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Record Group Number: 900000
Series/Collection Number: N2018- 12
Creator: Wilhelm, John,
Title, Dates: The Florida Outdoorsman records, 1938-1974,
Amount: 2.25 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement: Arranged by record type (paper records, photographs, reels).
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:     In 1964, renowned sports and outdoors writer John L. Wilhelm from Manatee County proposed an outdoor recreation promotional program to the Florida Development Commission, which was responsible for promoting tourism and economic development in the state. The next year, the Florida Development Commission established Florida Outdoorsman, Inc. to promote outdoor recreation in Florida through guided hunting and fishing trips for invited guests such as writers, photographers, journalists and broadcasters. The Commission furnished a vehicle, trailer and equipment for the guides, and paid for all associated travel and accommodations of the guests. The Commission contracted Wilhelm to administer the program and hired a photographer to accompany him.

    John Lenhart Wilhelm was born in Bradenton, Florida in 1907. Prior to his work with the Florida Development Commission, Wilhelm was a sailor and boating enthusiast. He served in the Navy during World War II, and after returning to Florida, he organized and participated in local regattas, or boat races, and served as commodore of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club in 1950. He also managed his family's funeral home until 1962. Wilhelm served as the official Florida Outdoorsman from the program's inception until his retirement in 1970. He died in 1979 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Summary:     This collection documents John L. Wilhelm's involvement with the Florida Outdoorsman program. It contains photographs of fishing, boating, camping and hunting trips; correspondence with the Florida Development Commission and its successor agency the Division of Commercial Development regarding the program; news releases; eights audio reels and nine video reels. Through personal correspondence, the collection also documents Wilhelm's boating interest.
Finding Aids: Folder listing avilable. 0
Additional Physical Form:
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Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields: Boats and boating Florida
Camping Florida.
Fishing Florida
Hunting Florida
Outdoor recreation Florida
Letters. aat
Negatives. aat
Photographs. aat
Slides. aat
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