Did your ancestor work at Vizcaya?

Photo courtesy Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is looking for stories about those who worked at the estate in its early days. Mounting its first exhibition about staff life, Vizcaya will highlight the lives of former employees. Emphasis will be placed on the James Deering years when Vizcaya was being planned and while under construction (1910-1922) and when the estate was his winter home (1916-1925). The exhibition will be on view November 8, 2017 through July, 2018.

"Our centennial year is the opportune time to shine a light on those who were critical to the formative years of Vizcaya," says Gina Wouters, Vizcaya's curator. "The lifestyle that James Deering and his guests enjoyed was only possible due to the individuals who possessed the skills and experience to support it. It's also crucial to recognize that while Vizcaya was the home of Deering, it was also the home of several staff members who worked for him. The exhibition will explore the staff relationships that developed while working on the estate, hierarchical structures in the work force, and social issues characteristic of the era."

Although the exhibition will focus on the lives of domestic servants including the butlers and maids, all stories are welcome. The exhibition will explore the staff's relationship to not only James Deering and his estate, but also to Miami and its diverse communities.

Stories can be sent to cap@vizcaya.org or posted on Vizcaya's Facebook page at facebook.com/VizcayaMiami/ through October 15, 2017. Reclaim a piece of Miami history that has been lost but not forgotten.

Vizcaya is located at 3251 South Miami Avenue.