at MacDill Field after more than 32 years of service. A World War II veteran, he was a graduate of Tampa Business College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in interior decorating. In 1921, he organized the "Let's Be Happy Club" in Tampa to provide a safe gathering place for the youth of Ybor City.

He was active in the community throughout his life, including work with the Tampa Jaycees, the Federal Theatre (1936), the Pan American Commission, and the Tampa Little Theatre (1947). He was also a member of the American Legion, the Holy Name Society of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, and served as an usher at Sacred Heart Church. In addition, he was a charter member of the Henry B. Plant Museum and the Ybor City Museum, and served as a board member of the Tampa Historical Society.

Fernando was an honorary lifetime member of El Círculo Cubano de Tampa (the Cuban Club), an honorary general in the Krewe of Mambi, and participated in the Gasparilla parades until he was 91 years old. He served for five years as chairman of the Jaycees Christmas display on Bayshore Boulevard and helped lead the first year of the group's Christmas Card Lane. An eclectic collector, especially of antiques, he decorated his home for over 50 years and hosted Christmas parties attended by many of Tampa's civic and social leaders.

In recognition of his many years of community service, the Fernando R. Mesa Morgan Street Park was dedicated in his honor by Mayor Pam Iorio in 2005, and the grand ballroom at the Cuban Club was named after him in 2009. He was also honored by the Ybor City Museum State Park with the D.B. Morgan Award (2007), inducted into the Ybor City Hall of Fame (2005), received the Member of Honor Award from El Círculo Cubano de Tampa (2004), the St. Jude Award from the Diocese of St. Petersburg (2003), and was recognized by the Tampa Historical Society in 2000.

Over the years, Fernando helped support many memorials, including the Tony Pizzo statue, the Ybor Square Immigrants Wall, the José Martí statue, and the Raphael Ybor statue. Fernando Rodriguez Mesa passed away on June 12, 2012.

Source: Fernando Mesa Memoriam, Tampa Bay Times, June 16, 2012.https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tampabaytimes/name/fernando-mesa-obituary?id=37399075

Acquisition information:
Estate (POA) of Fernando R. Mesa
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

None

Terms of access:

The contents of this collection may be subject to copyright.  Visit the United States Copyright Office's Website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.

Preferred citation:

Fernando Rodriguez Mesa papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Location of this collection:
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus
4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122
Tampa
FL
33620-5400
USA