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State Archives of Florida Online Catalog

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	Record Group Number:	900000
	Series/Collection Number:	N2022- 10
	Creator:	Avellanal, Jos� Ram�n 1869-1927
	Title, Dates:	Avellanal family photographs, n.d.
	Amount:	1 folders
	Medium Included:	Photographs.
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	Biographical/Historical:	Born on October 3, 1903 to Concepcion Jimenez and Dr. Jose Ramon Avellanal, Jose Luis Avellanal was a native as well as a longtime resident and well-known figure in Ybor City, Florida, located in the greater Tampa Bay area. By all accounts a problem child, uncorroborated stories from Jose Luis' childhood include his creation of a homemade electric chair and shooting out the eye of another boy with his BB gun. His parents' discipline nor a military school in Georgia that he was possibly sent to could correct his behavior. By the time he returned to Ybor City, he took up residence at El Pasaje Hotel where he dubiously claimed to a gynecologist and plastic surgeon (with medical degrees obtained from Cuba) while he simultaneously attempted to publish articles on the resurrection of dead bodies, while also conducting early experiments in cryogenics. He founded Southern University in Ybor City, which offered degrees but no courses. Soon thereafter, the university's charter was revoked on the grounds of it being a diploma mill. He also founded Legion de Honor de la Republica de Cuba which bestowed honors on various political figures in Latin America, which earned him influence in those countries. One such visit to Mexico supposedly had him granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant General, and so he was often known to appear at public events in Ybor City to dress up in the full uniform and regality he was provided with this "rank". Later in his life, he led efforts to preserve the El Pasaje Hotel building, which earned him a preservation award from U.S. Senator Richard Stone. He was friends and business partners with "Prince" Alexis N. Gagarin, another well-known figure in the Tampa Bay area. Mr. Gagarin has his own photographic collection here in the Florida States Archives as well.
	Summary:	Contains one folder that holds glass negatives, negatives, a film reel, and some prints. These materials documents Jose's personal life in and around Ybor City, Florida, mainly showing him among friends and family. One such negative appears to show himself dressed in his regality from the rank bestowed upon him in Mexico.
	Finding Aids:	Box listing available
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	Ownership/Custodial History:	Records previously housed within the University of South Florida Libraries - Tampa Special Collections. That repository deaccessioned these materials and transferred them to the State Archives.
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	Subject Access Fields:	Avellanal, Jos� Ram�n 1869-1927 Avellanal, Jos� Ram�n Stone, Richard, 1928-2019 Community colleges Florida Historic sites Florida Historic buildings Florida. Historic preservation Florida --Tallahassee Photographs. aat Ybor City (Tampa, Fla.) Hillsborough County (Fla.) Tampa (Fla.)
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