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Director Fran Mainella's administrative files, 1989-2001 (bulk 1992-1999)
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16.5 cubic ft.
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Arranged by subject
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Biographical/Historical:
The Florida Park Service (FPS) was originally created in 1935 as the Board of Parks and Historic Memorials (Chapter 17025, Laws of Florida) and administered within the Board of Forestry. The Park Service's first eight parks were designed and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1949, the Park Service became an independent agency, the Board of Parks and Historic Memorials (Ch. 25353, Laws). Its purpose was to administer and control the operation and development of the state parks and historic sites of Florida. In 1969, the Board was merged with the Outdoor Recreational Development Council (Ch. 63-36, Laws) to form the Division of Recreation and Parks (Ch. 69-106, Laws) under the Department of Natural Resources. The Division eventually moved to the newly created Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1993 (Ch. 93-213, Laws).
The first FPS director was Charles H. Schaeffer, who served in that position from 1935 to 1937. He was followed by H. J. Malsberger (1937-1940) and Lewis Scoggin (1940-1952). After Emmet Hill's tenure (1953-1960), the board saw two more directors -- Walter Coldwell (1960-1963) and N.E. "Bill" Miller (1963-1969) -- before becoming the Division of Recreation and Parks in 1969. That year, Ney Landrum was appointed director by Governor Claude Kirk and served until his retirement in 1989. Joe Knoll served as interim director until the appointment of Fran Mainella.
Fran Mainella was director of the Florida Park Service from 1989 to 2001. Born in 1947 in Willimantic, Connecticut, Mainella began her park career in 1965 as a playground counselor in Groton, Connecticut. She later earned a B.A. in Physical Education (University of Connecticut) and a Master's Degree in Counseling (Central Connecticut State College) before moving to Florida in 1977. In Florida, she worked as a counselor for the Jake Gaither Community Center with the Tallahassee Recreation and Parks Department (1977-1978), as director of the Lake Park Recreation and Parks Department (1978-1983), and as executive director of the Florida Park and Recreation Association (1983-1989). In 1989 Governor Bob Martinez appointed her as FPS director. During her tenure, the position oversaw 155 state parks, 500,000 acres, 1000 employees, and more than 5000 volunteers. During that time, she also served as director of the 23,000-member National Recreation and Park Association and the National Association of State Park Directors. On June 4, 2001 U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Mainella as director of the National Park Service (NPS). The U.S. Senate confirmed her as director on July 12, 2001. She served in that position until her voluntary resignation on October 15, 2006. She then accepted a position as a visiting scholar at Clemson University in November 2006. Fran Mainella was married to the late Florida News Service television reporter Lee Mainella, who passed away in 1999.
Summary:
This series contains the administrative files for Director Fran Mainella, documenting her responsibilities and decisions as Florida Park Service director from 1989 to 2001. Although not complete, the series also documents many of the major issues and activities of the Florida Park Service in the 1990s, including hurricanes, visitor relations, funding (including a major budget shortage in 1992), ecosystems management, public nudity, park expansion, changes in pet policies, a statewide reservation system, creating citizen support organizations, the creation of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and several legal matters. The files also include material on other state and national park organizations such as the Florida Recreation and Park Association, the National Association of Park Directors, Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, the National Park Service, and National Recreation and Park Association.
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Folder listing available. 0
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Associated Materials:
Fran Mainella's oral history (#1114), housed at the Reichelt Oral History Program, Department of History, Florida State University, contains additional information on the background and activities of FPS Director Fran Mainella. See N2003-2 for Lee Mainella's video news broadcasts, which include stories on Fran Mainella and the Florida Park Service.
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Subject Access Fields:
Mainella, Frances P.
Florida Park Service. Florida. Division of Recreation and Parks. Florida. Dept. of Environmental Protection. Florida. Dept. of Natural Resources.
Parks Florida Historic sites Florida Recreation Florida. Outdoor recreation Florida Tourism Florida. Natural resource management areas Florida Natural resources Florida
for detailed listing.