Matheson History Museum presents ‘A History of Gainesville and Alachua County’ with Dr. Mark Barrow

Press release from the Matheson History Museum

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Join founding Matheson board president Dr. Mark V. Barrow for an enlightening presentation on the history of Gainesville and Alachua County. Dr. Barrow, a retired cardiologist, has spent over 50 years collecting postcards, art, bottles, and more that illustrate the area’s unique history. Today, the Mark V. Barrow Postcard Collection at the Matheson contains over 20,000 historic postcards from every county in Florida.

Learn Alachua County history through the eyes of a collector and preservationist.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 6, at 7 p.m. Free with registration.

In-person registration: https://mathesonmuseum.networkforgood.com/events/88145-a-history-of-gainesville-and-alachua-county

Mark Barrow, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Mark Barrow was born and raised in Crestview, Florida, and attended the University of Florida. In 1960, his class was the first to matriculate through and graduate from the University of Florida Medical School. After an internship in North Carolina, he returned to UF for residency and a research Ph.D. in anatomical sciences (1968). After two years in Washington, DC, he returned to UF as an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine. In 1972, he entered private practice as a cardiologist.

Dr. Barrow married his late wife, Mary Besalski, in 1959, and the first of their five children was born on the day he graduated from medical school. Together, they worked to preserve and restore more than 20 historic buildings in Gainesville, including the Tigert House and Bailey House. Dr. Barrow was the founding president of the Matheson Historical Center (now the Matheson History Museum). Although Dr. Barrow has retired from his medical practice, he has not actually “retired.” He continues to lead the charge to preserve Alachua County history through collecting, fundraising, and volunteering.

This program is sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville/Alachua County, FL and The City of Gainesville.