The Axelson Papers document the family life and professional careers of several members of the McDougal and Axelson families. Materials relating to Mary McDougal Axelson document her life as a political activist and writer. A leader and organizer of political, literary, and women's groups, Axelson participated in the women's club movement, women's suffrage activities, democratic party politics, health reform, and the world peace campaign. She gained a national and international reputation for her work "Life Begins" which appeared in the form of a novel, play and film. Files also document the accomplishments of family members including her parents, Daniel Archibald and Myrtle McDougal, her sister Violet, husband Ivar Axelson and daughter Mary Ivonne Axelson.
Charles Deering was a collector of art and a friend to many notable artists including John Sargeant and Augustus St. Gaudens. Painting, scrulpture, prints, rugs and many other items combined to decorate and furnish the Deering Estate in Florida. He collected a wide range of artwork, and the Print Department of the Art Institute of Chicago received his fine collection.
This collection currently contains several exhibit catalogs, mainly from the Sofía Ímber Contemporary Art Museum of Caracas (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas Sofía Ímber), DVDs featuring interviews with Sofía Ímber and covering famous Venezuelan and international artists, politicians, and writers, CD-Rs, a collection of fliers from local photography exhibitions in Coral Gables, newspaper clippings of articles either about or by Sofía Ímber or Guillermo Meneses, oversized exhibit posters, and digital correspondence and photographs stored in external hard-drives.
There will be further ongoing accruals to this collection.
George A. Smathers (1913–2007) was an American lawyer and member of the Democratic Party who represented Florida in the United States Senate from 1951 until 1969. The collection contains original photographs of Senator Smathers with friends, family, and colleagues.
The Dante B. Fascell Congressional Papers contain legislative documents, government administrative records, periodicals, correspondence, photographs, film, video tapes, sound recordings, and memorabilia, all documenting 38 years of his involvement in United States politics. The collection also represents a unique resource for study and research relating to the history of South Florida from 1955-1993. Topics of research include American legislative history, Dante B. Fascell's committee assignments, Florida projects, the growth and development of South Florida, the impact of foreign affairs and international relations on the United States, and United States relations with Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua.