PHC Summary Report Final 4-25-13 with header

SUMMARY REPORT
APRIL 2013
DR. ROSALIND BEILER
With assistance from Bethany Bowles and Derrick Jicha
For ENC 6292 Project Management for Technical Writers
PREPARED FOR:
UCF PROVOST& EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT - TONY WALDROP
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES DEAN - JOSE B. FERNANDEZ
SEMINOLE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT - WALT GRIFFIN
SEMINOLE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD

PUBLIC HISTORY CENTER
“BUILDING ON TRADITION. . .”
PAGE 2 OF 24
TABLES OF CONTENTS
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….……………..……3
Accomplishments At a Glance………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….………….……..3
Educational Programming……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……………….……………….……..4
K-12 Programming………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….………….………4
University Level Programming and Research……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….……..5
Undergraduate Internships…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….……..5
Graduate Internships…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….……..…….6
Class Projects…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………7
Future Educational Programming and Partnerships……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………9
University-Level Programming…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………8
Summer Discovery Camp………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………9
Community Collaboration………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..9
Community Events……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………..9
Bell Ringing Ceremony…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………10
Neighborhood Block Party……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………..10
Fright School………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10
PumpkinFest………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………….…………………………...…10
Old-Fashioned Christmas……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………….10
Seminole County Centennial……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….11
Community Workshops…………………………………………………………………………….…………………….……………………………………………………………………………12
“Digital Vs. Physical Preservation” ………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………12
Central Florida Certified Local Governing Training Workshop………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………12
Steve Berry’s Writers Workshop……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………….12
Volunteer Program…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………12
Community Partnerships….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………….……13
City of Sanford………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………….………….13
Sanford Historic Trust…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………….13
University of Florida’s Seminole County Extension………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………13
Seminole County …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………..13
RICHES of Central Florida………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………….14
E/Z Photo Scan Powered by i/o TRAK……………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………..…………………………..14
Citizens Bank of Florida………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….14
Wal-Mart……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….14
Winn-Dixie…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………..14
Administration and Management……………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….………………………….14
Building…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….14
Building Advisory Committee…………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………15
American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers…………………………………………….……………………………………………..15
Technology Fee Grant……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….………15
Collections………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………..15
Collections Care and Management………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………16
Museum Assessment Program – Collections Stewardship……………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………16
LIFE Grant……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………17
NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Grant……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….17
Archival Administration Internship – John Settle…………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………………………………17
Exhibits……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….………………………………….17
Native American Exhibit………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….…………………..18
Pioneer Exhibit………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………….……………………18
Turn of the Century Classroom………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………….……………………18
Grandma’s Attic………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………..18
Geography Lab……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………….18
Photographic Essay Lobby…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………19
Teaching Gardens……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………..…………………19
Expansion and Planning Changes…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………19
Operational Costs…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….……………………….21
Revenue Generation………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….…………………………22
Expanded Programming and Fund-Raising………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….………………………………22
Meeting Space and Facility Rentals………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….…………………………………………22
Grants………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….…..23
Challenges and Future Opportunities………………………………….……………………………………….……………………………………….………………………………………..23

PAGE 3 OF 24
INTRODUCTION
On July 8, 2011, the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Department of
History submitted a proposal to Provost and Executive Vice President Tony
Waldrop for transforming the Seminole County Public Schools’ Student
Museum and Social Studies Center into the Public History Center (PHC).
Housed in a 1902 Romanesque revival style brick building that is one of the
few surviving examples of Florida turn-of-the-century school architecture,
the Student Museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984. The Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) used the building, which
has many of its original fixtures still intact, to teach 4
th
grade students Florida
social studies in a hands-on learning environment. By 2010 severe budget cuts were threatening to close the
doors. After months of discussion and deliberation, UCF leased the building for two years beginning July 2012 to
use as a public history learning laboratory for its students and to explore the possibilities for a long-term
partnership with the SCPS.
Public history can be defined as the many and diverse ways history is put to work in the world. While students in
UCF’s public history program learn in the classroom theoretically how to engage multiple audiences in interpreting
history, to apply that theory requires active involvement in community projects. UCF’s vision for the PHC,
therefore, rests on three priorities: Exploration – conducting ground-breaking research that connects local stories
to global events; Innovation – providing hands-on educational opportunities for students of all ages; Collaboration
– engaging the community in preserving and interpreting the past. For UCF, the PHC is cultivating an educational
facility to serve as a community laboratory for students from different disciplines and to promote publicly engaged
humanities research. For SCPS, the center seeks to expand the Student Museum’s interactive learning
opportunities for K-12 students and to engage the Central Florida community with collecting and interpreting its
own history. The historic building and the collections it houses provide a wonderful opportunity to realize these
goals and to become a one-of-a-kind educational facility that will create “opportunity through access, partnerships,
interdisciplinarity, and engagement” – all key components of UCF’s vision for becoming a top-tier research
university.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT A GLANCE
In the nine months since signing the lease, our most significant accomplishments are as follows:
 Incorporation into university-level educational programming. Undergraduate and graduate students
from UCF, Florida Institute of Technology, and Seminole State College programs have participated in class
projects, student internships, and field trips at the PHC. Two graduate history classes have met regularly
at the PHC – 1 in fall 2012 and 1 in spring 2013. Since July 2012, the PHC’s programs have infused real-
world experiences and community involvement into academic learning for university students in history,
education, mechanical engineering, business administration, and technical writing.
 Improved SCPS programming. Script development and volunteer training have increased the consistency
and quality of the SCPS fourth-grade curriculum for the 2,800 students who have or will visit the PHC this
school year. These improvements emphasize interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for social
studies students.

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 Community awareness of and engagement with PHC programs. Since August 2012 the PHC has been
open to the public five days a week and has hosted a series of public events. In addition to students,
more than 700 people have visited the PHC. UCF students working as interns, volunteers, and in class
projects have planned and hosted all of our community events.
 Building key partnerships. The key partnership formed since July 2012 is between UCF and SCPS.
However, the PHC has created additional partnerships with other local colleges and universities,
businesses, non-profit organizations, and local government entities to conduct programming, sponsor
events and use the facility.
 Stabilization of the museum’s collection and the building. The historic building and its collection of
artifacts, documents, and photos play a vital role in all of the PHC’s programming. They provide the key
materials that allow UCF and SCPS students to engage with the past and the public to learn in innovative
ways. Microbial remediation; creating a more consistent climate-controlled environment by running the
air conditioning and dehumidifiers steadily 24 hours, 7 days a week; tenting for termites; successful
completion of the Museum Assessment Program (supported by the Institute for Museum and Library
Services and American Alliance of Museums); creation of a collections policy and procedures; and
rehousing some of the artifacts have been important first steps to stabilizing both the building and the
collections.
 Increased visibility for UCF. The PHC is providing an active and visible presence for the History
Department, the College of Arts and Humanities, and UCF in Sanford and Seminole County.
 Value Added. Through field trip fees, donations, and rentals, the PHC is on target to reach its goal of
$20,000 in raised revenue in its first year of operation. The less tangible value added, however, comes
from the countless hours and contributions students have made to the center’s programs and facility.
From revised curriculum to rehoused collections, from strategic planning to exhibit creation, students are
transforming the Student Museum into the Public History Center. The work they are doing, even as they
are learning, represents an investment in the PHC that is beyond calculation in terms of monetary value
but has enhanced their quality of education immeasurably.
In short, in our first 9 months of operation, the PHC has laid a solid foundation for bringing together university and
public school programming, corporate, government and non-profit partners, and the community to provide
innovative opportunities that encourage civic engagement, hands-on learning, and interdisciplinary research. The
following report details the PHC’s accomplishments to date, presents several challenges inherent in the current
short-term partnership, and proposes a path for moving forward.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Educational programming is the key benefit the PHC
provides to SCPS, UCF, and the greater Central Florida
community. The center is successfully integrating K-12
programming and educating the community with training
opportunities for university students. In the past 9
months, we have continued to offer 4
th
grade social
studies field trips to SCPS students while engaging UCF
students in hands-on learning opportunities to investigate, preserve, and interpret the region’s past.

PAGE 5 OF 24
K-12 PROGRAMMING
The strongest, most enduring role of the Student Museum is providing 4
th
grade students with regularly scheduled
field trips. During these visits, students are welcome to journey into the past by examining Native American
artifacts, experiencing life as an early Florida pioneer, seeing what it was like to be a student in 1902, learning
about a day in the life of a child in the early 20
th
century through items found in Grandma’s attic, and exploring
Florida geography. Learning continues outdoors in a teaching garden that provides opportunities to identify
vegetables and fruits grown at the turn of the last century.
The PHC continues to host SCPS and private school 4
th
grade field trips. From August 2012 to July 2013, 2,800
children and chaperones will have visited the PHC on field trips. As part of the lease agreement with SCPS, the PHC
is committed to offering integrated curriculum-based programming for students K-12.
The PHC also is dedicated to expanding its educational programming for K-12 students beyond the 4
th
grade. In
January, it hosted an Educator’s Open House to discuss with local teachers ideas for integrating the PHC’s
resources into their curricula. In addition, UCF College of Education students have evaluated the center’s teaching
trunks and are working to turn them into mobile exhibits to send out to schools. SCPS high school students have
begun completing community service hours at the PHC. Finally, as a part of Seminole County’s Centennial
Celebration, the PHC has partnered with SCPS in an essay-writing contest, history fair projects, and by hosting an
exhibit about the naming contest for the Senator’s clone (the new tree to replace the historic cypress that burned
last year).
UNIVERSITY LEVEL PROGRAMMING AND RESEARCH
One of the key innovations of the PHC’s educational programming is engaging undergraduate and graduate
students in hands-on, interdisciplinary research and practice. Public history is a methodology or an approach to
doing history that is collaborative and interdisciplinary. In the classroom, undergraduate and graduate students
learn the theories behind how to engage public audiences in interpreting the past but gaining the professional
skills they need to succeed requires experience beyond the classroom walls. The PHC is providing a learning
laboratory for history students as well as those from other disciplines for gaining practical, first-hand knowledge
and experience through internships, class projects, volunteer opportunities, field trips, and teaching assistantships.
UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
Several undergraduate students have worked at the PHC on
projects completed for graded course credit. Kwame Simmons
created a new curriculum for the Crooms Academy Alumni
Association’s exhibit. Crooms Academy was the historic black
high school in Seminole County. The Alumni Association has
housed an exhibit at the PHC since 2008 but it has not been
incorporated into the teaching curriculum. Mr. Simmons
conducted oral histories with creators of the exhibit and created
scripts for 4
th
grade field trips as well as the general public that
will be introduced into the PHC’s curriculum in fall 2013. His
curriculum and the exhibit were featured in our Black History Month event that was part of the Seminole County
Centennial Celebration. Mark Miller created a curriculum for the teaching gardens in his internship at the PHC.
His scripts offer another area where the PHC will be able to expand its programming to both fourth-graders and
the general public. This semester, David Mole is producing programming for Girl Scout events and he is designing
exhibits for several Seminole Centennial educational projects including the naming of the Senator clone, the
History Fair, and the Centennial Celebration.

PAGE 6 OF 24
GRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
While all of the undergraduate interns have been invaluable for the work they have accomplished, graduate
interns have been able to complete complex and advanced projects as part of their coursework. Each intern gained
knowledge and experience through their work at the PHC that they could not acquire purely through classroom
instruction. The PHC builds on the History Department’s philosophy to support the study of history broadly across
time and space while encouraging students to adopt cutting-edge methodology.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT - BETHANY DICKENS (SU12)
Last summer, Bethany Dickens created a complete Summer Camp package, including curriculum, budget, and
marketing. This package formed the basis of the PHC’s 2013 Summer Camp which we will host in June. In
addition, she created new 4
th
grade scripts for: the 1902 Classroom, Grandma’s Attic, the Native American Exhibit,
the Pioneer Exhibit, the Photographic Essay, and the Geography Laboratory. These scripts have provided a
template for the Center’s new curriculum as well as for tours to the general public.
EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING - KELLI ORDONIA (SU12)
During her internship, Kelli Ordonia assessed the PHC’s exhibits and programming. Prior to July 2012, the Student
Museum’s exhibits were taught primarily by volunteer docents and offered minimal interpretation through labels
for a general audience. Ms. Ordonia was tasked with assessing the 4
th
grade curriculum, identifying the Sunshine
State Standards each exhibit area met, and creating a plan of action for continuing that programming while
creating interpretation appropriate for the general public. Her work resulted in an
assessment as well as a three-phase recommendation for re-working the exhibits and
programming. When microbial remediation resulted in the complete dismantling of
the Grandma’s Attic exhibit in mid-July, she began implementing one part of her Phase
I recommendations by re-working the exhibit. New scripts and activities were created
and we began teaching Ms. Ordonia’s new exhibit in early September 2012.
PHOTO COLLECTION RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT - DAVID MORTON (F12)
One of the goals of the PHC is to incorporate new media into its programming and
initiatives that are relevant and useful for its public audiences. In August 2012, David
Morton began working in the PHC’s collection as a photo archivist. He assessed, reorganized, and rehoused the
museum’s photographic collection. As part of his internship, he also digitized the museum’s General Photographic
Collection and created a digital exhibit titled “The Origins of Celery City” to be made available through the RICHES
Mosaic Interface.
COLLECTION ADMINISTRA TION AND PLANNING - JOHN SETTLE (S13)
As an administrative archivist intern, John Settle is currently working with volunteer and part-time staff to create
an administrative structure for the museum’s collections. During the building’s years as the Student Museum, the
primary purposes of the collections were to function as teaching tools and to raise community awareness. The
wider audience the PHC engages has required a re-assessment of how to use the collections. During fall 2012, a
Museum Assessment Program Committee conducted a self-study of the collections and its stewardship. Mr. Settle
is currently building on that self-study to create a new collections policy and set of procedures. He participated in
the on-site visit of the Museum Assessment Program's external consultant on March 18 and 19. In addition, he has
acted as a liaison between the collections staff and his graduate class, who conducted the History Harvest on
March 2 (see below).

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CLASS PROJECTS
ANALYSIS AND CENTER PLANNING - HIS 5067 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HISTORY (S12)
As part of their coursework during spring semester 2012, the Introduction to Public History graduate course
students conducted an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the Students Museum
and proposed a plan of action for transforming it into the PHC. They assessed the interpretation, educational
programming, collections, exhibits, community stakeholders, and historic preservation at the Student Museum and
suggested a phased series of steps for creating the PHC, even before UCF signed the lease for the building.
Analyzing the museum’s potential helped them to hone their skills in public history research and assessment.
Many of their suggestions have been implemented – including a solution to ADA parking issues.
STRATEGIC PLANNING - FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MBA CAPSTONE PROJECTS
As part of the Florida Institute of Technology’s (FIT) MBA program for
Lockheed Martin executives, students are required to complete a
capstone project. Two groups of students in this program have
conducted extensive research on the PHC to create strategic plans for
both the PHC and the teaching gardens. Their reports are providing
the foundation for the center’s strategic plan.
Strategic Plan for the Public History Center (Su12)
The first group of MBA students, working together as the Strategic
Research Consultants (SRC) during the summer 2012, generated a
strategic recommendation for implementing UCF’s vision for the PHC.
Their recommendation focused on education partnerships with the community and with local businesses. Their
approach is outlined in three phases with strategic, measurable milestones designed to judge progress and aide in
the decision making process for UCF.
Strategic Plan for Teaching Gardens (F12)
As part of their capstone project, FIT MBA students in the fall 2012 class designed a strategic plan to strengthen
the educational experience at the PHC by integrating the existing exhibits and gardens to achieve sustainability and
scalability. While their plan covered numerous observations and objectives, the main goals and recommended
strategies focused on how to improve the educational experience, how to add unique educational value by
integrating existing exhibits and gardens, and how to conduct various fund-raising events to achieve scalability and
sustainability.
EXHIBIT RESEARCH AND REVISION - AMH 3580 NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY (F12)
During fall semester 2012, students in AMH 3580 Native American History conducted research and proposed a
series of revisions for the PHC’s Native American exhibit. By working on this project, students gained a better
understanding of Florida’s Native American cultural groups. They also presented recommendations to improve the
exhibit’s displays and interpretation for audiences who may have a limited knowledge of Florida’s Native American
history. Their work included conducting on-site orientations and workshops, evaluating the current interpretation
of the exhibit, identifying strengths and areas of opportunity, and conveying their findings through an in-class
presentation and written group analyses explaining their recommendations. The project enabled them to think
about how to present the information they were learning in their class to a broad audience. Although not yet
implemented, the PHC hopes to incorporate some of their suggestions into revisions to the exhibit.

PAGE 8 OF 24
TEACHING RESOURCES - COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
In November 2012, Lee-Ann Spalding, an instructor in UCF’s School of
Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, took a group of students from the
College of Education to the PHC. Spalding now includes regular field trips to
the PHC as a part of her coursework so that students can learn about the
teaching resources their community can provide. While there, they learn
how to teach using primary sources – original historical evidence. Spalding
said she expects the students to use their experiences from the PHC during
their teaching internships. Several of her students have continued to work
as volunteers, developing curriculum for our traveling trunk exhibits.
HISTORY HARVEST (F12/S13)
History Harvest nicely embodies all of the priorities of our vision for the PHC
– hands-on education, cutting-edge research, and community collaboration.
UCF students engaged the community in preserving and interpreting its past
while learning how to do public history research. At the same time,
individual community members learned about digital preservation. The
exhibit that will result from the event will become a part of the PHC’s
interpretation used to teach K-12 students and the general public. It will
also become available to a wider audience through the RICHES Mosaic
Interface, our innovative digital repository.
During fall semester 2012, students in HIS 5067 Introduction to Public History met regularly at the PHC. One of
their assignments for the class was to create a comprehensive plan for this spring’s History Harvest. A cross
between History Detectives and the Antiques Roadshow, History Harvest is an event that invites community
members to bring their memorabilia to the PHC where their objects are digitized. Students in the fall class first
researched the history of the school building housing the PHC through primary sources, archival research, and oral
histories. Based on the information they gathered, they created a logistics and marketing plan for carrying out the
event. Their final packages were presented to Dr. Scot French, whose spring graduate class conducted the History
Harvest at the PHC.
Graduate students in AMH 6429 Local and Community History this spring conducted UCF’s first History Harvest on
March 2, 2013. The class invited community
members who have photos, school projects,
report cards, and other memorabilia related to
the building that now houses the PHC or other
schools close by to bring them to the center to be
scanned or photographed. E-Z Photo Scan
powered by I/o Trak, a local company, digitized
items while students conducted oral histories
with the people who brought them in. During the
remainder of the semester the class transcribed
the oral histories, wrote metadata for the scanned images, and created an exhibit that interprets the story of the
building within its larger historical context. The exhibit will be displayed in the entrance to the PHC and the digital
images they collected will be available for researchers through the RICHES Mosaic Interface.

PAGE 9 OF 24
FUTURE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS
In its first year, the educational programming at the PHC expanded beyond the disciplines and institutions first
imagined when the project was proposed. We are already planning new partnerships and opportunities beginning
this summer and will follow leads presented by the strategic planning capstone projects and deans who
participated in a retreat Provost Waldrop held at the PHC in November.
UNIVERSITY-LEVEL PROGRAMMING
During summer semester 2013, Josue Robles and Jesse Kamm, Instructors at Seminole State College, will integrate
projects at the PHC into their classes in Historic Preservation and Construction Management. Robles’ students will
work in groups to design plans for restoring the building. At the end of the semester, they will present their
proposals to stakeholders at the PHC. Kamm’s co-operative interns will conduct feasibility studies and engage in
design reviews with Robles’ students. The construction students will view these design ideas from a different
perspective and will offer advice and considerations regarding constructability and other practical matters.
Additionally, they will research historic renovations and interview practicing architects and contractors that are
skilled in historic renovations. The end product will be a report on their findings and recommendations for phasing
and future plans.
Allen Watters, Interim Director of UCF’s new Architecture B.D. will integrate projects at the PHC into his summer
semester 2013 Architecture Design 8 class. Students will actively engage with the PHC as part of an on-site design
project. During the semester, they will collect data through a number of methods to inform their design decisions
from analysis to proposal. Beginning in the fall 2013 semester, Watters will offer an elective course to upper
division UCF Architecture students allowing them to actively learn the methods and products of Historical
Preservation as it relates to the built environment. Students enrolled in the course will produce, semester-by-
semester, a set of working architectural documents for the PHC's building.
Students from UCF’s chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) are currently designing a heating and cooling system to deal with climate control and moisture issues.
In addition, the PHC will expand its partnership with the College of Education’s social science education students
who are participating in the HAPPY Hour showcase by giving tours of the PHC so that they can learn how to teach
history outside of the classroom. HAPPY (Having Active Participation Prepares You) Hour is the UCF College of
Education’s Professional Learning for Teacher Candidates initiative that supplements coursework and field
experience in training future teachers. HAPPY Hour underscores the importance of life-long learning and
cultivating professional and personal networks.
SUMMER DISCOVERY CAMP
The Public History Center will host its inaugural Summer Discovery Camp June 3- 28.
Campers will experience history in a new way as each week focuses on a specific theme.
The four-week program offers History Detective Camp, Pioneer Camp, Theater Camp
and Thrill Seeker Camp for current 2
nd
through 5
th
graders. The camp will further expand
programming and provide additional funding opportunities.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
Since its inception, the PHC has been dedicated to providing opportunities for learning and access to the past
through public interaction and engaging workshops. The Center aims to become a community hub, a public place

PAGE 10 OF 24
for local people to gather and collaborate with neighbors, friends, and relatives, by participating in hands-on
educational activities and by developing innovative projects that serve the interests of the community. Whether
visitors want to learn about the region’s history or discover how to digitally preserve a family member’s treasured
memories, the PHC is there to meet their needs.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Our top priority this year was to raise community awareness about the PHC’s educational programming and vision.
To that end, the Center hosted numerous community events. These included fun family events and programs to
spread awareness of the new initiatives of the PHC. Only through continuous involvement with the Central Florida
community will the PHC remain relevant for years to come.
BELL RINGING CEREMONY
On August 13, 2012, the PHC hosted the annual bell ringing ceremony “Building on
Tradition,” which brought together local politicians, SCPS officials and school board
members, UCF faculty members, and local families to celebrate the first day of new
school year. Following the bell ringing, tours of the PHC were available to introduce
members of the community to the PHC. The 150 people in attendance far exceeded
the 50-60 guests who participated in previous years.
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY
On September 29, 2012, the PHC hosted a Neighborhood Block Party to introduce
immediate neighbors to the building’s new purpose. The event coincided with our
participation in Smithsonian Museum Day – a nation-wide event where the Smithsonian advertises museums that
are open for free to encourage people to explore their collections. Our Neighborhood Block Party included family-
friendly educational games and activities for children and guided tours of the exhibits. Winn Dixie and Wal-Mart
co-sponsored the event and provided refreshments and supplies.
FRIGHT SCHOOL
On October 19, 2012, the PHC hosted Fright School, an event that taught children from ages six to sixteen how to
stage their own haunted house. Sessions included opportunities for learning about acting, costumes and props,
lighting, make-up, logistics, and writing ghost stories.
PUMPKINFEST
The goal of PumpkinFest was to create community awareness of exhibits and program offerings and to develop
relationships with local businesses. Costumed UCF students hosted visitors with informative presentations on the
history of the Seminole pumpkin, led crafts activities, and guided tours. Wal-Mart sponsored the PumpkinFest.
OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
Old Fashioned Christmas was held on December 1, 2012,
co-sponsored by Citizen’s Bank and in partnership with
the Sanford Historic Trust. This event for the entire
community highlighted the building’s heritage with
holiday-themed tours of exhibits. More than 300 people
visited the site – either to tour the building or to pick up
tickets for the Sanford Historic Trust’s Holiday tour of
Homes.

PAGE 11 OF 24
SEMINOLE COUNTY CENTENNIAL
Seminole County will turn 100 years old on April 25, 2013; to celebrate this centennial benchmark, the county is
hosting “Seminole Celebrates – A Century of Success.” The 100-day celebration began January 16, 2013, and will
conclude with the “Centennial Festival” on April 20, 2013. The PHC is be collaborating with the county and SCPS to
host several events throughout this celebration.
EDUCATOR’S OPEN HOUSE
On January 24, teachers, administrators, and staff participated in a complimentary interactive event and
workshop. The Educator’s Open House gave educators a chance to take a tour of the PHC, experience hands-on
learning with history, collaborate with peers and develop partnership opportunities, and support the Centennial
Celebration through their curricula.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
On February 9, the PHC opened the Crooms Academy Alumni
Association’s Exhibit with a program honoring alumni in conjunction
with the Goldsboro Welcome Center’s screening of UCF Director of
African American Studies Anthony Major’s documentary,
"Goldsboro: An American Story." The Seminole High School Gospel
Choir performed at the PHC in honor of the occasion. The Crooms
Academy Exhibit documents the history of the first school offering
an education past 10th grade for black students in Sanford.
Approximately 100 people participated in the event.
CENTENNIAL PASSPORT
From January 19 to April 20, families will be exploring Seminole County’s heritage sites, including the PHC, on
Centennial Saturdays using an exclusive passport. Each site they visit will stamp their passport upon entering as
proof of visitation. By visiting at least six sites, guests’ names will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win
prizes.
TURNING POINTS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY HISTORY WRITING CONTEST
In partnership with SCPS, the PHC hosted the Centennial Celebration’s Turning Points in Seminole County History
Writing Contest that was open to all Seminole County students in grades four through twelve. Students were
encouraged to submit a poem, drama, memoir, or expository piece using historical evidence. UCF history students
participated as judges. The winners for each category were announced March 9, 2013 at the SCPS History Fair.
SENATOR MEMORIAL AND CLONE DEDICATION
After “The Senator” burned down in January 2012, community members have sought to commemorate this
remarkable landmark of Seminole County. For 3,500 years, this massive Cypress tree was witness to the history of
Seminole County from the time of the Native Americans to the present, when thousands of residents and tourists
would walk through the wetlands of Seminole County each year to gaze at this artifact of nature. Due to the
amazing work of science teachers, small limbs from the Senator were grafted into root stock of other cypress trees.
To honor the Senator and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Seminole County, one of these offspring is coming
home to Big Tree Park. Elementary school students in grades 3-5 have been invited to participate in a contest to
name the new cypress tree. The winning student and school were recognized at the dedication on March 2, and
David Mole, UCF intern at the PHC, will revise the current Senator exhibit to inform visitors about the new tree.

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CENTENNIAL FESTIVAL
To wrap up the festivities for “Seminole Celebrates – A Century of Success,”
the county will be hosting a community-wide “Centennial Festival” on April
20, 2013. The Seminole County Centennial Festival will feature not only local
food and agricultural vendors, businesses, arts and education expos,
entertainment, but also community and historic organizations including the
PHC. UCF history students hosted the PHC’s exhibit.
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
In addition to family-focused events, the PHC offered a series of workshops
aimed at teaching public history or other professional skills. In the next year we plan to expand our educational
offerings to include gardening workshops in partnership with the University of Florida’s Seminole County Extension
and heritage craft workshops.
“DIGITAL VS. PHYSICAL PRESERVATION”
On March 2, the PHC held History Harvest, a unique, interactive story-telling/preservation experience for teachers,
staff, and alumni of public and private schools in Sanford and its communities. Attendees brought their school-
related items or memorabilia and learned how to preserve personal and family collections. They also shared their
memories of teaching and learning in Sanford. As part of the event, Rick Lippert, president of E-Z Photo Scan,
presented “Digital vs. Physical Preservation... What's the Difference? Getting Started Organizing Photos, ABCs of
Organizing Software, Scanning, and Archival Backup.”
CENTRAL FLORIDA CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRAINING WORKSHOP
On April 10 and 11, the City of Sanford and the Sanford Historic Trust hosted a regional historic preservation
workshop at the PHC to train historic preservation staff, board members, and volunteers currently serving Florida
Certified Local Governments. Funded by a grant from the Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of
State, the workshop provided hands-on training intended to furnish basic knowledge of proper preservation
methods. Educational sessions included mobile workshops focusing on historic resources in Sanford.
STEVE BERRY WRITERS’ WORKSHOP
In partnership with the UCF Book Festival and Friends of the Student Museum, the PHC sponsored a Writer’s
Workshop and Reception with New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry at the Morgridge International
Reading Center on April 12. Berry shared personal instruction on fundamental and advanced techniques in writing
in his presentation, “Lessons from a Bestseller.” Participants included history and creative writing faculty and
students as well as a broad range of writers from the community. Berry has agreed to donate the revenues from
workshop registration to support historic preservation at the PHC.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Volunteers are key collaborators in every aspect of our programming. Volunteers played an active role in
educational programming for the SCPS Student Museum, especially as budget cuts began to impact the museum.
They continue to provide 4
th
grade fieldtrips, act as guides during events and for the general public, create
educational programming, re-work exhibits, process and catalogue the museum and archival collections, maintain
the gardens, and assist with fund-raising for the restoration of the building. Since July 2012, the PHC has:
 Created and implemented a volunteer program that includes monthly training sessions
 Recruited high-school and college students into its pool of volunteers
 Facilitated over 3200 hours worked by 28 volunteers
The PHC plans to expand its volunteer program next year by doing additional recruitment in the community and by
creating a tiered program that rewards levels of service.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Becoming America’s leading partnership university is one of UCF’s
top goals. Partnerships are also fundamental to the PHC’s success.
They assist us in linking community and academic resources,
expanding our vision and audience, and finding sources of funding.
As with so much of UCF’s programming, our partners provide a
collaborative approach to innovative, educational experiences and
cutting-edge historical research. The following are a few of the key
partnerships we have formed.
CITY OF SANFORD
The City of Sanford is a crucial collaborator with the PHC. Christine Dalton, Sanford’s Historic Preservation Officer,
brought UCF and the SCPS together to form our partnership. She also received a grant to run a workshop for
historic preservation professionals working for Certified Local Governments. Most recently the PHC and its
relationship with the city was recognized as part of the state-wide award Sanford won from the Florida Trust for
Historic Preservation in the category of preservation education and media. In addition, Jeff Triplet, the city’s
mayor, and several city commissioners have participated in community events and programming. Because the city
of Sanford is a Certified Local Government and the building is within the city’s residential historic district, the PHC
and the city can partner to apply for future restoration grants.
SANFORD HISTORIC TRUST
The mission of the Sanford Historic Trust is to evaluate, protect, and preserve the architectural and historical
heritage of the city through education and stewardship. As part of their effort to highlight the city’s heritage, the
Sanford Historic Trust included the PHC in their widely attended annual Holiday Tour of Homes. This past year, the
tour featured gardens as well as beautifully-decorated homes and historic buildings on the daytime driving/walking
tour. All guests visited the PHC to purchase their tickets and begin the tour. Most recently, the PHC was chosen for
the Sanford Historic Trust’s award for cultural preservation. The award will be presented at their annual ceremony
on May 3.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S SEMINOLE COUNTY EXTENSION
Master gardeners who train at the University of Florida’s Seminole County Extension are key partners in the
teaching gardens at the PHC. They volunteer to plant seeds, maintain the plant beds, and harvest crops from the
gardens that are incorporated into the curriculum for 4
th
grade fieldtrips. Students learn about the “three sisters”
in the Native American garden, what it was like for Florida’s pioneers to raise their own food and herbs, which
plants are native to Florida, and much more when they visit the gardens as part of their visit. We are working with
the County Extension to host a series of gardening workshops at the PHC beginning
in fall 2013.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
The Seminole County Government was a key partner in the Centennial Celebration
events hosted by the PHC this spring. County commissioners funded and attended
the Educator’s Open House and Black History Month event at the PHC, in addition to
the other events in which we participated throughout the spring. Commissioners
also have regularly attended our community events.
RICHES™ OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
A foundational part of UCF’s public history program, RICHES™ projects are interwoven with many of the PHC’s
activities and programs. RICHES™ (Regional Initiative for Collecting the Histories, Experiences and Stories) of
Central Florida is an umbrella program housing interdisciplinary public history projects that bring together

PAGE 14 OF 24
different departments at UCF with profit and non-profit sectors of the community. By facilitating research that
records and presents the stories of communities, businesses, and institutions in Central Florida, RICHES™ seeks to
provide the region with a deeper sense of its heritage. The RICHES Mosaic Interface™ houses content created
through the RICHES™ projects and links to sources on Central Florida available from other repositories around the
state. Much of the collection at the PHC has been digitized to become part of the RICHES Mosaic Interface™.
E-Z PHOTO SCAN POWERED BY I/O TRAK
E-Z Photo Scan, powered by i/o Trak, is a local company that has made an art of managing documents since 1995.
After scanning hundreds of millions of content-sensitive paper documents, the group was formed to offer best-in-
class solutions for scanning pictures and printed memories. The company partnered with the PHC by providing
staff, expertise and equipment to scan photos and documents brought in by community members to the History
Harvest on March 2.
CITIZENS BANK OF FLORIDA
Citizens Bank of Florida sponsored An Old Fashioned Christmas by providing refreshments and supplies.
WAL-MART
Wal-Mart sponsored the Neighborhood Block Party and PumpkinFest by contributing refreshments and supplies.
WINN DIXIE
Winn Dixie sponsored the Neighborhood Block Party by contributing refreshments and supplies.
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
Managing the physical and financial resources of the PHC is
fundamental to supporting its mission priorities. Our goal is to
foster a closer connection between the center’s innovative
educational programming and the community to encourage greater
public engagement with the region’s past. We envision that the PHC
will become a place where students and faculty can conduct ground-
breaking research that connects the local community to global
events, where innovation will provide cutting-edge educational
programs for students of all ages, and where collaboration with local and regional
community members will contribute to a better understanding of how our pasts
shape our present. The building, its collections, and its exhibits are all keys to the
success of our vision, which expands considerably the role the Student Museum
played in supporting SCPS’s 4
th
grade curriculum.
BUILDING
The 111 year-old school building housing the PHC is the cornerstone of our
programming and mission. In addition to providing a learning center for K-12 and
university students, a research facility for scholars, and a public space for the
community, the building stands as a valued testament to architectural history and
historic preservation. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and
on the state’s list of most endangered historic sites in 2009, the PHC’s building
serves as a focal point of cultural heritage in Central Florida.

PAGE 15 OF 24
Between January and July 2012, UCF employees surveyed the structure and collections to assess the immediate
steps necessary for expanding the building’s use. Reports from UCF Facilities and Katherine Marra, a part-time
collections consultant, prioritized immediate action items. From July to October, SCPS and UCF took the following
steps to address concerns and stabilize the building:
 Installation of ADA parking
 Installation of ADA restroom facilities
 Microbial remediation
 Cleaning of air conditioning system
 Repair of roof leaks
 Tenting for termites
BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
On July 31, 2012 an advisory committee made up of PHC staff, SCPS facilities employees, UCF facilities employees,
members of the Friends of the Student Museum, Sanford’s historic preservation officer, and local architects met to
discuss the building’s needs and how to phase its restoration. All agreed that after the short-term issues of air
quality and ADA accommodations were addressed, long-term needs begin with the building’s envelope. Significant
issues include replacing the roof, finding a solution to moisture intrusion through the walls, and addressing the
heating and cooling systems that need to be updated to accommodate the historic nature of the building.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEATING, REFRIGERATION, AND AIR-CONDITIONING ENGINEERS
(ASHRAE)
In September 2012, members of UCF’s chapter of ASHRAE adopted the PHC as a design project. Mechanical
Engineering students are working under the mentorship of Central Florida’s chapter of ASHRAE to design a heating
and cooling system that will accommodate the building’s historic
construction. Their goal is to complete their design by end of summer
2013.
TECHNOLOGY FEE GRANT
The Technology Fee Grant is offered by UCF each year to promote
student learning through enhanced technology and digital media. In
September the PHC applied for a UCF Tech Fee Grant to provide basic
technology in the two classroom spaces and auditorium and to create a
digital classroom to provide students with a hands-on learning space for
creating exhibits and digital archives. Our application was declined but
we are currently working to revise and resubmit it in the next round of
grants in September 2013. Applying for the grant provided an
opportunity for exploring creative solutions to refitting the historic
structure with the appropriate technology to support university-level
research.
COLLECTIONS
The role of the museum and archival collections at the PHC has expanded
considerably from supporting 4th grade student field trips to
encompassing a wider audience. They now cater to local community
members, K-12 and university students, and researchers interested in
local and regional history. Like the building, the collections are essential
for carrying out the PHC’s mission. They provide the artifacts that facilitate hands-on educational programs for
students and visitors on local history, Florida social studies, and public history methods. By encouraging students

PAGE 16 OF 24
and visitors to interact with items in the exhibits, the collections provide a tangible connection to the past that
moves them beyond the classroom experience. They also furnish the means through which students learn archival
processing, community and local history, documentary editing, historic preservation, historic site administration,
museum studies, heritage tourism, and oral history. They play an integral part in promoting every aspect of the
PHC.
The collections at the PHC contain items related to local history and the history of education. All items are
cataloged in PastPerfect, the leading collection management software for over 8000 organizations around the
world. These catalogues are separated into one of four categories:
 Archives (118 items total): Items including legal documents, postcards, scholarly studies, personal
manuscripts by teachers, certificates, and awards that the Student Museum has been given by other
schools.
 Library (438 items total): Publications relating to the themes taught in the exhibits, historical fiction,
American Girl publications, and other reference materials. Each publication is cataloged into the database
and assigned a Dewey Decimal number.
 Objects (867 items total): Any artifacts or items having to do with local and Florida history. The majority of
the items listed as objects are on display throughout the PHC. Items are entered into the database at the
item level. Each item has the appropriate accession number written on it prior to going out on display.
 Photos (856 items total): All photographic items of Sanford and other outlying local communities.
Photographs are entered into the database at the item level. Photographic items include color prints,
black and white prints, and negatives.
COLLECTIONS CARE AND MANAGEMENT
During the initial phases of the partnership, the greatest concerns for the collection had to do with its care and
management. An initial survey indicated that the volunteer staff of the Student Museum – especially Shirley Muse
– had succeeded admirably in cataloging a significant portion of the collection. However, a lack of stable climate
control and leaking roofs created significant issues with moisture and temperature fluctuation – both conditions
that cause deterioration in historic artifacts and documents. In addition, air intrusion through deteriorated
window sash allowed for pests in the collections. Therefore, first steps to stabilize the collection included:
 Microbial remediation
 Running air conditioning units and dehumidifiers 24 hours/7 days a week
 Repairing roof leaks in collections storage areas
 Tenting for termites
Following early steps to stabilize the collection, PHC staff, students and volunteers have continued to assess and
process the museum and archival collections.
MUSEUM ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – COLLECTIONS STEWARDSHIP
In June 2012 UCF and SCPS staff worked together to successfully apply for the Museum Assessment Program in
collection stewardship that is sponsored by the Institute for Library and Museum Services and the American
Alliance of Museum. This grant program does not award money but provides educational resources for a self-
study to assess collections stewardship and it pays for a consultant to conduct an on-site visit of a museum’s
collections and make recommendations for improvements (valued at $4,000). A committee of stakeholders
representing SCPS, UCF, volunteers, Friends of the Student Museum, and the community met regularly from
August through November 2012 to complete the self-study. The assessment focuses on collections policies,
access, documentation, and collections care within the context of the museum’s general operations. Holly Beasley
Wait, our consultant, visited the PHC on March 18-19, 2013 and conducted interviews with all of the stakeholders

PAGE 17 OF 24
represented on the committee as well as PHC staff and volunteers. She will present a report with
recommendations for how to implement best practices in collections stewardship as we move forward.
LIFE GRANT
In October 2012, PHC staff successfully submitted a grant proposal to the Learning Institute for Elders (LIFE) at UCF
requesting funds to purchase archival storage supplies. One of the most important steps in preserving museum
and archival collections is to house them in appropriate acid-free boxes and file folders. Moisture fluctuation in
the building had caused the metal edges of many storage boxes to rust. Other artifacts, documents, and photos
are not stored in archival-quality boxes. The $1,200 received from LIFE has permitted UCF students to begin
housing artifacts that were not in boxes and re-house those in rusty containers. While completion of the
collections processing will take significant additional funding and many more hours, at least some of the most
fragile artifacts, images, and documents have been stabilized. In the process, UCF interns and student volunteers
are learning the skills of archivists and museum curators.
NEH SUSTAINING CULTURAL HERITAGE COLLECTIONS GRANT
In early December UCF and SCPS staff worked jointly to prepare a proposal that SCPS submitted for an NEH
Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections grant. This grant provides resources for creating or implementing a
collections preservation plan. Because the building housing the PHC was never intended to house a museum
collection, the air quality and storage systems do not meet preservation standards. As a result, the collections
have suffered from moisture and pest damage. We proposed to bring together HVAC, architectural, and
conservation consultants with the $40,000 from the planning side of this grant. Deliverables will include phased
plans and budgets for future work. Notification of award will be in September 2013 for a grant funding period
beginning October 2013 through September 2014. Should we successfully complete the planning phase of the
grant, we can apply for an implementation grant of up to $350,000.
ARCHIVAL ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP – JOHN SETTLE
During spring 2013 UCF graduate intern John Settle has been working with part-time curator Betty Sample to build
on the MAP self-study in order to gain intellectual control of the collections. Because the original collection at the
PHC evolved to meet the needs of the Student Museum’s teaching mission, it was not organized as a typical
museum or archival collection. Consequently, Mr. Settle and Ms. Sample
have established an organization for the collection and Mr. Settle is creating
a collections policy and the appropriate documentation needed to care for it
according to best practices in the field of museum and archival collection
management.
Through MAP, the LIFE grant, Mr. Settle’s internship, and the work of
several committed volunteers, the PHC is gaining both intellectual and
physical control of the collection. Volunteers (including high school and UCF
students) have continued to catalog the collection and are now re-housing it as well. We are establishing
guidelines and procedures for how to process the collections and make them accessible in a cohesive and
consistent manner.
EXHIBITS
The collections are a crucial part of the exhibits, which were created in 1984 when the building was transformed
from a working grammar school to the Seminole County Public Schools Student Museum and Social Studies Center.
The mission for the Student Museum is nicely embodied in the motto: “Tell me and I forget, show me and I
remember, involve me and I understand.” This philosophy and the original goals of the Student Museum fit
beautifully with our vision for the PHC. The original goals were:

PAGE 18 OF 24
 To foster within students and visitors a sense of identity with Florida and Seminole County through
exploration and participatory activities.
 To increase cultural and environmental awareness, knowledge and responsibility, and to engender
feelings of protectiveness for our heritage and environment.
 To interpret through a multidisciplinary approach the interrelationships and interdependence among
people, our heritage, and Florida’s fragile environment.
 To give students and visitors of differing learning levels and
modalities a variety of multi-sensory educational opportunities in
a history setting not feasible for replication.
The staff, students, and volunteers working in the PHC’s exhibits continue
to look for ways to enhance this focus on interactive learning. The
building currently has eight main exhibit areas.
NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBIT
 Visitors step 500 years back in time to a Timucuan village in the Native American exhibit.
 Students are encouraged to discover the social and cultural practices of Florida’s Native Americans as they
examine the architecture, food, clothing, and artifacts Timucuan people used every day.
PIONEER EXHIBIT
 In this exhibit, visitors explore what pioneer life was like as they enter a log cabin, a typical home of
Florida’s past.
 They experience the stability and effectiveness of the cabin, examine pioneer tools to grasp the trials of
the past, and analyze the contents of the peddler's wagon to discover trade and commerce in nineteenth-
century Florida
TURN OF THE CENTURY CLASSROOM
 Students enter a school classroom as it existed in 1902 when Sanford High School was built.
 In this exhibit, visitors acknowledge the differences between the past and the present as they become a
turn-of-the-century student sitting in wooden desks, writing on a slate board, and reading from a
McGuffey’s reader.
GRANDMA’S ATTIC
 In Grandma’s Attic, visitors experience a day in the life of a child by stepping into Grandma’s attic and
exploring household items from the early 1900s.
 They learn about daily chores by grinding coffee and churning butter and compare life in the early
twentieth century with today by exploring hand-made toys and clothing.
CROOMS ACADEMY EXHIBIT
 Visitors to this exhibit explore the history of Crooms Academy/Crooms High School and the role of the
community in providing a safe haven from a chaotic world.
 Founded in 1926 by Professor Joseph N. Croom, Crooms Academy was Seminole County’s first high school
for African American students. Students interpret school memorabilia, photographs, ephemera, and
school yearbooks provided by the school’s alumni to make connections between the school and its
community.
GEOGRAPHY LAB
 In this interactive laboratory, students explore the influence
geography has on history, culture, and society.

PAGE 19 OF 24
 Visitors learn about topography from a large floor map of Florida and find their places on a grid to
understand latitude and longitude.
 They view areas of the world currently experiencing night and day through the Geochron and learn about
geology and its importance in understanding the past by participating in a fossil dig.
PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY LOBBY
 The photographic essay in the PHC’s lobby provides an opportunity to become junior history detectives as
visitors interpret local Seminole County History.
 Students learn to analyze photos, gain practice using primary source materials, and make inferences
about changing land use and economic development as they complete an activity that teaches them how
to conduct historical research to interpret the past.
TEACHING GARDENS
 The creation of a partnership with the Seminole County Extension Service’s Master Gardner Program, the
teaching gardens at the PHC offer visitors the opportunity to learn about Central Florida’s land and
agriculture.
 Students learn about Native American agriculture in the Three Sisters’ Garden, explore a pioneer garden,
connect geography to gardens representing different parts of the world, and learn about Florida’s native
plants.
EXPANSION AND PLANNED CHANGES
Since July 2012, students and volunteers have worked to update and expand the PHC’s exhibits and interpretative
programming. Our first steps have been to create scripts for 4
th
grade field trips and to expand tour information
for new audiences.
TEACHING SCRIPTS
One of the first changes to be implemented was the creation of scripts for teaching each exhibit. During her
internship in summer 2012, UCF graduate student Bethany Dickens created 4
th
grade scripts for each of the
exhibits. Each script points to the state standard the exhibit’s interpretation should meet, suggests main points to
be covered, and outlines activities to accompany each tour. By creating written scripts and setting up a training
program for volunteers and students teaching the exhibits, PHC has increased the quality and consistency of the
interpretation provided to SCPS and other 4
th
graders on field trips.
In addition, staff members have created scripts for three new
audiences we now serve:
 Adult scripts tailored for members of the public who visit
the museum.
 Mixed audience scripts used to interpret the exhibits for
family groups or groups of visitors representing varied ages.
 Public History scripts created for Seminole State College
education students and UCF students and faculty who are
learning about how to teach students with artifacts or in a
museum setting.
GRANDMA’S ATTIC
The first exhibit to undergo significant renovation was Grandma’s Attic. Because the exhibit needed to be
dismantled in order to clean the artifacts in it, UCF graduate intern Kelli Ordonia implemented phase one of her
proposed renovations for the exhibit. Volunteers repainted the room and Ms. Ordonia designed new exhibit

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spaces and wrote new labels. She also worked with other interns to develop a
revised script and activities for the room that now focuses on a day in the life
of a child growing up in early 20
th
century Sanford. This summer Ms. Ordonia
will continue working on the next phases of revising the exhibit as a part of her
Master’s Thesis project.
CROOMS ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ’S EXHIBIT
During fall semester 2012, UCF undergraduate intern Kwame Simmons
developed a 4
th
grade script for the Crooms Academy Alumni Association’s exhibit. In the past, the Crooms exhibit
was opened only for special occasions when the alumni association hosted events and tours. Mr. Simmons
conducted oral histories to learn about the history of the school and the exhibit. He then created a 4
th
grade script
as well as a documentary to integrate into the exhibit. He worked with the Crooms Academy Alumni Association
leadership to interpret the room and to create hands-on learning activities for visitors. The expanded exhibit and
tour was opened to the public on Feb. 9 as a part of Seminole County’s Centennial Celebration. Current plans are
to offer the exhibit as a new field trip option to SCPS students beginning fall 2013.
GARDENS AT THE PHC
During fall semester 2012 UCF undergraduate intern Mark Miller worked with master
gardeners from the Seminole County Extension to create 4
th
grade and adult scripts for
the teaching gardens. Currently teachers have the option of including a visit to the
gardens as part of the interpretation of several exhibits. Mr. Miller created a separate,
stand-alone tour of the gardens. He also compiled the necessary research for creating
extensive interpretive labels so that visitors can learn from the gardens without a guide.
We will be working with the master gardeners on the label project in the near future.
ENTRANCE HALL EXHIBIT
Based on the materials collected at the History Harvest on March 2, students in Dr. Scot French’s graduate seminar
in Local and Community History are creating an exhibit for the front entrance. Their plan is to document the
history of the building while telling the story of the History Harvest. In doing so, their exhibit will contextualize the
building and its mission for arriving visitors. The new exhibit will be installed by the end of spring semester.
CLONE OF THE SENATOR EXHIBIT
This spring during the Seminole County Centennial Celebration, students proposed names for the new tree the
county planted to replace the Senator – an ancient cypress that burned last year. Undergraduate intern David
Mole is updating and expanding the PHC’s exhibit about the Senator. In the process of doing so, Mr. Mole is
creating a prototype for how to re-design the hallway exhibits at the PHC. His exhibit will be installed by April 26.
TEACHING TRUNKS
Throughout the past 9 months a series of volunteers have worked to inventory the 40+ teaching trunks that belong
to the Student Museum. Currently two UCF Education student volunteers are working with Ilene Haney, Social
Studies Specialist for SCPS, to develop teaching curriculum for 12 of the trunks. When completed, the trunks will
provide a “museum to go” for students from various grade levels.
AUDIO TOURS
Over the winter, UCF graduate student and volunteer Lindsay Turnbull created scripts for audio tours of most
exhibit spaces at the PHC. Staff members are now working with other volunteers to record the tours, which will

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offer additional interpretation to visitors. The PHC submitted a proposal on April 22 to Idėeclic, a Canadian
technology consulting firm, to pilot the use of a new mobile platform to support the tours.
NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBIT
During fall semester 2012 Dr. Daniel Murphree’s Native American History undergraduate class proposed a series of
revisions for the PHC’s Native American exhibit. Their proposed changes will be included in an overall exhibit plan
we will be working on beginning July 2013.
OPERATIONAL COSTS
In December 2011, when we proposed the partnership between UCF and the SCPS, the PHC’s projected
operational budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 was approximately $111,000 as outlined below:
Original Estimate of Costs for 2012-13
Staff $67,600
Utilities $23,761
Equipment $2,500
Office/educational supplies $5,000
Telecommunications $3,500
Marketing $5,000
Grounds maintenance $3,680
TOTAL $111,041
Actual operational costs for fiscal year 2012/13 have exceeded the estimated costs. In order to accommodate being
open to the public full time while conducting 4th
grade field trips, we have supplemented volunteer staff with graduate
teaching assistants, interns, and additional OPS/part-time staff (primarily history graduate students). Custodial services,
a cost that was paid from another budget when SCPS operated the building, created the highest unanticipated cost.
Actual Operational Costs for 2012-13
Staff $75,106
Utilities $27,840
Custodial Services/Maintenance $18,550
Equipment $2,500
Telecommunications $6,400
Marketing $6,750
Office/educational supplies $5,450
Exhibits/Archival Supplies $2,500
Events $1,750
TOTAL $146,846

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REVENUE GENERATION
The PHC is on target to generate $20,000 during its first year of operation, primarily from 4
th
grade field trips
provided for SCPS, private school, and home school students. Additional sources of revenue included visitors’
donations (walk-in and community events), Girl Scout programming, and facility rentals.
Revenues - 2012-13
Revenue Source Non-Taxable
Sales -
External
Taxable Sales
- External
Sales Tax Revenue
Received
Outstanding
Balance
SCPS Field Trips $12,085.00 $0.00 $0.00 $12,085.00 $0.00
Fright School $177.00 $387.16 $23.61 $587.77
Girl Scout Events $1,310.00 $161.48 $9.69 $1,481.17
Walk-ins $1,671.20 $0.00 $0.00 $1,671.20
Home/Private Schools $295.00 $325.00 $19.50 $639.50
Special Events $234.00 $0.00 $0.00 $234.00
Summer Camp $0.00 $662.27 $39.74 $702.01 $0.00
Rentals $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,600.00
SUBTOTALS $15,772.20 $1,535.91 $92.53 $17,400.64 $1,600.00
EXPANDED PROGRAMMING AND FUND-RAISING
Plans for increasing revenue next year include expanding the PHC’s programming in several ways:
 Summer Camp. Our goal is to host our first Summer Discovery Camp in June 2013. Registration has been
slow but PHC staff will continue to explore strategies for hosting a summer camp or providing other
programming throughout the summer when the building is not used for other K-12 programming.
 Workshops for fees. Beginning this summer, the PHC will host a series of Public History Workshops
focused on collecting personal stories. Beginning in the fall, we will add a Gardening Workshop series,
hosted jointly with the Seminole County Master Gardeners, and a Heritage Craft series.
 K-12 Programming. The PHC is planning to expand its K-12 field trips and other programming to include
additional home School and private school students as well as students from other grades.
 Girl Scout and Boy Scout Events. During our first year of operation, the PHC maintained the Girl Scout
programming that had been provided by SCPS in previous years. Next year, we will expand our Girl Scout
programming and add new programming for Boy Scouts.
 Fund-raising events. The PHC’s fund-raising event this year was a Writer’s Workshop presented by New
York Times bestseller. Hosted in partnership with the Friends of the Student Museum and UCF’s Book
Festival, the event raised $1,200 for building restoration. During 2012-13, the History Department added
a UCF Foundation account specifically for Public History programming. We will work with the UCF
Foundation to plan an annual fund-raising event beginning 2013-14.
MEETING SPACE AND FACILITY RENTALS
In addition to using the building for educational programming, community events, and to house a museum
collection, the PHC anticipates renting its facilities for meeting space. During our first year of operation, we have
provided space to the following organizations at no charge:

PAGE 23 OF 24
 UCF Academic Affairs – Provost’s Retreat
 UCF History Department – Annual Workshop
 Association of Retired Teachers of Seminole County
 Judges from Seminole County for Lake Brantley High School’s Mock Trial
Having created facilities rental policies and procedures as well as marketing material, the PHC will begin renting
space in the 2013/14 fiscal year.
GRANTS
Grants provide an additional funding source for the PHC. Because of the unique partnership that supports the
PHC, grant applications for the building and collection are submitted by SCPS and those supporting programming
are submitted by UCF. I am pleased to report that representatives from both partners have successfully co-
authored grant proposals and have implemented them as well. A committee of joint stake-holders worked well
together throughout the year to complete the Museum Assessment program (the consultant’s report is due in the
next month). Members of the building advisory committee worked together to submit the NEH Sustaining Cultural
Heritage Collections proposal. The biggest challenge moving forward is the short-term nature of our partnership,
which is scheduled to end before future funding periods begin. A list of future grant-funding possibilities as well as
a timeline for applications can be found in the appendices.
Grant Title Funding
Organization
Amount Description Status
Museum
Assessment
Program
Institute for
Museums and
Library
Services/
American
Alliance of
Museums
valued
at
$4,000
Provides resources for assessing collections stewardship
through self-study by stakeholders. Pays for a consultant
to conduct an on-site assessment on the museum
collections that results in a report evaluating operations,
presenting recommendations, and suggesting resources.
Awarded
LIFE at UCF Learning
Institute for
Elders
$1,100 Funding to purchase archival supplies to be used as
educational materials for UCF students learning how to
process archival and museum collections.
Awarded
Sustaining
Cultural Heritage -
Planning Grant
NEH $40,000 Funding for projects that gather experts to examine
collections and building envelopes and ascertain how to
best care for them.
Pending
Helping Kids Shine Walt Disney
World
Corporation
$35,000 Funding for Summer Discovery Camp, with an emphasis on
under-served populations.
Declined
CHALLENGES AND FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES
The PHC is in an excellent position to begin a new year.
Since July 2012, much time and energy has been
devoted to creating administrative procedures,
defining roles, and planning educational programming.
Looking forward to next year, we will build on this
foundation to expand our interpretive programming,
begin implementing changes to exhibits, create

PAGE 24 OF 24
community educational workshops, and plan for building restoration. The most significant challenge to moving
ahead is the short-term nature of our partnership. The current 2-year lease has created the following challenges:
 Applying for grants that extend beyond or begin after the end of the 2-year lease
 Inability to hire full-time employees without a longer-term funding commitments
 Fundraising in the community
The PHC has the potential to be a unique prototype of how to create sustainable, educational partnerships that
engage life-long students with hands-on learning opportunities using resources already in place. It brings together
the historical building and its collection, educational programming that focuses on experience-based learning, and
institutions with vested interests in the building, the community, and our students. In doing so, the PHC is pooling
resources to teach students useable skills and create lasting connections between them and their communities.
To fully realize its potential, the PHC will require a long-term commitment by both UCF and the SCPS. UCF defines
itself as “a public multi-campus, metropolitan research university that stands for opportunity” whose mission “is to
deliver a comprehensive program of teaching, research, and service.” The mission of SCPS “is to ensure that all
students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be successful in life.” By extending the lease
period of the building, by ensuring the future of the PHC, UCF and SCPS will realize their missions.

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