History of The Joseph Pictures - First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
Upon the 1962 completion of the FPCO Fellowship Hall, a series of 24 exquisite pictures that tell the Biblical story of Joseph were framed and hung in the small room at the southwest corner of the building. For 37 years the room served many purposes - small group meetings, luncheons, study groups, etc. - and was known to all as 'the Joseph Room.' Many people were exposed to the Joseph pictures and became attached to them.
These pictures have an interesting origin. During the 1960s FPCO Member Ruth H. (Mrs. Wayne) Cooper prepared and shared the following documentation:
The lovely pictures with a Biblical story in elegant script were a gift to First Presbyterian from Dorothy and Alfred Gaipa.
Mr. Gaipa was the European representative for Gillette Safety Razors, and lived in Paris. Dorothy Gaipa was a native of London and a frequent visitor there.
One day, on a casual visit to a small and old bookshop, they discovered Joseph's story in one book. Realizing there must be any number of such pictures, they urged the shopkeeper to search for more. The shopkeeper seemed in no hurry to search them out but with urging for Dorothy Gaipa he finally did. The complete set was found.
In 1942, Mr. Gaipa was transferred to Buenos Aires and they then made frequent visits to Orlando, finally becoming permanent residents of this city.
"The pictures were framed beautifully and the story of the pictures was done by a local craftsman and given to First Presbyterian Church, a wonderful gift of love, I do think!
I've told this story to many people - but many, many do not know the Joseph Room exists - except as a tawdry room. So - hopes are for a new life - with acknowledgement to the Gaipas, long since gone from this world."
A daughter lives in Switzerland - never comes to the states - according to an uncle who still lives in Winter Park. So Be It! -- Ruth Cooper
On page 247 in her book, The Heart of the City, History of the First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida 1876 - 1987, author Nancy Hardy Abberger recorded the 1962 completion of 'the new Fellowship Hall' and wrote:
The reception room on the south was designated the Joseph Room because of a series of hand-tinted prints hung there, illustrating events in the life of thta Old Testament hero. These prings were collected in London and donated byMr. and Mrs. Alfred Gaipa. The Gaipas found the first ones in a dusty book shop to which they returned time after time until proprietor 'produced' the entire set, a few at a time.
Research of church membership records reveals that Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Gaipa were members at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando from September 7, 1958 until their dismissal on June 8, 1965 to Kirk Presbyterian Church, Lusanne, Switzerland.
In 1999 the Joseph Room was converted to use as the Carpenter’s Shop Bookstore. The Joseph pictures were relocated to the Christian Education hallway on 2nd floor, Allen Hall.
During the complete campus renovation in the year 2000, the pictures were removed and placed in storage. When the Heart of the City Ministry Building was completed in 2001, a group of interested volunteers from FPC Arts Council reframed the 24 Joseph pictures, together with a digital replica of the original cover of the book from which the pictures were taken. The total 25 framed works were then hung around the walls of the third floor Sterchi Conference Room. At the retirement of Dr. J. Howard Edington, the Heart if the City Ministry Center was renamed as the Edington Ministry Center by action of the Session at a Special Called Meeting on January 15, 2003.
Adopted by The Heritage Committee
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
January 24, 2005