The Lawrence E. Will Museum, owned by
the City of Belle Glade and operated by the Palm Beach County
Library District, is housed in an integrated addition to the
Belle Glade Branch Library.
History:
The museum was founded as part of the
National Bicentennial Year Celebration in 1976. The Museum was
built with local donations to the Bicentennial Program. Mr.
Will’s father, Dr. Thomas E. Will, was a pioneer in the settlement
and development of the upper Everglades. Mr. Will followed him
with a varied career in agriculture, land development,
merchandising, and land and water transportation. These
personal experiences were the basis of Mr. Will’s five books
chronicling Lake Okeechobee and the upper Everglades.
Museum Holdings:
The Museum’s holdings
are purely local, essentially items representing the upper “Glades”
area embracing the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. The
Museum may be the only one located in, and dedicated to, an organic
soil area. The holdings are intended to serve as a resource
base for educational programs for Glades-area students and adults
and for non-resident students, adult visitors and bona-fide
historical scholars. |
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Purpose:
The Museum’s mission is to collect,
conserve, display, and organize - for educational and research goals
- the artifacts, memorabilia, photographic, and written records
pertinent to this unique organic-soil, sub-tropical region adjacent
to Lake Okeechobee and the upper Everglades.
Permanent Exhibits:
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Photographic displays depicting
the 1933-34, 1977 “digs” in the Indian habitation mound in
Chosen.
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Glass-cased display of artifacts
from the 1977 “dig”.
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Glass-cased displays of bone,
shell, stone, wooden, and metal artifacts from several periods.
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Panel display recounting the catastrophic 1928 hurricane.
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A diorama with narration depicting
a Seminole Indian village in the Everglades.
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A diorama with narration depicting
"Belle Glade - Chosen townsites in the early 1900's."
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Billy Bowlegs exhibit featuring the Ann Tyler mural setting for a
tunic presented to Mr. Will by Seminole Chief Billy Bowlegs II.
Collections:
Permanent exhibit items including
privately-owned artifacts on loan.
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Mr. Will’s sorted and unsorted
notes, writings, records, maps and charts.
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Incomplete runs of The
Everglades News, New Philosophy, Glades Observer, Pahokee Observer, Pahokee News, Belle Glade
News, The Herald, The Belle Glade Herald, and The
Herald Observer from 1924 to 1965.
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Miscellaneous writings, reports,
photographs, and paintings with some items dating back to the
turn of the century.
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An antiquated telephone switchboard
from the Belle Glade exchange.
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Furnishings and other items from
Fear’s Hotel.
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Movie film recorded during the
early agricultural development of the upper “Glades”.
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Loan Exhibits:
Traveling exhibits that complement
the Museum’s purpose are mounted when available.
Currently On Loan:
“On the Season”; a chronicle of
the seasonal and permanent black migration from Florida to New York
State. This exhibit was created by and on loan from the Oneida County
Historical Society, Utica, New York.
Educational Programs:
The Museum considers local students -
grade school, high school, and community college - as its primary
clientele and provides them with the opportunity to learn local
history. The Museum provides similar opportunity to adults and
special groups. A slide narration, A History of the
Everglades, is available on request for group showings,
in-Museum and off-site.
Governance and Management:
The Belle Glade Branch Library is under
long-term lease to the Palm Beach County Library District.
Artifacts and documents are loaned to the District for display under
separate agreement. Palm Beach County Library staff conduct the
Museum’s daily operations: opening and closing, providing general
information, guiding student tours, assisting visitors, and general
custodial functions. The Belle Glade Museum Board was established by
City Commission resolution and operates through the City Manager.
Museum Board Members and library volunteers maintain and develop displays and
exhibits, assist researchers, and perform curatorial functions.
Availability to the Public:
Museum hours conform to the operating
hours of the Library. Guided tours may be arranged. Research
materials may be available for in-museum use on advance request.
A staff member is available every Wednesday to assist researchers.
Please contact Library staff at (561) 996-3453, or the Museum Board
at (561) 996-0100, ext. 601. |
