The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society Presents
“Debunking the Pocahontas Myth”
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (February, 17 2014) – Forget everything you know about the
mythical story of Pocahontas and learn about the real woman and her real home –
Florida.
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society presents “Debunking the Pocahontas Myth”
on Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m. at The New River Inn. The lecture features author
Mae Silver and Merrilyn C. Rathbun, Research Director at the Fort Lauderdale
History Center.
The real Pocahontas, her name lost to history, was the daughter of the chief of a
Native American tribe near Tampa. The chief, who had developed a fierce hatred
of the Spanish because of their brutal treatment of Native Americans, captured and
threatened to kill Juan Ortiz, a Spanish explorer, until his daughter persuaded him
not too. All this happened in 1528, almost 100 years before the Pocahontas story
allegedly took place.
“Historians think it got picked-up and translated into the myth about Pocahontas,”
said Silver. “The story just wove its way up the East Coast.”
Silver will use the story of Pocahontas as a metaphor to talk about some more recent
women, part of Fort Lauderdale’s history, who shared the same fate – their stories
distorted, discarded, or dismissed.
Three of the women – Florence Hardy, Mary Brickell and Eula Johnson – are
included in her book, Too Hot Too Hide.
“All these women were positive contributors to the development of Fort Lauderdale.
I don’t get why they’re so often left out of our local history,” said Silver.
Florence Hardy, Fort Lauderdale’s First Female City Clerk
Florence Hardy, the first female city clerk of Fort Lauderdale, was renowned for
providing information to anyone in the city, regardless of their political beliefs or
affiliations. Many years ago, her peers had a plaque installed at the old city hall in
her honor. Recently, that plaque was found, restored and Fort Lauderdale Historical
Society members will display it in a place befitting Hardy’s legacy.
Mary Brickell, Land Owner
Mary Brickell and her husband, William, donated large tracks of their land to
Henry Flagler so he could build his Florida East Coast Railroad. In exchange, Flagler
agreed to build a train station in Fort Lauderdale – where the current Tarpon Bend
restaurant is located. The station directly contributed to the growth of the city.
“Back then, having a railroad station made you a boomtown. You don’t have to be
Warren Buffet to understand that,” said Silver.
Eula Johnson, First Female President of the NAACP
Eula Johnson was instrumental in desegregating Fort Lauderdale and served as the
first woman president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People. At great personal risk, Johnson led demonstrations and organized members
of the African American community in Fort Lauderdale. “She was so brave. In my
book, I refer to her as the Black Joan of Arc,” aid Silver. “She was an extremely
important person in desegregating Fort Lauderdale. She was an incredible force.”
The New River Inn is located at 219 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Mae Silver
A longtime member of the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club and the Friends of the
Broward County Libraries, Mae Silver is the author of nine books and many media
articles. She is new to the area but brings 20 years of experience writing about Fort
Lauderdale’s history, something many say doesn’t exist. But thanks to the efforts of
historians like Mae, the early days of the “Venice of Florida” are well documented. Part
of that documentation includes the stories of women of many colors, who helped shape
the Fort Lauderdale that exists today. When people wonder where she gets all her
information, Mae usually replies, “I am just curious and I have a big nose that is nosy. I
ask questions. Most people love to talk about history, I just ask and listen.”
Merrilyn C. Rathbun
Originally from upstate New York, Merrilyn C. Rathbun moved to Fort Lauderdale
in 1968 and studied printmaking at Florida Atlantic University from 1973 to 1977.
She first worked for the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society as a museum attendant
from 1979 to 1980 and as a research assistant in 1997. In 2000, she became the
Director of Research Services for the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and took
over management of the society’s contract with the City of Fort Lauderdale Historic
Preservation Board – positions she still holds today.
To RSVP for this FREE event, email education@fortlauderdalehistorycenter.org
or call 954-463-4431. To learn more about events and programming at the Fort
Lauderdale Historical Society, visit www.fortlauderdalehistoricalsociety.org
Back to Announcements index
mythical story of Pocahontas and learn about the real woman and her real home –
Florida.
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society presents “Debunking the Pocahontas Myth”
on Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m. at The New River Inn. The lecture features author
Mae Silver and Merrilyn C. Rathbun, Research Director at the Fort Lauderdale
History Center.
The real Pocahontas, her name lost to history, was the daughter of the chief of a
Native American tribe near Tampa. The chief, who had developed a fierce hatred
of the Spanish because of their brutal treatment of Native Americans, captured and
threatened to kill Juan Ortiz, a Spanish explorer, until his daughter persuaded him
not too. All this happened in 1528, almost 100 years before the Pocahontas story
allegedly took place.
“Historians think it got picked-up and translated into the myth about Pocahontas,”
said Silver. “The story just wove its way up the East Coast.”
Silver will use the story of Pocahontas as a metaphor to talk about some more recent
women, part of Fort Lauderdale’s history, who shared the same fate – their stories
distorted, discarded, or dismissed.
Three of the women – Florence Hardy, Mary Brickell and Eula Johnson – are
included in her book, Too Hot Too Hide.
“All these women were positive contributors to the development of Fort Lauderdale.
I don’t get why they’re so often left out of our local history,” said Silver.
Florence Hardy, Fort Lauderdale’s First Female City Clerk
Florence Hardy, the first female city clerk of Fort Lauderdale, was renowned for
providing information to anyone in the city, regardless of their political beliefs or
affiliations. Many years ago, her peers had a plaque installed at the old city hall in
her honor. Recently, that plaque was found, restored and Fort Lauderdale Historical
Society members will display it in a place befitting Hardy’s legacy.
Mary Brickell, Land Owner
Mary Brickell and her husband, William, donated large tracks of their land to
Henry Flagler so he could build his Florida East Coast Railroad. In exchange, Flagler
agreed to build a train station in Fort Lauderdale – where the current Tarpon Bend
restaurant is located. The station directly contributed to the growth of the city.
“Back then, having a railroad station made you a boomtown. You don’t have to be
Warren Buffet to understand that,” said Silver.
Eula Johnson, First Female President of the NAACP
Eula Johnson was instrumental in desegregating Fort Lauderdale and served as the
first woman president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People. At great personal risk, Johnson led demonstrations and organized members
of the African American community in Fort Lauderdale. “She was so brave. In my
book, I refer to her as the Black Joan of Arc,” aid Silver. “She was an extremely
important person in desegregating Fort Lauderdale. She was an incredible force.”
The New River Inn is located at 219 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Mae Silver
A longtime member of the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club and the Friends of the
Broward County Libraries, Mae Silver is the author of nine books and many media
articles. She is new to the area but brings 20 years of experience writing about Fort
Lauderdale’s history, something many say doesn’t exist. But thanks to the efforts of
historians like Mae, the early days of the “Venice of Florida” are well documented. Part
of that documentation includes the stories of women of many colors, who helped shape
the Fort Lauderdale that exists today. When people wonder where she gets all her
information, Mae usually replies, “I am just curious and I have a big nose that is nosy. I
ask questions. Most people love to talk about history, I just ask and listen.”
Merrilyn C. Rathbun
Originally from upstate New York, Merrilyn C. Rathbun moved to Fort Lauderdale
in 1968 and studied printmaking at Florida Atlantic University from 1973 to 1977.
She first worked for the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society as a museum attendant
from 1979 to 1980 and as a research assistant in 1997. In 2000, she became the
Director of Research Services for the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and took
over management of the society’s contract with the City of Fort Lauderdale Historic
Preservation Board – positions she still holds today.
To RSVP for this FREE event, email education@fortlauderdalehistorycenter.org
or call 954-463-4431. To learn more about events and programming at the Fort
Lauderdale Historical Society, visit www.fortlauderdalehistoricalsociety.org
Back to Announcements index