The focus of this week was highlighting the efforts of local figures. I continued my research into local female leaders and was also able to see myself next to some in Orlando Magazine. In addition, this week saw another shift in my responsibilities as I prepared to write an article for Reflections from Central Florida, a publication by the History Center.
The beginning of this week started off very eventfully as I received a copy of the photoshoot done at the History Center for Orlando Magazine (pictured above). The article highlighted several important team members while giving a brief overview of the center's extensive work. It was very memorable to receive a copy of the magazine and see myself next to more established people in the field. It provided me with motivation not only for the rest of the week, but also for my long term career goals. It was extra encouragement to continue to learn as much as I can about the field. I put this inspiration to the test for the rest of my week at the center with some promising new responsibilities.
One of these new responsibilities included learning how to correctly catalogue the audio files from oral histories and the corresponding audio log on Proficio. This process was similar to cataloguing physical objects, but still had some notable differences. I had to insert the audio file with the audio log through a separate pathway and make sure this aligned properly. During this process I caught myself finding audio logs where I had mistyped an Object ID number or conversely where an audio file had been logged with a different Accession Number. Nonetheless, these small errors were corrected, and I became familiar with the process. I then catalogued the oral histories I had been working on up until this point. Then, another new responsibility I was excited for was the start of my research for a Reflections article. Reflections from Central Florida is a separate publication by the History Center. It covers a wide breath of Central Florida history. Its mission is "to shed a light on little-known facts of local history and to delve deeper into the stories from the region that have national relevance." [1] I was tasked with eventually contributing to this publication through an article that highlights significant women in Central Florida's history. Specifically, I began researching a connecting link between deceased Commissioner Mary I. Johnson and former mayor of Orlando and Secretary of State, Glenda Hood.
This week I spent my time brainstorming the different way to connect these two women who dedicated their time to the community and ultimately cast a spotlight on their efforts. One recommendation made to me was to highlight their roles in Baldwin Park. I was more aware of Glenda Hood's role in overseeing the selling of the land of Baldwin Park and its development. Mary Johnson's role is still more vague to me and will require a closer look into her specific initiatives. Still, I personally like this link as I visit Baldwin Park frequently to study at the numerous cafes or sometimes just go for a walk in the scenic area. I would be able to combine my personal experience with the legacy of two great Orlando women. Though, an alternative idea was linking the two women through their efforts to reform downtown Orlando. Both women were advocates for developing downtown to better serve its residents and attract outside visitors. I even found an article where both women in a city council meeting expressed their desire to improve the area and make it a more "homey" environment. This angle would also be personal due to my increasing familiarity with the downtown area because of my work at the History Center. I could explore this perspective and learn more about the surrounding area. Lastly, another connection I have found is that both women supported an older attempt during the 1990s to bring a light rail to Orlando, Florida. This would be a harder angle to cover since their efforts were unsuccessful and at the time the light rail proposal was unpopular for many residents. However, it could highlight how their efforts laid the foundation for modern day iterations such as the Brightline or how the issue in general still has not been solved as public transportation around Orlando is lacking in comparison to other major cities. This perspective could serve as a call to their forward thinking mindset that tried to secure the light rail decades ago. However, more research would have to be done on this matter to further understand why it was unpopular at the time. Nonetheless, I am excited to explore these avenues and begin writing the article for Reflections. I believe it will be a great exercise in writing for a different tone and audience outside of the typical academic sphere. Additionally, I will further acquaint myself with important Orlando history through learning about the lives of trailblazing women within it.
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