Huber Christian Hurst Papers

Collection

Identifier: Ms Coll. 001

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The papers document Hurst's life and work outside the University, especially the Florida Republican Party. His correspondence and folders labeled Republican Party reveal the management of the Party through the State Executive Committee, Republican patronage and the relationship of the State Committee to the Republican National Committee.

Hurst's personal life is documented here as well. He was very close to his parents, and their letters can be found throughout the correspondence. Both of his parents died in 1956, within several months of each other.

The collection also contains photographs of the University, Gainesville, and other areas of Florida. These have been filed in the Photograph Collection under Hurst's name. Other photographs of the Hurst family farm in Ohio were donated to the Ohio Historical Society.

Dates

Creation: 1897-1960
Creation: Majority of material found within 1920-1956

Creator

Hurst, Huber Christian, 1900-1984. (Person)

Access

University Archives collections are available for research. Portions of the collections may be restricted due to the requirements of applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA, and in accordance with best practices as defined by the Society of American Archivists.

Biographical/Historical Note

Huber Christian Hurst was born February 19, 1900, in Logan County, Ohio. His mother was Anna Huber Hurst and his father was Edward Christian Hurst.

Hurst graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Business Administration in 1924. He continued at the University to receive a law degree in 1927. He also earned a masters degree in Real Estate from Ohio State University in 1934. Hurst became Auditor for the University in 1925. He held the position of Assistant Professor of Business Law from 1927 until 1943 when he was granted a leave of absence to enter the Army. After leaving the Army in 1945, Hurst became the loan guaranty officer for the Veterans' Administration in Florida. He returned to the University to teach in 1946 and continued as Professor of Business Law until he resigned in July, 1952 to handle Eisenhower's presidential campaign in Florida. He was the Secretary of the Republican State Executive Committee during this time period.

In 1953, Hurst was appointed Director of the Federal Housing Administration in Jacksonville and later served as the Postmaster for Jacksonville. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, the Elks Club and the Florida Bar. He died January 18, 1984, leaving his entire estate to the University of Florida.

Extent

1 Linear feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, political, professional, and personal papers documenting Hurst's education, personal life, and work with the Florida Republican Party and as Postmaster of Jacksonville.