Spanish Pathways in Florida, Ann L. Henderson and Gary R. Mormino (editors)

ATLANTIC SOUTH. 
History. 

In 1988, the Florida Humanities Council was awarded $66,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a sum that was matched by the state of Florida. The winning proposal: to take as deep a dive into the Spanish influence on Florida as had ever been conducted. A November 1988 conference set up to frame the work ahead, quickly revealed the state’s DNA as so thoroughly Spanish that a case could be made for it being the dominant thread. Spanish Pathways In Florida would be the result of this historical group effort. Impressively, it was laid out with English and Spanish text intertwined, running page by page alongside each other throughout the entire volume. The project’s origins were aligned with the larger and upcoming 1992 500-year commemoration of Columbus sailing to the “New World.” Of course, much had changed between the early 20th century perspective of that voyage and late 20th century perspectives, including how, or even if, it should be celebrated at all. The triumphalism and ethnic supremacy that had long laced that feat of navigation, and more so the mass waves of European exploration, emigration, continental expansion, and establishment of truly “new” worlds in North & South America since, were already being recalculated to more accurately reflect the previous five centuries. A celebration of all that had been achieved had to be balanced with all of the brutal exploitation, extermination, and desperation that had come with it. And though this is a reckoning yet to be fully realized and accepted even today, this 1991 release can be commended for steering into it, not away from it—the very first chapter on the Spanish influence on the Sunshine State titled, “Invasion of Florida: Disease and the Indians of Florida.” There are 15 chapters total, each written by a different historian or journalist, and each dealing with a specific theme. Personalities are most often the core subject from which the many themes radiate, ranging from the early Spanish explorers, to the Friars arriving in their wake, the first free-black settlement in the Americas (Ft. Mose, c. 1730s), cattle and plant life, “Los Patriotas” of Tampa, on up to more modern sketches of Cuban Americans and their significant contributions. Ending with a chapter on the quincentenary, the editors of this collection ask: “What Will We Celebrate?” Dedicated to “Floridanos old and new,” we invite you to discover for yourself. [Condition: A thick softcover volume in very good condition, there is some minor edge wear, a bent corner, and creasing on the cover itself. The interior pages are in “like new” condition with no signs of age discoloration.] 

Condition: Used Very Good. 
Nonfiction / History. 
Ann L. Henderson and Gary R. Mormino (ed.). 
Pineapple Press, Inc., 1991. 
Softcover (First Edition), 364 pgs, 6 x 9" / 1 lb 1 oz