A scarce and visually rich promotional view book for Hotel College Arms, the premier winter resort in DeLand at the turn of the century. Originally opened in 1885, the hotel rose to national prominence under the ownership and patronage of John B. Stetson, who renamed the property in 1896 and transformed it into one of Florida’s most fashionable seasonal retreats.

Stapled wraps, tan embossed stock with green titles and decorative frame; [16] pp. Illustrated with 13 halftone photographs (10 full-page; 1 double-page panorama). 12 × 18 cm (4.75 × 7 inches); wraps slightly oversized. Minimal handling wear; faint even toning. A remarkably well-preserved example.

Historical Background
The Hotel College Arms occupied a central place in the evolution of late-19th and early-20th century Florida tourism. Constructed in 1885, the hotel emerged during an era when inland destinations—rather than beaches—anchored much of the state’s winter travel industry. DeLand, founded only a decade earlier, branded itself as a refined, healthful retreat for wealthy Northerners seeking a mild climate, citrus groves, and proximity to the St. Johns River transportation corridor.

The hotel’s fortunes rose dramatically under the ownership and patronage of John B. Stetson, the nationally recognized hat manufacturer and philanthropist who established nearby Stetson University. After acquiring the property, Stetson modernized and expanded the hotel, and in 1896 rechristened it as the Hotel College Arms, aligning it with the university and reinforcing DeLand’s emerging identity as a cultivated, educationally driven town.

Stetson further elevated the resort by commissioning what contemporary accounts described as one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the United States. Golf—then still a novelty in America—became a defining feature of elite Florida tourism. The presence of this course placed College Arms among the earliest significant golf destinations in the state, predating many of the better-known East Coast luxury hotels.

The hotel became a social and cultural hub during the winter season, attracting industrialists, academics, and literary figures. Its verandas, parlors, and golf greens embodied the transitional period in Florida tourism when winter convalescence gave way to active leisure, sporting culture, and extended seasonal residence.

By the 1940s, after decades of prominence, the hotel declined alongside shifts in regional travel patterns and the rise of coastal resort development. It was demolished mid-century, and original promotional materials—intended for single-season use—rarely survive.

Price: $750.00