Sheldon Abend was a colorful executive producer who also served as an estate representative for such literary luminaries as George Bernard Shaw and Tennessee Williams. He made a name for himself by winning an intense copyright battle with MCA. A New York native who later fought in the ring and worked as a tugboat coal-stoker, Abend went to work for the American Play Country in 1957 with little education and an over-abundance of initiative. He rose through the ranks to own the organization in three short years, and after establishing the Author's Research Company, served as a literary consultant and rights negotiator for David O. Selznick, among many others. Gaining notoriety for taking on MCA, Alfred Hitchcock, and Jimmy Stewart in 1983 to establish what has come to be known as the "Abend Rule," the tenacious negotiator went to the Supreme Court to clarify copyright law for instances in which the author dies during the copyright's term.. Abend died August 24, 2003. Approximately 300+ titles
Ahlander Collection (Visual Arts Archives)
Donated by the FIU Art Museum, the Ahlander collection consists of brochures and information on artists from Latin America and the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica. 4.5 linear feet
Pre-Colombian Artifacts from Costa Rica 21 figures
The Bolet Archives covers the professional and personal life of Cuban born conductor Alberto Bolet. The records cover his tenure and work with numerous symphonies including the Cape Town and Durban Symphonies in South Africa, the Long Beach Symphony and the Kern Philharmonic Orchestra. Included are personal correspondence, publicity and family photographs and notes relating to his concerts. 10.5 linear feet
Association of Caribbean Women Writers’ and Scholars
The ACWWS is an international organization whose archives are housed in the University Archives. The association’s aim is to disseminate and promote the literature and orature of Caribbean women and to provide a forum for the advancement of the critical study and teaching of the works of Caribbean women writers and scholars. 3 linear feet
Collection of Cuban photographer Rogelio Caparros
Photographs of Cuba during the Revolution. Photographs of Nicaragua and Panama. Negatives, contact prints and large photoprints. 3 linear feet + 20 large photographs
The Cuban Exile Archives and History Project, collected documents relating to the exile experience. This collection includes runs of Cuban periodicals like Bohemia, Carteles and El Camagueyano, publications from the Cuban American National Foundation, and photographs of exiles. Also included are correspondence between project director Dr. Miguel Bretos and other exiles, and publications of the Project. 70.5 linear feet
The FIU Cuban Living History Project
Miguel Gonzalez-Pando conducted a series of one-on- one interviews with prominent Cuban exiles; these became the foundation of The Cuban Living History Project. The interviews were later edited for three video publications, Y Los Quiero Conocer (And I Want to Meet Them), Calle Ocho: Cuban Exiles Look at Themselves, and Ni Patria Ni Amo (Neither Motherland not Master). This took as its subject the exile opposition to the Castro government and used interviews from leaders of the exile community.
Just prior to his death, permission was given to use many of his interviews for the production The Children of Pedro Pan, (1999) produced by WPBT, Channel 2.
Miguel’s assistant, Mr. Raimundo Rey has transferred the collection of over 400 tapes, in differing formats to VHS format. This collection is catalogued and made available for public use in the Special Collections Department. In additionto the tapes, Special Collections also received copies of the books, plays, documentaries, and newspaper commentaries written by Miguel Gonzalez-Pando. 430 video tapes
Pamphlets, which deal predominantly with the Cuban Exile experience. They, for the most part, are the work of small exile groups and are a particularly unique collection for researchers who may be unable to locate so many on these items outside of the collection.
Pamphlets – 1400 (approx)
This is the inaugural collection of the Miami Dade Women Archives. Judge Davis has the distinction of being admitted to the Florida Bar in 1936. She was appointed to serve as a judge of the Metropolitan Dade County Court (1959-1972) and later was judge of the Civil Division of the County Court of Dade County (1973-1980). Judge Davis was founder and later president of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and was active in the National Association of Women Judges. 15 linear feet.
Photographs and video of the Estate before and after Hurricane Andrew. The rebuilding of the estate is documented. 15 videotapes and thee photo albems.
The Díaz-Ayala Cuban and Latin American Popular Music Collection is the most extensive publicly available collection of Cuban music in the United States. The collection’s approximate 100,000 items span the history of popular Cuban and other Latin music, including 25,000 LPs and 14,500 78 mms. Special Collections houses the some 3,000 books contained within this collection.
Dana Dorsey – the first black millionaire in Miami. The Dorsey’s owned property and had extensive financial dealings with the founders of early Miami. Included in the collection are mortgages between the Dorsey’s and Anna Brickell of the Brickell family.
The finding aid for this collection can be found here. The Dana Dorsey collection can be accessed as a digital archive as part of the Miami Metropolitan Archives.
Approximately 340 financial documents.
Files on Albert Einstein and Lenny Bruce donated by Prof. Schwartz 40 items.
Monographs.
The John and Ideal Gladstone Archival Collection
A collection of 22 publications by and relating to Francisco Amighetti. Newspapers - Over a hundred single sheets and incomplete issues of Harpers Weekly, Leslie’s Illustrated, Ballou’s Pictorial, The Illustrated London News and Pen and Pencil. 1 linear feet
Goodsell Collection Photo Collection
The James Nelson Goodsell Photo Collection documents four decades of Latin American and Caribbean history. It consists of video clips and hundreds of images, many of which are accompanied by audio commentaries. The collection also includes transcripts of interviews with regional leaders. Goodsell was the Latin American correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor from 1964-1985. His archival legacy includes material from all across the region, from South America to the Caribbean and Central America. Goodsell's widow, Rhoda Ford, donated the collection to FIU's Latin American and Caribbean Center in 1996.
11 linear feet.
Elaine Gordon a lawmaker and trail-blazing legislator recognized for her devotion to women, children and the elderly. Gordon was a liberal Democrat from South Florida, who proved herself adept in the power circle dominated by men from the conservative districts in the Florida Panhandle. She served in the Florida House of Representatives for 22 years from 1972 to 1994 where one of her male colleagues gave her the high compliment of saying she was "slicker than owl spit", Gordon was a lead sponsor of the ERA, headed the House Health Care Committee and helped set the state’s agenda on issues involving children, health care, mental health and women's reproductive rights. 9 linear feet
Senator Jack Gordon – Collected Papers
The Papers of Senator Gordon consists of files pertaining to the senator’s work with the Dade County School Board, with the struggle for desegregation in South Florida, in addition to Senator Gordon’s travels for the State Department. His time in the Florida Legislature is represented by files relating to the Senate Bills with which the Senator was concerned. These are in chronological order with the assigned Senate Bill Number and Title. 100.5 linear feet
Collection of photographs,articles and information documenting the life of the Cuban-Born Cartoonist Abril Lamarque. More information can be found at the Smithsonian Institution.
Mana-Zucca (born Gussie Zuckermann) was an internationally known pianist and composer. The collection was donated to FIU by Leslie Cassel an FIU alumna and widow of Marvin Cassel.
Mana-Zucca was born in New York on December 25, 1894. She was a child prodigy who by age eight had played with the New York Symphony Orchestra. After studying with the great music teachers in New York and Europe she performed in Russia, Germany, France, Holland and England. Her early training included voice lessons and in addition to her career as a concert pianist, she successfully starred in several musical comedies, appearing on Broadway with Clifton Webb.
The collection consists of handwritten and published scores, full original orchestration of her works, including operas and marches, records, and diaries. Much of her life is documented in an extensive collection of scrapbooks and photo albums. Mana-Zucca was one of the most photographed women of the time, and many of the photographs are with her son Marwin, late husband of the donor, Leslie Cassel.
The images in the collection will be digitized and become part of the FIU’s contribution to the PALMM cooperative digital data. Approximately 75 linear feet.
Marrero Manuscripts Collection
Levi Marrero the premier Cuban historian deposited his research collection to FIU. In addition to bound volumes of the documents, he used to write his history we received his papers and publication materials. This collection will need to be sorted prior to cataloging.
60 bound documents (listed and indexed)
28 linear feet (approx 400 items)
Cuban historian Levi Marrero author of a multi-volume History of Cuba donated a large manuscript collection of the documents used to write his history. In addition he donated other research materials, items selected for inclusion in his books and correspondence. This archive represents his personal papers donated to FIU. 13.5 linear feet
The index to the Marrero Manuscripts is housed in Special Collections. the archival records of Dr. Levi Marrero including photo reproductions and transcriptions from the Archivo de Indias in Seville, Spain
The film festival founded in 1984 and now under the administrative auspices of FIU has made a rich cultural contribution to the City of Miami. These records cover the history and programming of the festival from its foundation to its incorporation with FIU. 31.5 linear feet
Miscellaneous ms. Items previously in the museum’s collection. No main focus, letter, deed, some rare documents, and letters.
50 items
J. Floyd Monk Cedar Key Archive Collection
Pre-Colombian Artifacts from Colombia 18 figures
The University Archives of Florida International University is grateful to the family of Ralph Renick for the donation of his papers
Ralph Renick was born in New York City in 1928 and at the age of twelve he moved with his mother and two brother to Miami.
WTVJ signed on March 21, 1949 at 7 p.m. as Florida’s first TV station and only the 16th in the United States. A year later Ralph Renick joined the station as it’s first TV news anchor. There aren’t many Floridians who can claim to remember WTVJ before Renick, fewer that 2,000 people were able to see the station on opening night. On September 2, 1957 Ralph Renick pioneered the introduction of the country’s first daily television editorial. During his time at WTVJ he wrote and aired more that 4,800 of his “Tonight’s Editorial”. “The Ralph Renick Report”, WTVJ’s weekday six o’clock news program had the distinction of being the nation’s longest continuous running TV. Ralph Renick left his job at WTVJ, in 1985, to run for Governor of Florida as a Democrat. He withdrew six months later after spending $100,000 of his own money, saying he did not have a taste for politics. He returned to television as a commentator for WCIX in Miami in 1988 and retired in September 1990. Ralph Renick died on July 11, 1991.
33 linear feet.
Documents relating to the political parties of Puerto Rico with emphasis on the political activities during the 1970’s - 1980’s. 3 linear feet
South Florida Nursing Association Collection
A significant collection of original works, papers, monographs, maps, and other material relating to the environmental history of Florida Bay and adjacent areas from one of the best known and widely cited researchers in the region.
Monographs – 38 titles (some titles may have NOTIS records)
Manuscript material – 12 linear feet. (Approx)
Collection of music CDs, original artwork, photographs and books all relating to Brazil and its culture.
The University Archives serves as the depository of the official records relating to the founding, development of and future plans for Florida International University. The archives collect documents and items of historical value from the administrative offices of the University’s president, vice-presidents, deans, faculty, student organizations and alumni. Records of the academic and administrative divisions of the university may include memos, committee minutes, departmental self-studies, photographs, video productions, flyers, posters, master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.
The Archives are arranged by Administrative Department and each division is assigned a Record Group Number. Each item, report or document is inventoried and filed by the assigned number, and these records collectively represent the history of each division/department.
These are all public documents and are available to researchers interested in the history and growth of FIU.
To complement the holding of the University Archives we have received the:
Papers of President Charles Perry
the founding president of FIU. This collection includes this personal papers as well as his records of the years spent building the University. 45 linear feet
Papers of President Gregory Wolfe
This collection is still being donated and will complement the collection of Charles Perry 6 linear feet
Dr. Jan Tucker, (FIU, Dept of Education) the principal professor of the Global Awareness Program at FIU. This international approach to education, including the major conference on the Caribbean is included. Dr. Tucker’s work with the Dade County School system is included as is his other projects with the School of Education. 51 linear feet
Abril Lamarque Collection
The Mana-Zucca Collection
Levi Marrero Manuscripts Collection
Levi Marrero Archives
Miami Film Festival
Miami Metropolitan Museum
J. Floyd Monk Cedar Key Archive Collection
Nardin Collection
The Papers of Ralph Renick
William Rios Collection
Carlos Ripoll (In Process)
South Florida Nursing Association
Durbin C. Tabb Collection
Sheila Thomson (In Process)
University Archives
Papers of President Charles Perry
Papers of President Gregory Wolfe
The Papers of Dr. Jan Tucker
George Wise (In Process)
