Hannibal Square Historian Honored
Fairolyn Livingston Receives Cheney Award from Central FL Historical Society
The Cheney Award is named for Judge Donald A. Cheney (1889 – 1983) who founded the Orange County Historical Society and the Orange County Historical Museum, predecessors of the current Historical Society and the Orange County Regional History Center. History Center Spokesperson Amanda Henry explained that The Cheney Award was created, “to recognize and honor those who have not chosen between the past and the future – but who understand the two are inseparable.”
“The award,” said Henry, “reminds us all of our champions of the Central Florida community who embody a love, reverence and unfailing dedication for our area’s history.”
Past Cheney Award recipients include the Orlando Sentinel’s Joy Wallace Dickinson (2013), Joseph Wittenstein of Rollins (2017) and James W. “Chief” Wilson (2018).
Fairolyn was honored for her work as Chief Historian at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, where she has used her extensive research to enhance the permanent collection there. She has conducted interviews and written text for numerous exhibits, including the Center’s unique timeline installation, which juxtaposes significant events in local and national African American history.
She is a founding member of the team of documentarians, scholars and residents who in 2002 established the award winning show, The Heritage Collection: Photographs and Oral Histories of West Winter Park. This museum-quality documentary about the residents and history of Hannibal Square has been on permanent display since 2007, when the Heritage Center was established.
Fairolyn now devotes her time to the ongoing expansion of the Hannibal Square Heritage Center’s permanent collection, which includes “The Heritage Collection Phase IX: Hannibal Square Heroes (2017) and two phases of “The Sage Project: Hannibal Square Elders Tell Their Stories.”
The Cheney Award is only the latest in Fairolyn’s list of honors. She has received numerous awards and has shared the Hannibal Square community’s vibrant history with audiences across the state. In 2018, Winter Park Magazine recognized Fairolyn as one of Winter Park’s “Most Influential Citizens” for her contributions to understanding and preserving Central Florida’s history.
“Fairolyn Livingston’s invaluable research and outreach work have filled in many once-overlooked and under-appreciated chapters about a vital, important community centered around Hannibal Square in Winter Park,” said Orange County Historical Society Executive Director Michael Perkins. “We’re honored to present her with this award for her many contributions.”
Thanks Anne for sharing Fairolyn’s Achievement. This award is well deserved to a young lady born and raised in Winter Park. I’m happy Fairolyn got angry, because the true story of Hannibal may not have been told otherwise.
The families in Hannibal Square were self sustained. They worked tirelessly taking care of their families, ran businesses, built homes, attended churches by lanterns, and were busy establishing Winter Park and taking care of white families.
When the CRA was established in Winter Park, the Westside Community was painted with a derogatory brush. That evil brush was used to take the land from the people that worked in the wealthy homes.
Thanks to Fairolyn for setting the record straight. I’m very proud of her for having the courage to tell the truth and to lead Tours of what was Once. I’m happy that the Heritage Center is there so people will know who the Blacks really were.
Martha🕊
Congratulations, Fairolyn, for all of your work and a job well done !
Congratulations Ms. Livingston for an award well deserved. Excellent commemorative honor from Orange County, but it’s unfortunate the Winter Park History Museum that used to honor local leaders like you has stopped that practice or at least doesn’t publicize if they do.
Congratulations you deserve it. Thank you for your service!!!!
Congratulations, Fairolyn. It was a pleasure to meet and sit with you at the recent “Wild About Welbourne ” Fundraiser Luncheon. The Sage Project is one of my favorite exhibits in Winter Park.
Congrats Ms Livingston! So appreciate your hard work and accomplishment. Thank you for keeping the memories of Winter Park alive that some of us would never have realized otherwise.