Women Who Wrote South Florida’s History

A rotating exhibition at Deering Estate highlights the literary and cultural contributions of women who helped shape South Florida’s history. On view from March 1 through September 30, the installation is presented in the historic Film Room of the Richmond Cottage as part of the Estate’s ongoing interpretive programming. Curated by Martha Betancourt, the exhibition focuses on the work and influence of Mabel White Dorn, Natalie Newell and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas.

The presentation includes a selection of historic books and botanical volumes drawn from the Deering Collection, alongside loaned materials that reflect the intellectual and creative networks surrounding these figures. Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, widely recognized for her environmental advocacy and writing on the Everglades, is contextualized alongside contemporaries whose contributions to the region’s cultural landscape are less widely known.

Developed with support from the 100 Ladies of Deering and additional contributors, the exhibition connects archival materials, site history and visual interpretation to explore how these women’s work intersected with the preservation of South Florida’s natural and cultural heritage.