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C.C. Rathbun Papers, 1955-1956, 1936, 1940, 1952, 1962, 1979, bulk 1950-1960

 

Summary

Extent:
2 Linear Feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The C.C. Rathbun Papers contain mementos from his life, including information on his wife Ruth Allison Rathbun's family, as well as the following series: Awards: This series contains the awards that C.C. Rathbun received upon his retirement from the Florida Canners' Association in 1962 as well as from his induction into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 1979. This series is arranged chronologically. Photographs: This series contains photographs of C.C. Rathbun as well as photographs of a painted portrait of him. Please note, however, that the original painted portrait has not been found. This series is arranged alphabetically as the photographs are undated. Scrapbooks: This series contains two different scrapbooks. The first documents C.C. Rathbun's retirement in 1962 at the annual FCA meeting, which was held at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. The other documents C.C. Rathbun's career with FCA through newspaper and magazine clippings. This series is arranged chronologically.

Biographical / historical:

Clifford Charles "Cliff" Rathbun was born on December 4, 1895 in Garrison, Kansas. On August 8, 1925, he married Ruth Allison in Manatee County, Florida, and in 1926, Rathbun and his wife moved to Florida as he had become the Assistant Cashier of the American National Bank in Bradenton. Not too soon after the move, around 1926, he began working with a loosely organized group of Florida canners in Tampa. On December 7, 1931, at the first meeting of the newly formed Florida Grapefruit Canners Association, Rathbun was named permanent Executive Secretary. In 1937, Rathbun continued his role when the Association changed its name to the Florida Canners Association (FCA). From 1951 to 1962, he also served as the Manager for the Citrus Processors Association after it became affiliated with FCA. In 1956, Rathbun followed FCA to its new headquarters in Winter Haven, Florida. In 1961, Rathbun was named Executive Vice President of FCA and was also honored by the National Canners Association by being named to the "Old Guard" for his 30 years of service to the canning industry. C.C. Rathbun worked for FCA for 31 years until his retirement in 1962. However, his work with the Association did not end with his retirement as he continued to serve as a consultant and was Chairman of the Board of Directors. C.C. Rathbun also served as a member of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Committee, the Winter Haven Rotary Club, the Florida Society of the Association of Executives, and the Florida Citrus Exposition. He was also the President and a member of the Executive Committee of the Grower and Shippers League of Florida. In 1979, he was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame for his service to the citrus industry. On April 29, 1985, Clifford Charles Rathbun passed away at the age of 89.

Acquisition information:
In 1994, FCPA Executive Vice President Clifford C. Beasley, Jr. donated the portraits, awards, photographs, and a scrapbook; in 2004, he donated the Diplomat Hotel scrapbook. The C.C. Rathbun Papers collection was part of the Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives, which was eventually transferred to the McKay Archives Center in 2009.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Terms of access:

Permission to publish material from the C.C. Rathbun Papers must be obtained from Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives Center or the appropriate copyright holder. Please inquire if you have questions at 863-680-4453.

Location of this collection:
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.
Lakeland
FL
33801
USA