In 2025, we celebrate the 160th anniversary of Emancipation Day in Florida. Elizabeth Robins Diary Podcast host Natalie Kahler provided the keynote address at the event. The speech is included here with relevant photos from Chinsegut Hill, courtesy of Natalie Kahler as well as New York University and University of Florida Special Collections.

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Web Design by ⁠Roots Creative Co⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠

⁠Elizabeth Robins Papers⁠ housed at NYU’s Fales Library

Margaret Dreier Robins Papers housed at UF Smathers Library

Following an intense personal tragedy, Elizabeth went abroad to Europe. And much to everyone’s surprise, she decided to stay in Great Britain and restart her acting career there. A combination of an inspiring art community and intense personal relationships kept her there.

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Read Dr. Angela V. John's incredible biography of Elizabeth (or her newest one on Philip Burton): www.angelavjohn.com

Dr. John's publisher: Parthian Books

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Find additional content on our website: https://www.erdiary.com

Facebook: Elizabeth Robins Diary

Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, Odd Life Studios

Web Design by Roots Creative Co

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, Live Oak Theatre

Elizabeth Robins Papers housed at NYU’s Fales Library

Elizabeth at Henfield Museum

Elizabeth at Muskingham County Museum

Elizabeth’s novel, My Little Sister, was made into a silent film in 1919. The lead actress was Evelyn Nesbit, the most famous face of her generation. The novel’s exploration of human trafficking takes on additional meaning with Evelyn’s involvement in the film adaptation.

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⁠Dr. Paula Uruburu⁠

⁠American Eve⁠ by Paula Uruburu

⁠Ragtime⁠ by E.L. Doctorow

Paula's Recommendations:

⁠Prodigal Days⁠ by Evelyn Nesbit

⁠The Traitor⁠ by Harry Thaw

⁠The Madison Square Tragedy ⁠by Rick Geary

⁠The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing⁠ by Charles Samuels

Credits:

Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Odd Life Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠

Web Design ⁠⁠⁠⁠Roots Creative Co⁠⁠⁠⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠⁠⁠⁠

NYU Fales Library⁠ Elizabeth Robins Papers⁠

University of Florida Smathers Library ⁠Margaret Dreier Robins Papers⁠

Elizabeth got a close look at race relations in the early twentieth century through her friendship with Fielder Harris. As a formerly enslaved man making his way in Florida, Fielder worked at Chinsegut and mentored Elizabeth and her brother Raymond as they built their property into a modern farm. Fielder helped form Elizabeth's perception of what it meant to be human and influenced how she would pursue justice in her generation.

Patreon

⁠Facebook⁠

⁠Special Guest Fred Hearns⁠

⁠Tampa Bay History Center⁠

⁠University of South Florida African American History Collections⁠

⁠Hillsborough County Public Library African American History & Genealogy Library⁠

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Odd Life Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roots Creative Co⁠

Web Designer Allisa Babor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Roots Creative Co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dr. Joanne Gates hosts ⁠⁠Elizabeth Robins Web⁠⁠

New York University's Fales Library houses ⁠Elizabeth Robins Papers⁠

University of Florida's Smathers Library houses ⁠Margaret Dreier Robins Papers⁠

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Independent Age⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Mayor Blake Bell, seventh generation Brooksvillian Andrea Hedick Read, and graphic designer Barry Meindl dig into Season One of the podcast with our host. The foursome will go from fun facts to philosophy, and what we should anticipate from the podcast moving forward.

Blake Bell & Andrea Hedick Read Interview

Suffrage Reading from Way Stations

⁠Brooksville Main Street Website⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Brooksville Main Street Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Brooksville Main Street (@brooksvillemainstreetfl) • Instagram photos and videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Kahler (@kahlernat) / Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Odd Life Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profound Revelation Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, ⁠⁠⁠⁠DaBarr Design⁠⁠⁠⁠

Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Roots Creative Co⁠⁠⁠⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠⁠⁠⁠

Grant funding assistance by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Florida Humanities⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by⁠⁠⁠⁠ Independent Age⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

This mini episode gives you a glimpse into our Season One wrap-up conversation with Andrea Hedick Read, Barry Meindl and Mayor Blake Bell.

⁠Brooksville Main Street Website⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Brooksville Main Street Facebook⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Brooksville Main Street (@brooksvillemainstreetfl) • Instagram photos and videos⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Natalie Kahler (@kahlernat) / Twitter⁠⁠⁠

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠⁠⁠Odd Life Studios⁠⁠⁠

Recorded at ⁠⁠⁠Profound Revelation Studios⁠⁠⁠

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, ⁠⁠⁠DaBarr Design⁠⁠⁠

Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, ⁠⁠⁠Roots Creative Co⁠⁠⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠⁠⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠⁠⁠

Grant funding assistance by ⁠⁠⁠Florida Humanities⁠⁠⁠

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by⁠⁠⁠ Independent Age⁠⁠⁠ 

Before the Robins christened their property Chinsegut, the Snow family had dubbed it Snow Hill. Charlotte Ederington Snow, the oldest child of the Ederington family who had first built the manor house, grew up there and then raised her seven children on the Hill. Even once the Snows sold the manor and bulk of the property to Elizabeth, they continued to own property right next to it and were pivotal in the Robins' renovation and restoration efforts. This double-length episode features two of Charlotte's descendants who provide insight into the still influential Snow family. The cover image was taken by Elizabeth in 1906 and features Ernest Snow on the left and his brother Mallory in the middle.

Snow History with Ernest Snow grandchildren

Brooksville History Interview with Blake Edrington Bell and Andrea Hedick Read 

Interview with Bruce Snow

Brooksville History Interview with Alfred McKethan & Roy Snow (1990)

Interview with Alfred & Roy at Alfred's home (starts at 30:10)

⁠Brooksville Main Street Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Brooksville Main Street Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠Brooksville Main Street (@brooksvillemainstreetfl) • Instagram photos and videos⁠⁠

⁠⁠Natalie Kahler (@kahlernat) / Twitter⁠⁠

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠⁠Odd Life Studios⁠⁠

Recorded at ⁠⁠Profound Revelation Studios⁠⁠

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, ⁠⁠DaBarr Design⁠⁠

Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, ⁠⁠Roots Creative Co⁠⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠⁠

Grant funding assistance by ⁠⁠Florida Humanities⁠⁠

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by⁠⁠ Independent Age⁠⁠ 

Music played an integral role at Chinsegut, from casual sing-a-longs around the piano, to the annual community sunrise Easter service, to concerts on the porch. In this episode, Elizabeth's diary provides proof of the surprising and welcome existence of the Snow Hill band.

Unbinding Gentility: Women Making Music in the Nineteenth-Century South

"Home Sweet Home" sung by Deanna Durbin

"My Old Kentucky Home" sung by Paul Robeson

"Dixe" Confederate version sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford

"Dixie" Union version sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Brooksville Main Street Website⁠

⁠Brooksville Main Street Facebook⁠

⁠Brooksville Main Street (@brooksvillemainstreetfl) • Instagram photos and videos⁠

⁠Natalie Kahler (@kahlernat) / Twitter⁠

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠Odd Life Studios⁠

Recorded at ⁠Profound Revelation Studios⁠

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, ⁠DaBarr Design⁠

Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, ⁠Roots Creative Co⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠

Grant funding assistance by ⁠Florida Humanities⁠

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by⁠ Independent Age⁠ 

The Rest Cure was a medical treatment combining various physical and mental treatments as well as a surprising diet. When Elizabeth continued to suffer side effects from a bout with typhoid, she underwent a couple rest cures. Out of those experiences came a novel, A Dark Lantern: A Story with a Prologue, that would be made into a film in 1920 starring Alice Brady and James Crane.

Dr. Stiles article, "The Rest Cure, 1873-1925" 

A Dark Lantern Google Book

A Dark Lantern film photos

Cultures of Neurasthenia: From Beard to the First World War

S. Weir Mitchell, 1829-1914: Philadelphia's Literary Physician

Mrs. Dalloway

The Yellow Wallpaper

Cambridge Springs, PA and the Water Cure 

Brooksville Main Street Website⁠

⁠Brooksville Main Street Facebook⁠

⁠Brooksville Main Street (@brooksvillemainstreetfl) • Instagram photos and videos⁠

⁠Natalie Kahler (@kahlernat) / Twitter⁠

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, ⁠Odd Life Studios⁠

Recorded at ⁠Profound Revelation Studios⁠

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, ⁠DaBarr Design⁠

Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, ⁠Roots Creative Co⁠

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, ⁠Live Oak Theatre⁠

Grant funding assistance by ⁠Florida Humanities⁠

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by⁠ Independent Age⁠ 

For much of the twentieth century, Brooksville, Florida identified itself as "Home of the Tangerine" and incorporated the fruit into their city stationery, police badges, and high school class rings. But why was the tangerine so embedded into the community identity and how did it impact Brooksville's development? Our special guest this episode is fifth generation Brooksvillian Jim Kimbrough. He is a descendent of Francis Ederington, who built the Chinsegut Manor House. His family and descendants would live on the property from 1851 until Elizabeth Robins purchased it in 1905.

Tangerine Drop Returns to Brooksville

Photo of the Tangerine Drop Tangerine

Home of the Tangerine Brooksville brochure circa 1960

Jim Kimbrough and the Suncoast Parkway

Jim Kimbrough interview

Citrus Industry in Florida

Brooksville Main Street Website

Brooksville Main Street Facebook

Brooksville Main Street (@brooksvillemainstreetfl) • Instagram photos and videos

Natalie Kahler (@kahlernat) / Twitter

Credits:Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, Odd Life Studios

Recorded at Profound Revelation Studios

Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, DaBarr Design

Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, Roots Creative Co

“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, Live Oak Theatre

Grant funding assistance by Florida Humanities

Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by Independent Age