Greek embroidery at the Sponge Industry Folk Arts Festival

Embroiderers

Needleworkers

Arts, Greek

Greek Americans

Folk festivals

Special events

Demonstrations

Embroidery

Needlework

Design

Material culture

Decorative arts

Craft

Nineteen color slides. Greek embroidery displayed. Brief biographies of the embroiderers (some pictured) can be found in the folder. The festival was held June 24-25, 1989 to celebrate Tarpon Springs heritage of sponge diving, a practice that dated back to the 1890s. By 1905, when 500 Greek immigrants answered an ad to be sponge divers, the town acquired a distinctive Greek flavor, as the Greek Americans thrived in the sponge industry. At one point, Florida provided 95% of the nation's sponges. Although today over fishing and synthetic materials have undercut the sponge diving industry, the tradition lives on in Greek families, and through tourism.

State Archives of Florida, Series S1672

1989-06-24

Florida Folklife Program

slides (photographs)

Still Image

S1672

1

6

Sponge Industry Folk Arts Festival

Reddy, David

Michael, Nancy

Felos, Kimberly

Rodis, Mary

Suber, Elizabeth

Gianaros, Litsa

Buviss, Mary

Greek American

2401

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