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New Book Commemorates UF's 150th birthday
July 11, 2003
Writer: Laura Davis, (352) 392-0186, Ldavis21@ufl.edu
Source: Kevin McCarthy, (352) 377-2178, (352) 317-2592 (cell), kmccarth@english.ufl.edu
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In celebration of the University of Florida 150th
anniversary this year, two UF researchers have written a 116-page pictorial
chronicling the institution's history.
Conceived about a year ago and released last week, the book,
"Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future," was written and compiled by UF
archivist/librarian Carl Van Ness and Kevin McCarthy, a professor of Florida
studies and English. It captures UF's history in words and more than 225
black-and-white photographs. The photographs and descriptions give insight
into what life might have been like at the university as far back as 1853.
Van Ness said he enjoyed researching early student life. "I think
one common thread in the university's history is the sense of identity and
community found in the student body," he said.
Co-author McCarthy said the book features many
never-before-published photographs. "With this book, we hoped to bring the
history of the university up to date in honor of the sesquicentennial," said
McCarthy, who has written 28 other books - 18 of them about Florida.
Both authors credit Cindy McMillen, director of the publications
department at the office of News & Public Affairs, as the unofficial third
author. She was responsible for the book's layout.
"Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future" includes a foreword by UF
President Charles E. Young and is divided into five sections, each capturing
a different chapter in UF's storied history.
The first section, the Pre-Buckman Years, outlines the period prior
to 1906 when the university, then located in Lake City, was known as the
East Florida Seminary. In 1905, the Buckman Act consolidated Florida's seven
state schools into three and moved UF to Gainesville.
The Formative Years covers 1906 to 1927 and segues into a section on
the university's progression during World War II, the Great Depression and
the GI Bill. A chapter on Post-War Expansion, 1948-1975, reviews UF's
structural developments and includes a chronicle of the history of women and
African Americans at the university.
The book also includes an overview of the past 27 years and a
section containing more than 30 color photographs, old postcards and
football program covers from as far back as 1928. It concludes with an essay
on Florida's future by Win Phillips, vice president for research at UF.
"Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future" is available at Goerings
Book Stores and the university bookstore for $19.95. It also is available
online at http://www.ufl.edu/150.
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