Capturing the Canal Zone in Time Capsules
We want to highlight a generous donation by Randy and Joella Deakins of three family time capsules to the Panama Canal Museum Collection. The list of contents includes documents, photographs, letters, a scrapbook, and other items documenting the Deakins family history in Panama and the Canal Zone, beginning in 1927. These will be kept in our environmentally controlled storage facility, safe from any temptations to sneak a peek before time is up. Set to be opened in the year 2106, they are sure to bring delight to those lucky enough to witness it.
Randy and Joella also sat down with us for an oral history interview earlier this year at the Panama Canal Society Reunion in Orlando, FL. Their interview is currently being transcribed, and will be available online once it is processed. Please check out the Oral History Program on our website (https://ufdc.ufl.edu/ohpcm) and reach out to us if you are interested in participating.
The Deakins Family 100 Year Time Capsule. Includes personal papers, letters from family, and papers regarding the Panama Canal Treaty and the transfer of the Canal. Time Capsule sealed April 29, 2006. To be opened on April 29, 2106. Steel box. This is #2 of 3 time capsules made by Randy Deakins. 
Violet S. Deakins: Scrapbook of her life in the Panama Canal Zone. Starts: January 1936. Last Date: January 1963. Violet Deakins born June 7, 1913 and died May 12, 2004. Time Capsule sealed August 8, 2021. To be opened on August 8, 2106. This is #3 of 3 time capsules made by Randy Deakins. 
The Deakins Family Panama Canal Zone Connection from 1927 to 1984. 100 Year Time Capsule. Time Capsule sealed January 28, 2006. Papers and photos of life in the Canal Zone. To be opened January 2106. PVC pipe. This is #1 of 3 time capsules made by Randy Deakins.
Thank you to Randy and Joella and to all our wonderful donors! Keep them coming!
7 Comments
Mimi Collins
Well done, Randy, thank you! 馃檪 <3
Randy
Wow Mimi…you get a star…As a old librarian you know how to handle this library stuff …love ya..RD
Jberry
Saw Randy, but who is the chick standing next to him?
Carlos Lopez
Mi nombre es Carlos L贸pez, recientemente empec茅 a trabajar en lo que hoy se conoce como el DOMO Universitario Harmodio Arias Madrid, de la Universidad de Panam谩 y vi una consola de los tiempos de Ustedes.
Me llam贸 la atenci贸n porque a mi en lo personal me gusta guardar las cosas de mi abuelo Carlos L贸pez Inakeligui帽a, excacique de la Comarca Gunayala que antes se conoc铆a como Comarca de San Blas.
Su servidor tambi茅n fue el exgobernador de la Comarca Gunayala y se hizo varias gestiones importantes en la Comarca.
Lo que hoy me hace escribirles es que en el d铆a de hoy, 2 de diciembre de 2021, descartaron una consola, dicha consola tiene el sello de le 茅poca, en lo personal no me gustar铆a que se perdiera, aunque no tenga uso creo que le funciona de maravilla al museo.
Un fuerte abrazo.
Lic. Carlos L贸pez
carloslopezk@hotmail.com
(507)6657-6330
Cody Staples
Randy, I lived about 3 blocks from you in New Cristobal we played together occasionally, I think. I lived in house 63 at 5th and Montelirio. St
CATALINA BIENVENIDA VELASQUEZ
I want to contribute. My parents we’re born in Panama (Silver Cityand Colon) and I want to contribute to the museum. Please email me so we can discuss this further.
Charles Pekor
I spent two years in the Canal Zone in 1961 – 1963, as a young (18 – 19) Spec 4 in the US Army at Fort Kobbe. All gone now. I was a clerk-typist in the Intelligence (S-2) section of Fort Kobbe Headquarters Company. The VA gives me credit for two years overseas service. But all our bases in the Canal Zone are gone. I spent a lot of time in the Zone, and got to know several of the American famlies in the Zone. It was basically a chunk of America. Might as well have been an American suburb. Nice people. But I suppose fairly insulated from the rest of Panama. As a young soldier, I probably had more contact with the actual “Panama” then most of the familes in the Zone.