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Lewton, Fredrick, L. (1874-1959)

Student, Chemist, and Archivist

An archivist’s job is to keep records that have enduring value as reliable memories of the past. Fredrick Lewton, the first archivist of the Mills Memorial Library at Rollins College, did just that, making sure to document every aspect of the history of the liberal arts heritage. Fredrick Lewis Lewton was born on March 17, 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio to Fredrick William Taylor and Annie Louise Taylor. Lewton passed his youth in Ohio until the age of two, when his father decided to relocate the family to Florida. There, the family constructed a home on Lake Brantley made from the lumber out of Moyer’s Mill on Lake Virginia, Winter Park (currently the location of the boat dock on the Rollins College campus). During construction, Lewton’s father became ill, forcing the family to move into the uncompleted house. There, Lewton spent his time before schooling, “in and around his out-of-door playground,” where he became keenly interested with the nature that surrounded him. ^[1]

By the age of twelve, Lewton was forced to leave behind the nature and attend grade school with his sister, Ivy. Lewton remained at the school for only a few months, until he entered into the poultry business with his mother. In October 1886, Lewton sought a higher education and enrolled in Rollins College, where he took up courses with Miss Eva J. Root in Botany, Zoology, and Astronomy. He left the College in 1890 and went to Philadelphia to attend an engineering school. Against his father’s wishes, Lewton transferred out of the school the following year, and attended Drexel University with hopes of making a career out of chemistry. Because of the big freeze that hit Florida in 1895, Lewton had a tough time getting employment, forcing him to accept a job at the Baltimore Locomotive Works with a wage of ten cents per hour. ^[2] On October of that year, Drexel University appointed Lewton instructor of chemistry during the night school and laboratory assistant in chemistry and physics during the day school. In June 1896, Lewton secured a job at the Commercial Museum as an economic botanist, where he began an intensive research investigation on the chemical composition, solubility, and botanical affiliation of over five-hundred specimens of gums and resins. German scientists took immediate notice of his classification, which later resulted in its publication in German and American science journals.

After receiving publication, Lewton returned to school, where he took the Civil Service examination and began his work as a scientific assistant in botany for the United States Department of Agriculture. During his work, Lewton studied at George Washington University, until his graduation in 1922. Directly after, he concentrated his studies on the cotton boll weevil, and traveled the southern states for eight years experimenting on the pest. Lewton later transferred his focus to the U.S. National Museum where he became Curator of Textiles and Medicine.

In 1929, Lewton’s wife of thirty-years, Emilie, passed away, leaving behind four daughters. At the urgent request of his children, Lewton remarried his wife’s real estate partner, Blanche Bannister Clark of Michigan. Together, they moved to Florida, where on an invitation from President Holt, Lewton received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science for his involvement with chemistry and botany, and for his work done as a collaborator in The Century Dictionary, Cyclopedia of Horticulture, and The Book of Rural Life. On May 1954, Lewton was appointed archivist and historian of Rollins College on a part-time basis. Lewis remained in this position until his death on February 21, 1959, leaving behind a library full of more than 80,000 volumes, 200,000 pamphlets, and the memory of a great person. ^[3]

-Alia Alli

Lyman, Frederick (1849-1931)

Founder and Early Leader of Rollins College

Frederick Wolcott Lyman was born June 18, 1849 in Plymouth, Connecticut to a congregational minister named Rev. Ephraim Lyman and his wife Hanna Lyman. Frederick was one of five children. He spent the majority of his childhood in Washington, Connecticut where he also attended the Gunnery School. ^[4] At the age of fourteen his family resettled in Northampton, Massachusetts. As a minister, Frederick’s father earned little pay. ^[5] By the time Frederick completed his first year of high school he was forced to leave his studies and fend for himself. Frederick worked in a general store but made up for his inability to attend school by teaching himself algebra, geometry, English and many other subjects in the afternoons, after the store closed. ^[6]

In 1871 , at the age of twenty-one, Frederick followed his brother, George, to the west in search of opportunity. ^[7] He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he established a business enterprise. While residing in Minneapolis he became heavily involved with the community. Lyman became treasurer of the Lyman-Eliel Drug Company, director of the National Bank of Commerce, Northwestern National bank and the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company. ^[8] He also became President of the Business Men’s Association and a member of the City Charter Committee. He spent some time as deacon, superintendent of the Sunday school and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Minneapolis, Minnesota. ^[9]

On May 9, 1876 Lyman married Elizabeth Huntington Clark. Together they had three daughters: Katherine Hart Lyman; Jeannie Huntington Lyman, who died as a child; and Margaret Foster Lyman. They also had one son named Frederick Clark Lyman. The Lyman family first became aware of Winter Park in the spring of 1882 when Mrs. Lyman and her mother visited Maitland. ^[10] Loring Augustus Chase brought them to Winter Park. Mrs. Lyman bought a plot before heading back home, and in the fall of 1883 had a small winter house built on the property. The Lyman home was located on the corner of Morse Blvd. and Interlachen Ave. ^[11] Frederick and his family spent winters in Winter Park due to his wife’s disdain withstand for Minnesota winters. ^[12] While in Winter Park, Lyman spent the majority of the time developing the town. He help found the Congregational Church, becoming a prime contributor and supporter of the church. ^[13]

When Lyman received word that there were suggestions about the possible creation of a college in Florida, he, more than anyone else advocated for Winter Park. ^[14] He became deeply interested in the matter and spent much of his time and money helping found Rollins College. On April 10, 1885 he proposed $5,000 to “The Congregational College” on the condition that it was located in Winter Park. ^[15] At the Congregational meeting that was to decide the college site, he pushed for the Winter Park bid forward. The bid Lyman presented was about $114,000 surpassing that of all the other cities. ^[16]

With Lyman’s help, Rollins College was incorporated on April 28, 1885. He soon became the elected President of Rollins Corporation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He helped plan the construction and furnishing of the first four buildings on the Rollins College campus. Those buildings were Knowles Hall, Pinehurst Cottage, a Dining Hall and Lakeside Cottage. The Freeze of 1886 affected the financial and administrative status of the college but Lyman persevered and because he had the best interest of the College in mind, Rollins College pulled through this difficult time. ^[17]

In 1890 Lyman offered to build a gymnasium for the school. It was built that summer and named Lyman Gymnasium in his honor. Lyman continued to work with Rollins College and the Winter Park community throughout 1899, even as he and his family were forced to move to Arizona and later California in response to Mrs. Lyman’s deteriorating health. ^[18] On May 28, 1890 Lyman resigned as President of the Rollins Corporation and established the position of President of Faculty to take over his position. He was then elected as a trustee and member of the Executive Committee. In 1905 he permanently retired from business and spent his remaining winters in Pasadena, California and his summers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He kept close ties with the College and went on to give Rollins $1,000 to his original endowment fund, and donated his house and furniture as part of the endowment. ^[19] $200 was allocated each year to keep the house in good condition. The house was later sold for $4,000 during financially demanding times. ^[20]

Elizabeth Lyman died in 1913. Lyman continued making an impact on education by being elected trustee of Pomona College in Clermont, California in 1914. He served in this position until 1928 and was honorary trustee until 1931. Lyman died on December 22, 1931 in Pasadena California at the age of eighty-two. ^[21] His extensive contributions to the Winter Park and Rollins College community have had a tremendous impact. Lyman can rest assure that his efforts have not been in vain.

– Kerem K. Rivera