Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Marsha Dean Phelts Interview |
Object Name |
Recording, Audio |
Audio Recording |
Click here to view/hear the file. |
Scope & Content |
Marsha Dean Phelts interview, May 26, 2017, at the museum. Wilma Allen, interviewer Summary Ms. Phelts, born in Jacksonville in 1944, vacationed at American Beach starting as a child. She and her husband, Michael, made their permanent home in American Beach in 1988. A retired librarian in the Jacksonville school system, Marsha is the author of a several books about the beach resort which was founded in 1935 to provide a vacation spot for African-Americans during years of segregation. She has been very involved in the American Beach community and development of the American Beach History Museum. She has also been a generous supporter of the Fernandina Beach and Jacksonville libraries. A delightful public speaker, Marsha won the "golden dolphin" trophy in the 2016 Amelia Island Storytelling Slam Gala sponsored by the Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library. During this interview, Ms. Phelts briefly related information and memories of Her parents and school years in Jacksonville Visiting American Beach in her youth Where she stayed and activities pursued Why American Beach was so unique and important at that time Why she always wanted to make her home in American Beach Why she wrote a book about the history (starts about 25 minutes into recording) American Beach as Amelia Island's first self-contained resort (37 minutes) Difficulties obtaining information - thorough research needed (43 minutes) American Beach after Civil Rights era (50 minutes) Neighbors, Nassau County commission Night Sanders American Beach today and concerns about its future (58 minutes) NOTE: Marsha has written a number of 'must-read' books about American Beach - its history, its houses, cooking and entertaining. To avoid duplication of the material in these terrific books, in this interview I tried to focused less on American Beach history and more on Marsha's impressions of its place in the cultural history of Amelia Island and its citizens from segregation up to today. Times - Union article follows. Published Monday, March 17, 2008 Her space: Marsha Dean Phelts A lot of people know Marsha Dean Phelts from some place or the other - classrooms, book signings, television appearances. The retired librarian has 37 years' experience in Duval County schools and is author of An American Beach for African Americans, which the University Press of Florida published in 1997. Her latest offering is The American Beach Cookbook - 300 pages of traditional and contemporary creations accompanied by vignettes, vintage maps and whimsical photographs. As part of the book launch, Phelts will chat and sign copies her cookbook from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the home of Roslyn Burrough at 4432 Roth Drive S. My earliest memory is . . . Of running across Big Mama's front porch with my big brother, Charles, and my cousin, Lil' Joe. We were told, "Cut out that noise; Poppa is sick." Poppa was my maternal grandfather. I was really young. I was born Jan. 21, 1944, and Poppa died March 20, 1945. At school . . . I played hooky in the first grade because, I didn't have a pencil, and you couldn't come to Mrs. Morrison's room without one. I loved being in spelling bees and in the library. Later, I thrilled at rolling soda water bottles like bowling balls down the dormitory hall . . . Mama always said . . . To me when I complained of my teachers, "when you've got your hand in the lion's mouth, ease it out." Daddy always said . . . "Don't bite the hand that feeds you" and "honesty and truthfulness will carry you a long ways." My last supper would be . . . Seven courses, starting with Martha's Vineyard Clam Chowder, Ambrosia, The Green Derby Restaurant's Garden Salad, Crisp Fried Oysters, Aunt Liza's Seafood Casserole, Shrimp Feta with white rice, Chicken Curry with all the condiments, a pot of Collard Greens, Sylvia's Cracklin Corn Bread, Sweet Potato Pone, My Mama's Mulberry Duby, a sliver of Mango Pie (since I'd be so full by now) and a bottle of I. W. Harper. My most prized possession is . . . My library: books, pictures and papers. I don't like . . . When people try to probe me into making a comment about another person. I drive . . . [A] bright red Corvette, and I don't drive as fast as I used to because I don't see as well as I used to. The best book I've read . . . Without hesitation is A. Philip Randolph: A Biographical Portrait, written in 1972 by Jervis Anderson. Since childhood, Randolph was my hero and the person whose character I modeled. People always tell me . . . That I have beautiful skin. Jacksonville is . . . The charming city that I've always been proud to call my hometown, though I now live on American Beach. When I die, I hope that people will say . . . "She was most dependable." BRANDY HILBOLDT ALLPORT/Times-Union FLORIDA TIMES UNION Article about Marsha, Published Monday, March 17, 2008 Her space: Marsha Dean Phelts A lot of people know Marsha Dean Phelts from some place or the other - classrooms, book signings, television appearances. The retired librarian has 37 years' experience in Duval County schools and is author of An American Beach for African Americans, which the University Press of Florida published in 1997. Her latest offering is The American Beach Cookbook - 300 pages of traditional and contemporary creations accompanied by vignettes, vintage maps and whimsical photographs. As part of the book launch, Phelts will chat and sign copies her cookbook from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the home of Roslyn Burrough at 4432 Roth Drive S. My earliest memory is . . . Of running across Big Mama's front porch with my big brother, Charles, and my cousin, Lil' Joe. We were told, "Cut out that noise; Poppa is sick." Poppa was my maternal grandfather. I was really young. I was born Jan. 21, 1944, and Poppa died March 20, 1945. At school . . . I played hooky in the first grade because, I didn't have a pencil, and you couldn't come to Mrs. Morrison's room without one. I loved being in spelling bees and in the library. Later, I thrilled at rolling soda water bottles like bowling balls down the dormitory hall . . . Mama always said . . . To me when I complained of my teachers, "when you've got your hand in the lion's mouth, ease it out." Daddy always said . . . "Don't bite the hand that feeds you" and "honesty and truthfulness will carry you a long ways." My last supper would be . . . Seven courses, starting with Martha's Vineyard Clam Chowder, Ambrosia, The Green Derby Restaurant's Garden Salad, Crisp Fried Oysters, Aunt Liza's Seafood Casserole, Shrimp Feta with white rice, Chicken Curry with all the condiments, a pot of Collard Greens, Sylvia's Cracklin Corn Bread, Sweet Potato Pone, My Mama's Mulberry Duby, a sliver of Mango Pie (since I'd be so full by now) and a bottle of I. W. Harper. My most prized possession is . . . My library: books, pictures and papers. I don't like . . . When people try to probe me into making a comment about another person. I drive . . . [A] bright red Corvette, and I don't drive as fast as I used to because I don't see as well as I used to. The best book I've read . . . Without hesitation is A. Philip Randolph: A Biographical Portrait, written in 1972 by Jervis Anderson. Since childhood, Randolph was my hero and the person whose character I modeled. People always tell me . . . That I have beautiful skin. Jacksonville is . . . The charming city that I've always been proud to call my hometown, though I now live on American Beach. When I die, I hope that people will say . . . "She was most dependable." BRANDY HILBOLDT ALLPORT/Times-Union |
Object ID |
2019.043.016 |
Collection |
AIMH Heritage Keepers Project |
Caption |
Marsha Dean Phelts at Beach |
Interviewer |
Wilma Allen |
Narrator's name |
Marsha Dean Phelts |
Number of images |
6 |
People |
Phelts, Marsha Dean Allen, Wilma |
Recording media |
Digital Recording |
Search Terms |
American Beach American Beach Cookbook American Beach Museum Heritage Keepers Project Jacksonville Librarian Night Sanders Segregation |
Date |
May 26, 2017 |