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J. Dewey Hawkins Collection, 1920-1960

 

Summary

Extent:
1 Half Hollinger Box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

J. Dewey Hawkins Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The J. Dewey Hawkins Collection contains wallet cards, personal papers, photographs, a hat, ribbon, and a wallet documenting the career and personal life of Oakland Park's Mayor Joseph Dewey Hawkins (1899-1958). The materials date from 1920 to 1960.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Dewey Hawkins was born on December 17, 1899 in Suwannee County, Florida. He married Ruby Wiggins in 1919 and later had a daugher named Jo Mildred. In 1922, the Hawkins family moved to Oakland Park for the opportunity to farm. Hawkins also served as mayor on the fledgling combination government of the unrealized Floranada Club development annexed with Oakland Park. The end to the Florida land boom, the 1926 hurricane, and the Great Depression resulted in the financial failure of Floranada. In 1929 Oakland Park became its own city with Hawkins elected as mayor. Having originally been elected mayor of Floranada / Oakland Park in 1926, he served as mayor for 28 years in total. He retired as Mayor of Oakland Park after multiple temporary attempts, as he had been reelected due to popular demand.

Hawkins had one of the biggest vegetable farms in Broward County and personally provided food and money to those who needed it during the Depression. He was also a successful cattle rancher who at one time possessed nearly 3,000 cattle and was the first rancher in the area to raise Brahma cattle. Additionally, he owned a packinghouse at NE 34th Court by the Florida East Coast Railway. According to the Florida Daily News and Evening Sentinel newspaper in 1929, during Prohibition, Hawkins did have liquor in his home and publically announced an invitation to the infamous mobster Al Capone to visit Oakland Park.

Hawkins was the founder and director of the Wilton Manors National Bank and also had a Masonic Lodge named in his honor. Joseph Dewey Hawkins died on November 15, 1958.

Acquisition information:
Jo Mildred Daniel, the daughter of J. Dewey Hawkins, donated the materials to the Broward County Historical Commission in 1981 (Accession BCHA-1981.6).
Processing information:

The J. Dewey Hawkins Collection received file level processing. This finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as acquisitions to the collection.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The J. Dewey Hawkins Collection is open for research. Folder 3 containing the medical and Social Security information is restricted until January 1, 2059.

Preferred citation:

J. Dewey Hawkins Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.

Location of this collection:
Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library
100 S. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale
FL
33301
USA