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Arthur Letson Collection, Circa 1910-1969

 

Summary

Creator:
Letson, Arthur (Sethuel Arthur), 1921-1995
Extent:
1 Photograph Binder Box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Arthur Letson Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The Arthur Letson Collection contains sixty photographs and one newspaper clipping collected by the Letson family of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photographs include individual and group portraits from the Letson, Quick, Mahan, and Moore families, friends and associates of Fred Moore, Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge and Bridgehouse, and geographic areas such as the Altanitc Coastal Waterway, Fort Lauderdale, and Dania Beach.

Biographical / historical:

Arthur Letson was born Sethuel Arthur Letson on October 4, 1921 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The central person in the photograph collection is Arthur Letson's mother, Eulalia Mahan Quick Letson Moore (1894-1957). Eulalia married a second time to Fred Moore (1884-), bridgetender of Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge, in 1935.

People who appear in the photographs in the collection are primarily family members, centered on Eulalia and Fred Moore. Eulalia and Fred Moore had two children, Wayne Moore (1911-) and daughter Emma Lee Moore. Fred's sister was Etta (Moore) Cappleman. Eulalia Moore's children include those from her first marriage: Cecil Quick (1911-1973) and his wife Nina, Monroe "Wheeler" Quick (1915-) and his wife Jerry (Goolsby) Quick. From her second marriage are Sethuel Arthur Letson (1921-1995), with Samuel Walter Letson (1867-1962); Arthur's sister Dorothy Mae (Letson) Link (1919-2005). Betty Lou Letson, Arthur Letson's first wife. Eulalia Moore's parents and her sister's family also appear: Samantha Jane and James Madison Mahan, and Alice ("Allie") Rosebud (Mahan) Wilson and her husband Murry A. Wilson. Historical family photographs include Arthur Letson's cousin Robert Joel Lunquist.

People who are not identified as family include Grady Cale, Jerry Kinsey, Toogie Kinsey, John Mauthner, Hazel Morrice (a business associate of Fred Moore), William ("Wimpy") Snyder, "Whiskey Joe" Wendell (of Samuel Walter Letson's generation), and Howard Wendell (of Arthur Letson's generation).

Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge and Bridgehouse is located on the local section of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The features of the modern bridge (rehabilitated 2015-2016) are: Dania Beach Boulevard (SR A1A) Bridge (Mile Marker: 1069.4; Latitude / Longitude: N 26° 03.188' / W 080° 06.889'. The bridge type is bascule with a vertical clearance (closed): 22 feet and horizontal clearance: 91 feet. The old bridge was a swing bridge, swinging open horizontally.

Other places in the photographs are Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge (Fred's Boat Livery & Bait & Tackle, fishing camp at the Dania Beach Blvd. Bridge, houseboat at the Dania Beach Blvd. Bridge, Bonita Springs, Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale (Northside School; Fort Lauderdale Municipal Docks, New River, East side of Andrews Avenue Bridge; Arthur Letson's ranch between Wingate Road and 441 at N.W. 16th Street; 707 N.W. 2nd Avenue, childhood home of Arthur and Dorothy Letson; and Merle Fogg Airport); Hollywood Beach, and Marathon, Florida.

Processing information:

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

Titles of photographs include captions from original photographs and reproductions, both if present.

Arrangement:

The Arthur Letson Collection is organized into three series: Series I. Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge, Series II. Letson Family, and Series III. Photographs of Individuals.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Arthur Letson Collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

Arthur Letson 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