Reflections Magazine
The history journal of the Historical Society of Central Florida
A few months after I launched Kilby Creative I got a lucky break. One of my former bosses at Church Street Station recommended me to the marketing staff of the Orange County Regional History Center. To get my foot in the door I did some pro bono work, and they must have liked it because, eighteen years later, I am still doing work for them. Through the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with many talented individuals there and it has been an honor to be associated with such an important institution. One of my favorite projects for them has been designing Reflections Magazine, the history journal of the Historical Society of Central Florida.
What started out as a single-color publication with few images called “It’s About Time” has become a full-color magazine that brings to light important stories about Central Florida history. The magazine is currently published twice a year and features articles by History Center staff and outside contributors such as authors Susan Carol McCarthy, Gary Monroe, and Bob Kealing. I have also contributed articles, including pieces on Church Street Station, the fountain of youth in Central Florida, the graphic designers of Figurehead Records, and Annie Oakley. Oakley wintered in Leesburg, Florida and was almost killed in a car accident near Daytona.
History Center staff have taken the opportunity to publish ground-breaking research in the publication and the magazine has received several awards including the Florida Historical Society’s Golden Quill in 2014. After writer Joy Wallace Dickinson took a break from the editor’s role, I stepped in as managing editor, meaning I wrangle articles and find a way to squeeze them into the magazine. It has been interesting to see this project evolve, and it is inevitable that it will change again to meet the needs of the museum which it helps to promote. Beyond educating a contemporary audience about the fascinating history of the region, my hope is that future historical researchers find this to be a valuable research tool to be used to paint a more complete picture of our past.
Orlando Sentinel Columnist Bob Morris started a wacky parade in Downtown Orlando in the 1980s called the “Queen Kumquat Sashay.” having witnessed one of the epic events myself, it seemed it warranted a festive design approach.
I originally created this artwork for a poster after the legendary Cypress tree was tragically burned to the ground. With minor modifications it made a perfect cover.
An exhibit on hard rock history called for a rockin’ solution with flames and a tattoo-like type treatment.
A history of Major League Spring Training in Florida, also know as the Grapefruit League, was a great excuse to use vintage baseball cards and artifacts from the Library of Congress and History Center archives.