Research Paper Topic

During this class, we have studied the development of Winter Park, focusing on racial division and division of the town based on class status. The tour that we took also focused on the development of Hannibal Square, an area of low economic status in Winter Park. For my research paper, I plan to examine the other side of the spectrum, the side of development of the wealthy community. I plan to examine the early businesses designed to draw in the wealthy, as well as how wealthy communities were built for the rich. Through these two topics, I will see how these businesses and communities have impacted the economy, as well as whether or not it succeeded as a resort for the wealthy.

Research Paper

I would like to have my research paper focus on the massive industrialization that has changed Winter Park, and had turned it in to the magnificent city it is today. On of the most important figures of that aspect is the businessman Colonel Franklin Fairbanks. Fairbanks came to Winter Park in the early 19^th century and contributed a lot to the founding of Rollins College. Fairbanks was even one of the first trustees of the College. I hope to learn more about one of the most influential people in Winter Park at the 19^th century. Due to the fact that we have studied much about the white wealthy northern citizens of the United States, that had immigrated to Winter Park in order to escape the cold winter they suffered from at their home state, Fairbanks exemplifies those same people that built the city of Winter Park and enjoyed it to the fullest. It is nice to connect the class material in a more focused and intimate way.

Research Paper

For my research paper I want to focus on the influential persons who helped set up Winter Park but most notablely those fromt he north who were conducting business in Winter Park or who helped establish winter park as the vibrant community it is today. I wanna discuss what brought them to the Winter Park area such as Flagler and his railroad that he was building through Winter Park ect. Besides discussing the individuals themselves and their business interests I wanna look at the other side of the winter park community the historically African American side of the community and want investigate what businesses were being started there and their impact on the community and how the labor from this side of town helped shape the business climate today. In addition to the African American perspective of the development of business in Winter Park I want to examine why winter park in the first place has been a place conducive to a business climate and when that climate started to develop.

Research Topic

I would like to choose the influence of founders in Winter Park as my research topic. Loring Augusta Chase and Oliver Everette Chapman both are the founders of Winter Park. They built this village and changed it forever. They not only built this village, but also developed it very well. Although Oliver sold his property in here after several years, he still helped a lot to make Winter Park become a center around Orlando, even Florida. At the same time, Mr. Chase still worked on constructing Winter Park as a nice place for people living. They built houses, hotel, churches, school, and parks. After those public services setting up, they built train depot, which still uses today. Winter Park had a population of 600, while Orlando’s population was 4,500. Also, our Rollins College was built at that period. It is important to know the founder of our village, because it absolutely the milepost in its history.

Winter Park Research Paper Topic

For the research paper on Winter Park's development during the Gilded Age, I will be addressing the changes in artistic styles (architecturally and visually) during the era. Areas of interest would be architectural and visual art development due to influences from the economic, point of origin, and social standpoints of residents and visitors alike. Cultural influences also play a large role in artistic development, acting like an imprint of Winter Park's history. Largely influencing parties will show a larger imprint, and thus researching the artistic development will all in all shadow cultural development. Being an artistically refined city, the development of art I feel will make a fascinating topic of research.

Development of Business in Winter Park

For this research paper, I have decided to talk about the development of economy in Winter Park. Since the city was built because of people's who had good economic status, economy was a key factor in the development of winter park itself. I will discuss the economic status and the emergence of business in Winter Park in the 1890's. I will also discuss how Winter Park was an attraction to wealthy people and how they started their businesses and investments in it. Being a new city that has a good geographic location and a lot of agriculture helped many of business owners helped developing the city in a way or another. I will also talk about how the economic income from tourism in Winter Park contributed in developing the city.

Winter Park Research Topic

For my research paper, I would like to address the topic of Winter Park's historical sites. Specifically the history and present information on such sites as the Rollins College itself, the different historical hotels and buildings within Winter Park. I'd also like to address how and why they were built, including by whom and how and if they were restored and renovated to keep part of the old Winter Park of the 19th century alive in present day. Some examples of the historical sites I want to research are the Casa Feliz Historic House, Hannibal Square and the All Saints Episcopal Church. There are more buildings that I will research, but this is just a staring point.

development of each side of winter park

For my paper I have decided to research the development of Winter Parks landscape. I will go into detail about how the development was different between the side of town where the wealthy, white people lived and the poor, african american people lived. Also, the outcome of each side of the town today and which one developed more in their own way. I thought this would be an interesting topic to write about because each side of town developed tremendously through the Guilded Age but in different ways. I can also talk about why people chose to live in one side of town rather than the other. Every part of town has changed for the better but I thought it would be resourceful to show where they started out and how they got to where they are today.

RCC Research Paper Topic

The topic I have chosen for my research paper is: “The development of Winter Park in the Gilded Age in relation to tourism in the era.” I think that this will be an interesting topic to talk about because the topic poses many facets of which I can discuss. I can discuss the very beginnings of tourism to Winter Park, and how tourism progressed in the 1890s until the turn of the century. I can discuss why Winter Park attracted tourists: what appealed to tourists. Who came down to Winter Park (“Snowbirds” for example) represents another aspect of my topic. I can bring up Rollins College’s influence on tourism and how the college attracted people to Winter Park. I can discuss the influence or lack thereof that possible tourism in cities near Winter Park had on Winter Park in the Gilded Age. I discuss origins of the town’s name “Winter Park” (why the town was named this). Winter Park’s Gilded Age hotels, restaurants, shops, and other services pose as subjects for discussion in addition. I can talk about both sides of the tourism issue in regards to the tourists and the workers. I can discuss how African-Americans came to Winter Park in this era to construct and work in Winter Park’s tourist establishments. Furthermore, I can discuss how tourists progressed from staying in hotels to actually acquiring property in Winter Park and how this contributed to the growth of Winter Park.

    There are many subjects to touch upon when discussing Winter Park. At first I thought about doing my research paper on the racial history of Winter Park, but then I decided to do it on the landscape of Winter Park. There is so much to be explored on the topic of Winter Park's landscape. For one thing, Winter Park was once unoccupied before the 1850s, so in my research paper I would discuss the development of homes and businesses in Winter Park. I could also talk about the development of the railroad. I could link these topics with how these developments influenced the inflow of residents, residential life and attractors. I could also discuss the introduction of orange trees, which had not been there before, to the Winter Park area.

Research Winter Park's Development through a focus on Rollins College

The research paper, based on the 1890’s and the development of cities, I plan on writing will focus on Rollins College and its contribution to the development of Winter Park, FL. Rollins college played a large role in the founding of Winter Park, not only because of its student population bolstering the surrounding city economy but also fostering the social standards for an educated, faithful, and high achieving community of individuals. I can, with this topic, explore why this college appealed to community, how its been built to its standard that it is held to today. I personally want to explore this topic because I know very little about the founding of Winter Park and its development or how Rollins college played a part in that process. Since I am a part of this community I feel a responsibility and a duty to learn and explore the history of this amazing community and how it contributed to the Guilded Age of America.

Research Paper

When looking for a research topic I knew I wanted to do a specific person who impacted Rollins & Winter Park. George Morgan Ward seemed to be the perfect candidate. His life had many ups and downs, which are particularly interesting to me and what I would like to research. He became the President & Professor of economics at Rollins college, but there was another job Rollins gave him that he was not aware of, and this was called debt. He recalls, “They told me in the north that Rollins College did not owe any money. Well, I reckon it didn’t. But the Trustees owed $5,000.” His dedication and work for the school as well as the community was truly an inspiration, and this is why he is my research papers main focus.

George Morgan Ward

For my research paper I will be focusing on George Morgan Ward. I have chosen to focus on his impact on the town of Winter Park and Rollins College because of the loyalty he has shown to the community. Ward selected to put his skills to work at Rollins, even after he was offered numerous other jobs, which were higher paying. I will also be addressing the impact of the Big Freeze of 1885 and how Ward attempted to combat it's negative effects on Florida and Rollins and Winter Park more specifically. I have also selected to do further research on Ward because I after walking through Winter Park and Rollins it is clear that he played a key role in the development of the town and college because numerous buildings have been named after him. Also myself living in Ward Hall just gives me another incentive to learn more about George Morgan Ward.

Winter Park Research Paper

For my research paper on Winter park, I have decided to study an individual who had a lot to do with Winter Park becoming the successful town and community it is today. That individual is named Oliver Everett Chapman and was born in 1851 and died in 1936. Oliver was one of the co-founders of Winter Park itself.

When I started researching individuals that played a major role in the creation and maintenance of winter Park, Oliver stood out the most, being the founder of the town. I also found him to be quite interesting as a human being. He grew up in Massachusetts, which stood out to me as well because I am from Connecticut, so very close to where he grew up. Oliver first moved to Florida because of an illness in his family. While living in Florida, Chapmen met Loring A. Chase, who would become one of his very close friends and major contributor to the founding of Winter Park. While living in Florida, the two friends decided to start a real estate company (Winter Park land Company) which then led to the idea of starting a new town called Winter Park, based on the fact that Chase believed it was the warm weather that helped his health and that the area in which he wanted to develop would be an ideal winter community, hence where the name Winter Park originated.

Overall, Oliver’s story sounded interesting and I am looking forward to learning more in detail of how Winter Park came to be.

Research Paper

For my research paper, I would like to examine the physical renovation of Winter Park in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a focus on the 1890s. I am planning to compare and contrast the buildings in Winter Park before and after renovations took place in the 1890s. I would also like to research specific builders and thier reception among the community. Furthermore, I think it would be interesting to research the buildings that remain today, some having never been renovated, and find the reason for either acceptance or resistance of the updates in Winter Park.

Research Paper Topic: Economy

During the Gilded Age, Winter Park became a very significant city. Many people, places, and things in the Winter Park area prospered and life was very easy. For my research paper, I have chosen to write about the economy of Winter Park. Due to the location, influential people, and available resources in Winter Park, the economy has been very essential to Winter Park’s success. Without this influence, Winter Park would cease to exist.

Gilded Age Architecture- Winter Park

The topic I have picked for my research paper is architecture in Winter Park in the late nineteenth century. A prime example of the United States during the Gilded Age, Winter Park offers many examples of growing architectural trends throughout America that started in the 1880‘s. I am choosing this direction because I have a strong interest in architecture, particularly the Gilded Age. Having grown up in Rhode Island close to Newport, a famous Gilded Age town, I am aware of the many architectural styles seen in the late nineteenth century. Many of these styles entail lavish details on grand mansions found on the wealthy side of town. As we have already learned in this class, during the transformation from an agricultural to an industrial society, Americans changed from producers to consumers. This age represented acquiring as many material goods as possible to symbolize one’s wealth and elite social status. Estates and mansions are one of the highlighted examples of these “consumed goods” during the 1880’s and 1890’s. I plan to look into how the architectural trends and details represented the change for Americans to a consumer society. To do this, I will research Winter Park architectural history in relation to the Gilded Age, along with gathering information back home in Newport for additional support. It should be a very interesting project.

Research Paper Topic: Landmarks of Winter Park

In my research paper, I aim to focus on Winter Park’s physical characteristics. More specifically, I want to address what specific physical landmarks mean for Winter Park in terms of the divides they created, the groups or events which they symbolized, and the overall economic as well as cultural changes which were brought about. In doing this, I will be addressing both historical facts from the 1890s while also discussing their impacts on the modern Winter Park which we know in the present day.

The Founding Fathers of Winter Park

I will be doing my research paper on two of the founding fathers of Winter Park, Oliver Everett Chapman and Loring A. Chase and their families. These men came to Florida to develop the land and as a result created a thriving community, which we now have today. Their story is interesting and impressive as the tackled the harsh Florida Climate before it was touched by any industrialization.

Consumption in the 1890's

In the early 19th century there was a great industrialization movement that began. Big corporations began to rise and the term "monopolies" became a very common one. The big businesses that had started urged many citizens to immigrate to the big cities and the nearer areas in order to take part of the massive industrialization. There was the need for skilled workers to operate a product that was produced, due to the industrialization in America, in high quantities in less time and money. Thus, the era of consumerism began. With the big city life, the many shops and restaurants and theaters, people started spending more money on many things they would not have spent it on in the past. Leisure was the popular term of that time. Before this, people worked in self-sufficient jobs; they consumed the product that they produced. However, in the beginning of the consumption era, people became aware of the amazing lifestyle they can strive for. This image of an 1890's hotel in Winter Park shows exactly what people were interested in spending their money on at that time. Men and women dressed nicely, loafing around carelessly- seems very peaceful and leisurely. This image is the perfect example of the lifestyle that was captured in the time of consumption. People based their money spending decisions, not only on what they needed but also what they wanted, what satisfied their pleasure and not only what was necessary. This concept was life changing; the economy was not only growing on sufficiency but also on what people want- it was a mind boggling concept- to make and spend money on what you want versus what you need.

Consumption in the 1890s

Consumption in the United States increased dramatically as new innovations in labor and factory work rose to the scene. With cheaper, faster labor becomes mass production. With mass production becomes lowered costs. With lowered costs, the poor who were normally not able to purchase nice clothing or products were able to scrap together enough cash to make purchases and feel for the first time a little more like the upper classes. However, in reference to this image, this family is gathered in front of a hotel, and, as it is a large family and all members appear to be in high-quality attire and are, presumably, on a vacation of sorts, I assume this particular family is well to do.

With that being said, even the wealthy presumably showed an increase in consumption with falling prices. Falling prices naturally attracts more consumers, as more people can buy more things, no matter their social class. This family in particular is all very well dressed - an important factor in 1890's consumerism. With falling prices particularly of clothing, just about everyone was in swank clothing and looking their best to prop them up more in the social ladder. Additionally, it is good to note that this family is very large - more people equals higher costs. Regardless, falling prices have made it possible for even the largest of families to do well for themselves.

Finally, I reiterate this family is seated in front of the Guild Hotel, presumably on vacation due to the nature of Winter Park at the time of being a vacation spot. Consumption doesn't have to be material goods to be considered a matter of consumption. Taking off time for vacationing in a hotel - which costs money - is also a flag to the increase in consumerism during the 1890s. The falling prices allowed those who did not have the money to live a life that made them feel as if they were in a better situation than they realistically were; and gave those with the money a less money-conscious mentality.

consumption in 1890's

In the late 1890’s consumption steadily went up and people started to live a leisure life. People started to get more money and work less hours. This period of time the upper class was very very wealthy and the middle class was still really wealthy. People showed their money by the size of their house, then by how many maids they had and lastly of their accessories like clothing and horses. I found this picture of a house in Winter Park which shows the leisure life style these people are living.
In this picture the house is very big which automatically shows that the family is wealthy. The house is not blocked in by buildings like it would be in the city. The house is surrounded by a lot of open land and fields, this shows that it is not worth as much as a house of this size in the city but is still owned by someone that is well off. A house in the country is not as valuable as one in the city but this house is probably a summer home because the majority of the houses in Winter Park back then were for wealthy people up north who did not want to live in the cold in the winter time so they would spend their winters in Florida. Having a house not in the city for a second home was preferred so they could get away and relax.
In this picture you can also notice three young ladies in the front of the house, dressed in white. In the 1890’s the color white symbolized wealth. It is hard to notice but if you look closely to the picture the women look very well kept and their hair is done up nicely which shows their cleanliness. If they were not wealthy they would be dirtier and not well kept. The big house, acreage of land and leisureness of the women out front show that consumption at that time was not scarce.