Dr. Donald W. Curl (1935 - 2010), a member of the original faculty at FAU, specialized in Florida History with an emphasis on local and architectural themes. Curl was actively involved with various historical and preservation organizations and had served on the boards of the Florida Historical Society, the Historical Society of Palm Beach, the Boca Raton Historical Society, the Palm Beach County and Boca Raton Preservation Boards, the Palm Beach Landmarks Commission, and was a member of the Florida National Register Review Board. His editing of Pioneer Life in Southwest Florida was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the American Association for State and Local History and his book, Mizner's Florida: American Resort Architecture received the Rembert Patrick prize for the best book in Florida history for 1984. In 1996 he was given the American Association for State and Local History's Award of Merit for dedication to the field of Florida history.