Women Who Wrote South Florida’s History: Mabel White Dorn, Natalie Newell, and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas

Deering Estate presents Women Who Wrote South Florida’s History: Mabel White Dorn, Natalie Newell, and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, curated by Martha Betancourt.

This project is part of a rotating thematic capsule exhibit showcasing objects, collections, and ephemera connected to the Estate’s history and the Deering-McCormick family, facilitated by the 100 Ladies of Deering and significant contributors to the cultural heritage of the Deering Estate. The initiative is part of the Museum’s interpretive programming that works to engage site, history, and the visual arts with contextualized narratives that illustrate the richness of the Deering Estate’s cultural and historical subjects.

Marjorie Stoneman Douglas and Charles Deering are connected by their shared commitment to environmental conservation and the preservation of South Florida’s unique natural landscape. This capsule will survey a selection of historic books on loan alongside Deering Collection botanical volumes. The selection offers a glimpse into the literary and creative labor of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas and the inspired circle of women around her who made valuable contributions to South Florida’s distinctive cultural landscape.

This inaugural exhibit is made possible through a long-term book loan facilitated by Maredith Ehrman, member of the 100 Ladies of Deering and current Chair of the Furnishings and Design/Enhancement Committee.

Installed in The Film Room, a historic space in the Richmond Cottage at the Deering Estate, Women Who Wrote South Florida’s History will be on view from March 1 to September 30, 2026.