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Arranged by topic (Florida Folk Festival; nomination for Agricultural Hall of Fame); therein Folk Festival materials are chronological by date.
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Biographical/Historical:
John Lavelle McMullen (1914-2007) was active in civic affairs, agriculture, and folklife activities in North Florida. He was born near Wellborn, Suwannee County, Florida, on January 12, 1914. While attending Jasper High School (Class of 1932), he was active in the 4-H Club, varsity sports, and oratory and assisted on the family farm. He was appointed deputy clerk with the Circuit Court effective January 5, 1933 and elected clerk in 1936, serving until 1949.
McMullen chaired the local forestry committee for several years and planted and harvested timber for over 50 years. In 1939 he co-chaired a committee of Florida Jaycees that established Florida's first Welcome Station, providing free orange juice to incoming tourists. This project led to legislation creating the system of Florida Welcome Stations.
In 1945, McMullen founded McMullen Food Bank, Inc., and established North Florida's first freezer locker system to provide local farmers with facilities to process, freeze, and store their homegrown meats and vegetables. He added a freezing and canning plant to process local grown vegetables for sale through leading food stores, and his "White Acre" trademark became nationally recognized. In 1987, McMullen co-founded the Suwannee River Valley Growers Association, a five-county non-profit organization supporting formation of cooperatives to further members' interest in agricultural production and sales.
In addition to his agricultural pursuits, McMullen actively promoted Florida folklife activities. He was co-founder in 1952, and president from 1952 to 1956, of the Florida Folk Festival Association, the organization which was instrumental in successfully establishing the annual Florida Folk Festival, and he maintained his interest in the Folk Festival until his death in 2007.
Summary:
This collection consists of correspondence, newspaper articles, and publicity materials mostly relating to J. L. McMullen's role in the founding and early years of the Florida Folk Festival and planned Festival events in the 1990s. Included is an original program from the first "All Florida Folk Festival" in 1953 listing McMullen as President giving introductory remarks, and a transcript of opening remarks made by McMullen at the 45th annual Folk Festival in 1997l. The collection also includes copies of biographical materials, correspondence, and articles supporting or related to McMullen's 1989 nomination for the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame.
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Agriculture Florida Folklife.
Clippings. aat Programs. aat
Florida Folk Festival
for detailed listing.