The University Libraries of the State University System of Florida contain, in addition to book and serial collections, invaluable research materials concerning the history of Florida and its citizens. These materials include family papers and records, diaries, letters, business records, maps, photographs, and other materials that are unique and important for historical research.
Each of the participating libraries--especially their special collections and archives departments--are contributing materials from their collections to this Project. Some of these are local history books and booklets, advertising materials from the Florida Boom, Civil War letters, and other materials that each add to some understanding of Florida's history. Many of these materials are regional or local in scope. This is because as the state universities evolved, a number of them specialized in local and regional history. For example, the University of West Florida has strong collections concerning the West Florida region while the University of South Florida has resources on the Tampa area. In addition, all of the libraries have Floridiana collections so collections will include local as well as statewide research materials. It is important that researchers should also understand that much of Florida's history is that of an emigrant state--people moving to Florida from other states of the Union, especially retirees--and bringing with them family records and papers. For that reason, it is imperative that researchers not only utilize the Florida Heritage Project digitized materials, but also contact individual libraries for further information. Florida's claim to Spanish treasure fades in significance to the historical treasures awaiting in its many archives and libraries!
The Florida Heritage Project was the first statewide digital library initiative in Florida. The Project, proposed in 1998 by the libraries of the State University System of Florida (SUS) in partnership with the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA) and the State Library of Florida, intends to build an openly-accessible collection of digital materials documenting the history and culture of Florida from prehistoric times to the modern day.
The Project is supported through a central fund created by the directors of the SUS libraries. Most funds are redistributed to libraries to reimburse the direct costs of digitizing Florida Heritage materials. A small percentage is allocated for graphics design, historical consulting, and other professional services. The cost of selection, cataloging, and other support activities are bourne by the individual libraries. Image storage, retrieval and website maintenance are provided by FCLA.
Fiscal management is provided through the Florida Center for Library Automation. Ongoing project oversight is provided by the Digitization Services Planning Committee, a standing committee of the SUS libraries.
Participating libraries select materials for inclusion in the Florida Heritage Collection and contribute catalog records for the digitized version to a central database. The libraries perform or outsource the digitization and create files of structural metadata describing the relation of images to logical parts of the resource. The structural metadata record and the set of images for each resource is transmitted to FCLA, where the data is loaded into a DB2 application on a central Unix server. Identifiers which serve the function of persistent URLs pointing to the DB2 application are inserted into the catalog records, which are used for name and topical access to the electronic resources.
Participating libraries are responsible for creating full MARC catalog records for selected materials from their own collections. Cataloging records are maintained in a union database of all Florida Heritage materials at FCLA and are also contributed to the OCLC WorldCat.
Cataloging is expected to adhere to guidelines developed by the Technical Services Planning Committee Cataloging and Access Guidelines for Electronic Resources (CAGER). The guidelines specify that records should represent the electronic versions only, and include specific instructions to:
Catalog records also contain a target audience note (521) indicating the grade level of the material according to the Florida State Department of Education Sunshine State Standards (FDOESS).
Each record should also contain at least one Florida Heritage Timeline heading from the Florida History Timeline added as a geographic subject heading (651).
Complete MARC cataloging instructions can be found in the CAGER Guidelines.
A file of structural metadata is created for every document to indicate the relationship between the physical units of digitization (TIFF, JPEG and other images) and the logical units of publication (pages, chapters, and other parts). The metadata format used is a modified version of the Elsevier EFFECT format called DataSet.TOC.
For each electronic resource (book volume, journal issue, manuscript, etc.), the DataSet.Toc file:
For each volume that is digitized, a directory containing one DataSet.TOC file and a set of images is sent by FTP from the contributing institution to FCLA. The metadata and images are processed by a locally written loader, which first checks that all the image files referenced by the DataSet.TOC are present, copies the images into a Florida Heritage directory, and loads the structural metadata into DB2 tables maintained on a Unix server. If instructed, the loader will also create derivative formats such as PDF files.
Once structural metadata is loaded and images are moved to the appropriate directories, access and navigation is provided by another locally written DB2 server program.
Persistent URLs referencing the server application are created by program and inserted into the bibliographic record describing the resource.
The cataloging records describing Florida Heritage resources are loaded into a shared central library management system, a locally developed application based on NOTIS, on an IBM mainframe. The records can be searched through the SUS Libraries' online union catalog. All traditional catalog access points are available (author, title, subject, etc.) as well as Florida Heritage Timeline headings and grade level from the Sunshine State Standards categories.
Once records are retrieved, the URLs in the bibliographic record are used as hotlinks to the DB2 server application, which initially presents a Table of Contents display.
Participating libraries will continue to contribute materials to Florida Heritage. Funding has been provided for the digitization of approximately 50,000 additional pages by July 1, 2000.
A Panel for the Identification of Florida Heritage Resources will be formed to advise the libraries on selection of materials for digitization.
The Florida History Timeline will be fully developed to include narrative information and links to digitized materials for all Timeline headings. A thematic index to identify topics that cross Timeline categories will be developed.
The project will develop the capability of storing ASCII text obtained by performing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on textual image files. This "dirty ASCII" will be used for full text retrieval of the documents.
The format for contributing structural metadata will be changed from the current modified EFFECT format to an XML-based structure.
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People first reached Florida at least 12,000 years ago. The rich variety of environments in prehistoric Florida supported a large number of plants and animals. The animal population included most mammals that we know today. In addition, many other large mammals that are now extinct (such as the saber-tooth tiger, mastodon, giant armadillo, and camel) roamed the land.
The Florida coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico was very different 12,000 years ago. The sea level was much lower than it is today. As a result, the Florida peninsula was more than twice as large as it is now. The people who inhabited Florida at that time were hunters and gatherers, who only rarely sought big game for food. Modern researchers think that their diet consisted of small animals, plants, nuts, and shellfish. These first Floridians settled in areas where a steady water supply, good stone resources for tool making, and firewood were available. Over the centuries, these native people developed complex cultures. During the period prior to contact with Europeans, native societies of the peninsula developed cultivated agriculture, traded with other groups in what is now the southeastern United States, and increased their social organization, reflected in large temple mounds and village complexes.
Florida was settled long before Europeans had discovered the peninsula. Some estimates suggest that Native Americans had arrived in Florida as early as 10,000 years before the first Europeans. European voyages of discovery began when Columbus discovered the islands of the "New World" in 1492. Spanish exploration of Florida began in 1513 with expeditions near present day St. Augustine, the Florida Keys and Tampa.
French settlement of Florida began in 1562 as Huguenots, French Protestants, established themselves on the St. Johns River not far from the Spanish settlement at St. Augustine. This settlement was easily conquered by the Spanish, but Spain's early dominance of Florida was threatened over time by the expansion of English colonies from the north and French colonies from the west. By 1702, the English had sacked St. Augustine and, by 1719, the French had taken Pensacola. Americans joined the battles for Florida in 1803, following their purchase of Louisiana from the French. The history of Florida during this period is one of territorial gain and loss until 1821, when Spain ceded Florida to the United States of America.
At the same time, European settlement and conflicts had a devastating effect on Native Americans and set the stage for the later Seminole Wars. Spain crusaded for the conversion of Native Americans within its territory, often brutalizing populations that did not convert to Catholicism. The British in Georgia were no less intolerant. However, rather than convert, the British chose to clear the native populations from British territory. In 1750, Creek refugees together with escaped slaves migrated into Florida where they became known as the "Seminoles".
Written records about life in Florida began with the arrival of the Spanish explorer and adventurer Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. Sometime between April 2 and April 8, Ponce de Leon waded ashore on the northeast coast of Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine. He called the area la Florida, in honor of Pascua florida ("feast of the flowers"), Spainos Eastertime celebration. Other Europeans may have reached Florida earlier, but no firm evidence of such achievement has been found.
On another voyage in 1521, Ponce de Leon landed on the southwestern coast of the peninsula, accompanied by two-hundred people, fifty horses, and numerous beasts of burden. His colonization attempt quickly failed because of attacks by native people. However, Ponce de Leon's activities served to identify Florida as a desirable place for explorers, missionaries, and treasure seekers.
In 1539 Hernando de Soto began another expedition in search of gold and silver, which took him on a long trek through Florida and what is now the southeastern United States. For four years, de Sotoos expedition wandered, in hopes of finding the fabled wealth of the Indian people. De Soto and his soldiers camped for five months in the area now known as Tallahassee. De Soto died near the Mississippi River in 1542. In the end, only about three hundred survivors-- half the number that landed with de Soto at Tampa Bay--returned to Spanish Mexico.
No great treasure troves awaited the Spanish conquistadores who explored Florida. However, their stories helped inform Europeans about Florida and its relationship to Cuba, Mexico, and Central and South America, from which Spain regularly shipped gold, silver, and other products. Groups of heavily-laden Spanish vessels, called plate fleets, usually sailed up the Gulf Stream through the straits that parallel Floridaos Keys. Aware of this route, pirates preyed on the fleets. Hurricanes created additional hazards, sometimes wrecking the ships on the reefs and shoals along Florida's eastern coast.
Spain was not the only European nation that found Florida attractive. In 1562 the French protestant Jean Ribault explored the area. Two years later, fellow Frenchman Reno Goulaine de Laudonniore established Fort Caroline at the mouth of the St. Johns River, near present-day Jacksonville.
In 1559, Tristan de Luna y Arellano led an attempt by Europeans to colonize Florida. He established a settlement at Pensacola Bay, but a series of misfortunes caused his efforts to be abandoned after two years.
Spain accelerated her plans for colonization, prompted by French adventurers. Pedro Menendez de Aviles hastened across the Atlantic, his sights set on removing the French and creating a Spanish settlement. Menendez arrived in 1565 at a place he called San Augustin (St. Augustine) and established the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States. He accomplished his goal of expelling the French, attacking and killing all settlers except for non-combatants and Frenchmen who professed belief in the Roman Catholic faith. Menendez captured Fort Caroline and renamed it San Mateo. Their pattern of constructing forts and Roman Catholic missions continued. Spanish missions established among native people soon extended across north Florida and as far north along the Atlantic coast as the area that we now call South Carolina.
The English, also eager to exploit the wealth of the Americas, increasingly came into conflict with Spain's expanding empire. In 1586 the English captain Sir Francis Drake looted and burned the tiny village of St. Augustine. However, Spanish control of Florida was not diminished.
In fact, as late as 1600, Spain's power over what is now the southeastern United States was unquestioned. When English settlers came to America, they established their first colonies well to the North of Jamestown (in the present state of Virginia) in 1607 and Plymouth (in the present state of Massachusetts) in 1620. English colonists wanted to take advantage of the continent's natural resources and gradually pushed the borders of Spanish power southward into present-day southern Georgia. At the same time, French explorers were moving down the Mississippi River valley and eastward along the Gulf Coast.
The English colonists in the Carolina colonies were particularly hostile toward Spain. Led by Colonel James Moore, the Carolinians and their Creek Indian allies attacked Spanish Florida in 1702 and destroyed the town of St. Augustine. However, they could not capture the fort, named Castillo de San Marcos. Two years later, they destroyed the Spanish missions between Tallahassee and St. Augustine, killing many native people and enslaving many others.
Spain's adversaries moved even closer when England founded Georgia in 1733, its southernmost continental colony. Georgians attacked Florida in 1740, assaulting the Castillo de San Marcos at St. Augustine for almost a month. While the attack was not successful, it did point out the growing weakness of Spanish Florida.
Spain was not the only European nation that found Florida attractive. In 1562 the Huguenots (French protestants), including Jean Ribault, explored the area. In 1564 fellow Frenchman René Goulaine de Laudonnière established Fort Caroline at the mouth of the St. Johns River, which the French called River May, near present-day Jacksonville. The fort was a direct challenge to Spain's claims over La Florida. Fort Caroline was not fated to last long in French hands.
These French adventurers prompted Spain to accelerate her plans for colonization. Pedro Menendez de Avilés hastened across the Atlantic, his sights set on removing the French and creating a Spanish settlement. Menendez arrived in 1565 at a place he called San Augustín (St. Augustine) and established the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States. He accomplished his goal of expelling the French, attacking and killing all settlers except for non-combatants and Frenchmen who professed belief in the Roman Catholic faith. Menendez captured Fort Caroline and renamed it San Mateo. This ended French attempts to settle in eastern Florida.
French response came two years later, when Dominique de Gourgues recaptured San Mateo and made the Spanish soldiers stationed there pay with their lives. However, this incident did not halt the Spanish advance. Upon Mendenez's return from Spain, he ruthlessly suppressed French efforts to secure another foothold in Florida. Spain's pattern of constructing forts and Roman Catholic missions continued. Spanish missions established among native people soon extended across north Florida and as far north along the Atlantic coast as the area that we now call South Carolina.
Britain gained control of Florida in 1763 in exchange for Havana, Cuba, which the British had captured from Spain during the Seven Years' War (1756-63). Spain evacuated Florida after the exchange, leaving the province virtually empty. At that time, St. Augustine was still a garrison community with fewer than five hundred houses, and Pensacola also was a small military town.
The British had ambitious plans for Florida. First, it was split into two parts: East Florida, with its capital at St. Augustine; and West Florida, with its seat at Pensacola. The Apalachicola River became the boundary between them. British surveyors mapped much of the landscape and coastline and tried to develop relations with a group of Indian people who were moving into the area from the North. The British called these people of Creek Indian descent Seminolies, or Seminoles, after the Creek word for "wild ones" or "separatists". Britain attempted to attract white settlers by offering land on which to settle and help for those who produced products for export. Given enough time, this plan might have converted Florida into a flourishing colony, but British rule lasted only twenty years.
The two Floridas remained loyal to Great Britain throughout the War for American Independence (1776-83). Spain entered the war on the patriot side and as an ally of France in June 1779. The seizure of Pensacola from the British in May 1781 came at the end of the largest battle ever fought in Florida. In 1783, Spain regained control of the rest of Florida as part of the peace treaty that ended the American Revolution.
Spanish forces marched into West Florida in 1779, during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The British already weakened by war, surrendered West Florida to Spain in 1781. Spain regained control of all Florida in 1783.
Spain found little but trouble during her second tenure of Florida. Spanish colonists as well as settlers from the newly formed United States came pouring in when the British evacuated Florida. Many of the new residents were lured by favorable Spanish terms for acquiring property, called land grants. Others who came were escaped slaves, trying to reach a place where their U.S. masters had no authority and effectively could not reach them. In 1812, a group of eastern Florida settlers rebelled and declared their independence from Spain. But the Spaniards stopped the rebels. Instead of becoming more Spanish, Florida increasingly became more "American."
During the War of 1812 (1812-1815), Spain let Britain use Pensacola as a naval base. In 1814, American troops led by General Andrew Jackson stormed into Florida and seized Pensacola. During the First Seminole War (1817-1818), Jackson captured Fort St. Marks on the Gulf of Mexico. He then defeated the Seminole Indians. Finally in 1819, Spain agreed to turn Florida over to the United States. The United States did not actually pay any money to Spain for Florida. However, it agreed to pay $5 million to U.S. citizens for property damages. After several official and unofficial U.S. military expeditions into the territory, Spain formally ceded Florida to the United States in 1821, according to terms of the Adams-On's Treaty.
When the British evacuated Florida, Spanish colonists as well as settlers from the newly formed United States came pouring in. Many of the new residents were lured by favorable Spanish terms for acquiring property, called land grants. Others who came were escaped slaves, trying to reach a place where their U.S. masters had no authority and effectively could not reach them. Instead of becoming more Spanish, Florida increasingly became more "American." Finally, after several official and unofficial U.S. military expeditions into the territory, Spain formally ceded Florida to the United States in 1821, according to terms of the Adams-On's Treaty.
On one of those military operations, in 1818, General Andrew Jackson made a foray into Florida. Jackson's battles with Florida's Indian people later would be called the First Seminole War.
Andrew Jackson returned to Florida in 1821 to establish a new territorial government on behalf of the United States. What the U.S. inherited was a wilderness sparsely dotted with settlements of native Indian people, African Americans, and Spaniards.
As a territory of the United States, Florida was particularly attractive to people from the older Southern plantation areas of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia, who arrived in considerable numbers. After territorial status was granted, the two Floridas were merged into one entity with a new capital city in Tallahassee. Established in 1824, Tallahassee was chosen because it was halfway between the existing governmental centers of St. Augustine and Pensacola.
As Florida's population increased through immigration, so did pressure on the federal government to remove the Indian people from their lands. The Indian population was made up of several groups'primarily, the Creek and the Miccosukee people; and many African American refugees lived with the Indians. Indian removal was popular with white settlers because the native people occupied lands that white people wanted and because their communities often provided a sanctuary for runaway slaves from northern states.
Under President Andrew Jackson, the U.S. government spent $20 million and the lives of many U.S. soldiers, Indian people, and U.S. citizens to force the removal of the Seminoles. In the end, the outcome was not as the federal government had planned. Some Indians migrated "voluntarily." Some were captured and sent west under military guard; and others escaped into the Everglades, where they made a life for themselves away from contact with whites.
By 1840 white Floridians were concentrating on developing the territory and gaining statehood. The population had reached 54,477 people, with African American slaves making up almost one-half of the population. Steamboat navigation was well established on the Apalachicola and St. Johns Rivers, and railroads were planned.
Florida now was divided informally into three areas: East Florida, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Suwannee River; Middle Florida, between the Suwannee and the Apalachicola Rivers; and West Florida, from the Apalachicola to the Perdido River. The southern area of the territory (south of present-day Gainesville) was sparsely settled by whites. The territory's economy was based on agriculture. Plantations were concentrated in Middle Florida, and their owners established the political tone for all of Florida until after the Civil War.
As Florida's population increased through immigration, so did pressure on the federal government to remove the Indian people from their lands. The Indian population was made up of several groups-primarily, the Creek and the Miccosukee people; and many African American refugees lived with the Indians. Indian removal was popular with white settlers because the native people occupied lands that white people wanted and because their communities often provided a sanctuary for runaway slaves from northern states.
Among Florida's native population, the name of Osceola has remained familiar after more than a century and a half. Osceola was a Seminole war leader who refused to leave his homeland in Florida. Seminoles, already noted for their fighting abilities, won the respect of U.S. soldiers for their bravery, fortitude, and ability to adapt to changing circumstances during the Second Seminole War (1835-42). This war, the most significant of the three conflicts between Indian people and U.S. troops in Florida, began over the question of whether Seminoles should be moved westward across the Mississippi River into what is now Oklahoma.
Under President Andrew Jackson, the U.S. government spent $20 million and the lives of many U.S. soldiers, Indian people, and U.S. citizens to force the removal of the Seminoles. In the end, the outcome was not as the federal government had planned. Some Indians migrated "voluntarily." Some were captured and sent west under military guard; and others escaped into the Everglades, where they made a life for themselves away from contact with whites.
Today, reservations occupied by Florida's Indian people exist at Immokalee, Hollywood, Brighton (near the city of Okeechobee), and along the Big Cypress Swamp. In addition to the Seminole people, Florida also has a separate Miccosukee tribe.
Florida became the twenty-seventh state in the United States on March 3, 1845. William D. Moseley was elected the new state's first governor, and David Levy Yulee, one of Florida's leading proponents for statehood, became a U.S. Senator. By 1850 the population had grown to 87,445, including about 39,000 African American slaves and 1,000 free blacks.
The slavery issue began to dominate the affairs of the new state. Most Florida voters'who were white males, ages twenty-one years or older'did not oppose slavery. However, they were concerned about the growing feeling against it in the North, and during the 1850s they viewed the new anti-slavery Republican party with suspicion. In the 1860 presidential election, no Floridians voted for Abraham Lincoln, although this Illinois Republican won at the national level. Shortly after his election, a special convention drew up an ordinance that allowed Florida to secede from the Union on January 10, 1861. Within several weeks, Florida joined other southern states to form the Confederate States of America.
During the Civil War, Florida was not ravaged as several other southern states were. Indeed, no decisive battles were fought on Florida soil. While Union forces occupied many coastal towns and forts, the interior of the state remained in Confederate hands.
Florida provided an estimated 15,000 troops and significant amounts of supplies including salt, beef, pork, and cottonto the Confederacy, but more than 2,000 Floridians, both African American and white, joined the Union army. Confederate and foreign merchant ships slipped through the Union navy blockade along the coast, bringing in needed supplies from overseas ports. Tallahassee was the only southern capital east of the Mississippi River to avoid capture during the war, spared by southern victories at Olustee (1864) and Natural Bridge (1865). Ultimately, the South was defeated, and federal troops occupied Tallahassee on May 10, 1865.
Before the Civil War, Florida had been well on its way to becoming another of the southern cotton states. Afterward, the lives of many residents changed. The ports of Jacksonville and Pensacola again flourished due to the demand for lumber and forest products to rebuild the nation's cities. Those who had been slaves were declared free. Plantation owners tried to regain prewar levels of production by hiring former slaves to raise and pick cotton. However, such programs did not work well, and much of the land came under cultivation by tenant farmers and sharecroppers, both African American and white.
Florida's geology and climate has more in common with its Caribbean Basin neighbors and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico than with North America. In geologic terms, the Florida Peninsula is young, rising from the sea a mere million years ago. The state is comprised of aquifers. Most commonly born of the springs that once lured Spanish explorers in search of the famed "Fountain of Youth" to Florida, these aquifers gave birth to the Florida Everglades, have fed Florida's agricultural industries and, today, quench the thirst of tremendous population growth and economic development.
A key feature of Florida's geology is the Hawthorne Formation; this karst limestone ridge, better seen from the air than from the ground, forms the backbone of Florida. The Formation stretches southward from the limestone beds of the Suwannee River to the soft, silted underbelly of Lake Okeechobee, one of the largest lakes entirely within the United States. The sinks that dot its spine have spawned the lore andliterature of Florida, from Native American legend through popular culture icons: the mermaids of Weeki Wachi, and the backdrop for more distant or fantastic venues: the Tarzan movies of the 1940sand 1950s and Voyage to the Bottom of Sea of 1970s TV fame.
Other impressive features of Florida's geology are the St. Johns River and the Apalachicola and Tampa Bays. The only major river in the United States to flow North, the St. Johns River was subject to a Confederate plan during the Civil War that would have dammed it, forcing its waters to flow south. The Apalachicola Bay has been called "nature's cradle" and has been the source of most of the oysters served in restaurant across the country. The Tampa Bay formed a natural harbor, exploited by the Spanish, British and Americans, alike, as their foothold in Florida grew.
Florida's climate is unique within the United States. More than that of any other state, Florida's climate supports a rich and diverse natural heritage. At the cross currents of temperate and tropic zones, it has either spawned or attracted numerous and infamous storms including disastrous hurricanes. Every year, Florida records more and more intense lightning strikes than anywhere else in the world.
Before the Civil War, Florida had been well on its way to becoming another of the southern cotton states. Afterward, the lives of many residents changed. The ports of Jacksonville and Pensacola again flourished due to the demand for lumber and forest products to rebuild the nation's cities. Those who had been slaves were declared free. Plantation owners tried to regain prewar levels of production by hiring former slaves to raise and pick cotton. However, such programs did not work well, and much of the land came under cultivation by tenant farmers and sharecroppers, both African American and white.
Beginning in 1868, the federal government instituted a congressional program of "reconstruction" in Florida and the other southern states. During this period, Republican officeholders tried to enact sweeping changes, many of which were aimed at improving conditions for African Americans.
At the time of the 1876 presidential election, federal troops still occupied Florida. The state's Republican government and recently enfranchised African American voters helped to put Rutherford B. Hayes in the White House. However, Democrats gained control of enough state offices to end the years of Republican rule and prompt the removal of federal troops the following year. A series of political battles in the state left African Americans with little voice in their government.
During the final quarter of the nineteenth century, large-scale commercial agriculture in Florida, especially cattle-raising, grew in importance. Industries such as cigar manufacturing took root in the immigrant communities of the state.
Potential investors became interested in enterprises that extracted resources from the water and land. These extractive operations were as widely diverse as sponge harvesting in Tarpon Springs and phosphate mining in the southwestern part of the state. The Florida citrus industry grew rapidly, despite occasional freezes and economic setbacks. The development of industries throughout the state prompted the construction of roads and railroads on a large scale.
Beginning in the 1870s, residents from northern states visited Florida as tourists to enjoy the state's natural beauty and mild climate. Steamboat tours on Florida's winding rivers were a popular attraction for these visitors.
The growth of Florida's transportation industry had its origins in 1855, when the state legislature passed the Internal Improvement Act. Like legislation passed by several other states and the federal government, Florida's act offered cheap or free public land to investors, particularly those interested in transportation. The act, and other legislation like it, had its greatest effect in the years between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War I. During this period, many railroads were constructed throughout the state by companies owned by Henry Flagler and Henry B. Plant, who also built lavish hotels near their railroad lines. The Internal Improvement Act stimulated the initial efforts to drain the southern portion of the state in order to convert it to farmland.
These development projects had far-reaching effects on the agricultural, manufacturing, and extractive industries of late-nineteenth-century Florida. The citrus industry especially benefited, since it was now possible to pick oranges in south Florida; put them on a train heading north; and eat them in Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York in less than a week.
In 1898 national attention focused on Florida, as the Spanish-American War began. The port city of Tampa served as the primary staging area for U.S. troops bound for the war in Cuba. Many Floridians supported the Cuban peoples' desire to be free of Spanish colonial rule.
By the turn of the century, Florida's population and per capita wealth were increasing rapidly; the potential of the "Sunshine State" appeared endless. By the end of World War I, land developers had descended on this virtual gold mine. With more Americans owning automobiles, it became commonplace to vacation in Florida. Many visitors stayed on, and exotic projects sprang up in southern Florida. Some people moved onto land made from drained swamps. Others bought canal-crossed tracts through what had been dry land. The real estate developments quickly attracted buyers, and land in Florida was sold and resold. Profits and prices for many developers reached inflated levels.
World War I served to stimulate Florida's economic growth further. Not only did the state continue to produce for the nation, but its climate offered excellent year-round opportunities for training in all branches of the armed services. Florida's ports hosted naval bases, as well as army, air, and marine facilities. As these facilities grew Florida's production increasingly fed not only the nation but itself. Networks of cities and roads supporting the war effort would later support both continued economic expansion and a following land boom.
By the turn of the century, Florida's population and per capita wealth were increasing rapidly; the potential of the "Sunshine State" appeared endless. By the end of World War I, land developers had descended on this virtual gold mine. With more Americans owning automobiles, it became commonplace to vacation in Florida. Many visitors stayed on, and exotic projects sprang up in southern Florida. Some people moved onto land made from drained swamps. Others bought canal-crossed tracts through what had been dry land. The real estate developments quickly attracted buyers, and land in Florida was sold and resold. Profits and prices for many developers reached inflated levels.
Florida's economic bubble burst in 1926, when money and credit ran out, and banks and investors abruptly stopped trusting the "paper" millionaires. Severe hurricanes swept through the state in the 1926 and 1928, further damaging Florida's economy.
By the time the Great Depression began in the rest of the nation in 1929, Floridians had already become accustomed to economic hardship.
In 1929 the Mediterranean fruit fly invaded the state, and the citrus industry suffered. A quarantine was established, and troops set up roadblocks and checkpoints to search vehicles for any contraband citrus fruit. Florida's citrus production was cut by about sixty percent.
State government began to represent a larger proportion of its citizens. Female citizens won the right to vote in 1920, when the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution became law. In 1937, the requirement that voters pay a "poll tax" was repealed, allowing poor African American and white Floridians to have a greater voice in government.
World War II spurred economic development in Florida. Because of its year-round mild climate, the state became a major training center for soldiers, sailors, and aviators of the United States and its allies. Highway and airport construction accelerated so that, by war's end, Florida had an up-to-date transportation network ready for use by residents and the visitors who seemed to arrive in an endless stream.
In 1944 the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed a system of all-white primary elections that had limited the right of African Americans to vote.
One of the most significant trends of the postwar era has been steady population growth, resulting from large migrations to the state from within the U.S. and from countries throughout the western hemisphere, notably Cuba and Haiti. Florida is now the fourth most populous state in the nation.
The people who make up Florida's diverse population have worked to make the Sunshine State a place where all citizens have equal rights under the law. Since the 1950s, Florida's public education system and public places have undergone great changes. African American citizens, joined by Governor LeRoy Collins and other white supporters, fought to end racial discrimination in schools and other institutions.
Since World War II, Florida's economy also has become more diverse. Tourism, cattle, citrus, and phosphate have been joined by a host of new industries that have greatly expanded the numbers of jobs available to residents.
Since World War II, Florid's economy also has become more diverse. Tourism, cattle, citrus, and phosphate have been joined by a host of new industries that have greatly expanded the numbers of jobs available to residents. Electronics, plastics, construction, real estate, and international banking are among the state's more recently-developed industries.
Several major U.S. corporations have moved their headquarters to Florida. An interstate highway system exists throughout the state, and Florida is home to major international airports. The university and community college system has expanded rapidly, and high-technology industries have grown steadily. The U.S. space programs its historic launches from Cape Canaveral, lunar landings, and the development of the space shuttle programs brought much media attention to the state. The citrus industry continues to prosper, despite occasional winter freezes, and tourism also remains important, bolstered by large capital investments. Florida attractions, such as the large theme parks in the Orlando area, bring millions of visitors to the state from across the U.S. and around the world.
Today, Floridians study their state's long history to learn more about the lives of the men and women who shaped their exciting past. By learning about our rich and varied heritage, we can draw lessons to help create a better Florida for all of its citizens.
Text from: A Short History of Florida
Photos in timeline graphic taken from:http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/facts/history/summary/
Used with the permission from Florida's Division of Historical Resources
African Americans have been a prominent element in the history and culture of Florida since Estavanico explored Florida with Panfilo de Narvaez, and continued with the establishment of the first free black community in North America (Fort Mose, north of St. Augustine in the 1730s). As a slave state, Florida hadplantations that harvested cotton and later, African Americans provided much of the labor for the state's timber and turpentine industries. After Emancipation in 1863, African-Americans emerged as important Florida leaders in literature, medicine, newspapers, businesses, and education.
The Florida Heritage Collection contains a variety of works which cover some critical issues associated with African Americans in Florida. The civil rights movement forced the issue of desegregation in public services, especially in the school system. A great number of problems resulted from this process, and the struggle contributed to the cultural growth. The presence of the African American element in Florida history has enriched Florida culture, and evidence of this can be seen in many of the works in this collection.
Agriculture has always been an important issue in Florida history, and it varies with the region of the state. From sugar cane in the South to citrus in Central Florida to cattle ranches of the North, Florida agriculture is important and varied. Nineteenth-century crops of cotton and tobacco have given way to twentieth-century corn, peanuts, shrimp harvesting and other food sources. Historical agricultural experiments include ostrich farming and Satsuma oranges and grapes. Many of the works in the Florida Heritage Collection have discussed Florida agriculture, including works on gardening, farming, soil, topography and climate.
Florida has always had the image of a tropical paradise, a land of promise and dreams. Many Florida authors have been able to contribute to this image by creating unforgetable works of literature which reflect Florida's history and hertiage. The Florida Heritage Collection contains works such as guides and biographies on some of these authors, and of special note are the works on Theodore Pratt, author of the Barefoot Mailman.
Many Floridians throughout history have led fascinating lives and have played key roles in the history of the state. Studying the lives of these individuals can bring about a greater appreciation of the rich culture that Florida possesses. The Florida Heritage Collection contains many biographies and autobiographies of famous Floridians, including works about Eartha Mary Magdalene White, Henry Bradley Plant and Wallace Fisher Stovall. This section will also include reminiscences and self-portraits written by notable Floridians.
Business and economics have always played critical roles in the development of societies. The Florida Heritage Collection is able to offer access to several unique works on some of the important business developments in Florida history, such as the Afro-American Life Insurance Company of Jacksonville, Florida, the development of the Franklin Street business district in Tampa, Florida, and the history of businesses such as cotton and railroads in the Red Hills of North Florida.
Florida history, especially in the past 100 years, shows the expansion of civil rights to protect all of Florida's citizens, regardless of gender or race. The Florida Hertiage Collection contains works on desegregation and integration, feminism, McCarthyism and more. The information contained in these documents reveals a great deal about the effects of bigotry and hatred, and how the people of Florida have risen above such destructive feelings.
Since time immemorial, people have been fascinated with written accounts of faraway places. Spanish, British, and French visitors to Florida often wrote books of their travels describing these tropical lands where food and danger lurked hand-in-hand. Description and travel is a very broad category that covers many aspects of Florida tourism, travel and recreational activities. This includes historic desciptions of Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Miami. Many of the documents are related to travel, such as descriptions and pictures of different cities and locations. There are also some old restaurant menus, recipes, information of recreational activities such as hunting and fishing, and more. Anything that relates to Florida travel and recreation can be found here.
Florida's geology and climate has more in common with its Caribbean Basin neighbors and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico than with North America. In geologic terms, the Florida Peninsula is young, rising from the sea a mere million years ago. The state is comprised of aquifers. Most commonly born of the springs that once lured Spanish explorers in search of the famed "Fountain of Youth" to Florida, these aquifers gave birth to the Florida Everglades, have fed Florida's agricultural industries and, today, quench the thirst of tremendous population growth and economic development.
A key feature of Florida's geology is the Hawthorne Formation; this karst limestone ridge, better seen from the air than from the ground, forms the backbone of Florida. The Formation stretches southward from the limestone beds of the Suwannee River to the soft, silted underbelly of Lake Okeechobee, one of the largest lakes entirely within the United States. The sinks that dot its spine have spawned the lore andliterature of Florida, from Native American legend through popular culture icons: the mermaids of Weeki Wachi, and the backdrop for more distant or fantastic venues: the Tarzan movies of the 1940sand 1950s and Voyage to the Bottom of Sea of 1970s TV fame.
Other impressive features of Florida's geology are the St. Johns River and the Apalachicola and Tampa Bays. The only major river in the United States to flow North, the St. Johns River was subject to a Confederate plan during the Civil War that would have dammed it, forcing its waters to flow south. The Apalachicola Bay has been called "nature's cradle" and has been the source of most of the oysters served in restaurant across the country. The Tampa Bay formed a natural harbor, exploited by the Spanish, British and Americans, alike, as their foothold in Florida grew.
Florida's climate is unique within the United States. More than that of any other state, Florida's climate supports a rich and diverse natural heritage. At the cross currents of temperate and tropic zones, it has either spawned or attracted numerous and infamous storms including disastrous hurricanes. Every year, Florida records more and more intense lightning strikes than anywhere else in the world.
Before 1870, education in Florida was provided by private schools or academies or by efforts of tutors. Higher education emerged after the Civil War, with two major universities - the all-male University of Florida and the female Florida State College at Tallahassee. The creation of the Florida State Normal University at DeFuniak Springs, Florida in 1886 paved the way for the education of teachers.
The Florida Heritage Collection contains a wide range of literature about Florida schools and education. Much of the information is concerned with the African American experience in education during the early times of desegregation. Examination of this body of literature creates a clear picture of where Florida education has been, and where it is heading.
Folklore and legend are always some of the more interesting and definitive aspects of a culture. The works in this section of the Florida Heritage Collection are very rich examples of Florida folklore. Elements of magic and the supernatural are woven into elaborate tales that exemplify elements of Florida culture. Florida folklore encompasses oral history as well as crafts handed down through generations of family members. The Florida Heritage Collection includes oral histories, folk tales, stories, and other materials that encompass folklore of the Sunshine State. One of the more significant works in this collection are the writings of Lafcadio Hearn, which contains a story about the Fountain of Youth.
Florida was one of the first areas of the New World to be explored, and the early inhabitants left an amazing legacy for future Floridians to cherish. Florida has many beautiful historic sites that can be explored today, including the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, as well as sites around the coasts of Florida, whose waters and coastlines have seen numerous shipwrecks. As Spain began bringing the riches of the Aztec and Incan empires to Europe, their silver and gold-laden ships sailed the Florida coastlines, often becoming prey to pirates, storms, and treacherous shallow shores and coastal reefs. There are many wonderful examples of Florida history which live on today. The Florida Heritage Collection offers many works on the unique historic sites of this state, including first-hand accounts of shipwrecks written by survivors, information on treasure-hunting exploits by salvagers, and archaeological and historical accounts of shipwreck projects, as well as descriptions of other historic sites throughout the state.
Florida industries have provided for the economic success of the state. The newspaper and mining industries are two of the most significant areas of this part of the Florida Heritage Collection, but there are also works on other areas of Florida industry, such as timber and lumber. Florida research materials on industries often tend to cover several different industries such as mining, printing, and similar mechanical business operations.
The first printing in Florida appears to be from printing presses carried aboard British ships hich printed broadsides, posters, forms (such as land grants) and the like. The mericanization of Florida in 1821 led to the rise of newspapers. Often the editor of the paper as as noteworthy as the newspaper, perhaps pushing progress through print, or writing fiery olumns to urge change. Some papers became nationally famous. The Florida Sentinel, an African-American newspaper, was nationally known in the early Twentieth century. The Miami Herald established a national reputation for investigative eporting, especially as Florida's East Coast became a playground of politicians, movie stars, and the jet set.
Florida industries have provided for the economic success of the state. The newspaper and mining industries are two of the most significant areas of this part of the Florida Heritage Collection, but there are also works on other areas of Florida industry, such as timber and lumber. Florida research materials on industries often tend to cover several different industries such as mining, printing, and similar mechanical business operations.
The first printing in Florida appears to be from printing presses carried aboard British ships which printed broadsides, posters, forms (such as land grants) and the like. The americanization of Florida in 1821 led to the rise of newspapers. Often the editor of the paper as as noteworthy as the newspaper, perhaps pushing progress through print, or writing fiery columns to urge change. Some papers became nationally famous. The Florida Sentinel, an African-American newspaper, was nationally known in the early Twentieth century. The Miami Herald established a national reputation for investigative exporting, especially as Florida's East Coast became a playground of politicians, movie stars, and the jet set.
The works of literature within the Florida Heritage Collection are some of the most unique pieces of the collection. These beautiful examples of writing illustrate the talent of Florida authors. There are works of poetry, children's stories, and writings about Florida and its environs. Fictional works, although they often contain a great deal of historical license, also help us to understand the social and cultural climate of a time. Fiction written about Florida has included such themes as shipwrecks, poetry, life in the Everglades, and similar themes that reflect the rich tableau of the State's history. Some examples of the works in this section are, Al Alligator and how he learned to play the banjo, Canoemates: a story of the Florida Reef and Everglades, and Chasco, queen of the Calusas.
Florida's nineteenth-century was overshadowed by the annual threat of Yellow Fever. Studies of this disease led to quarantines, the discovery of air-conditioning, and similar health care innovations. In the twentieth-century, health care has been predominantly a question of how to reach rural communities and meet the growing demand in the areas of aged health care.
The medical care received by Floridians throughout the years has had a strong impact on the life and well-being of Florida's population. The Florida Heritage Collection contains works about medical facilities and resources, as well as how medical services and programs have effected the health of the population of Florida. The advances and contributions made in medical care have promoted wellness and the betterment of health in Florida.
After the Civil War, northern physicians began prescribing a 'change of climate' to people suffering from tuberculosis and other lung diseases. These people were often urged to go to Florida for the winter to escape the harsh weather and in hopes that the more temperature and humid climate would make breathing and recovery easier. The history of medicine in Florida includes health foods and patent medicine tonics, literature extolling the benefits of climate upon health and the abundance of pure water springs.
Florida Medicine is a strong and dedicated field. Doctors and other medical practitioners must serve and ever-expanding population, including the large numbers of retirees that move to Florida in their later years. Works contained in this section of the Florida Heritage Collection are primarily related to the clinical and life sciences, human biology, physicians and the medical profession.
Military history has played a very strong role in the evolution of Florida society and culture. The early history of Florida is a military history of conquest as the land was captured by Spain who saw numerous attempts by France and England to attack and capture Spanish East and West Florida. English control of Florida ceased with the Siege of Pensacola in 1781, a Revolutionary War battle that gave Florida back to Spain. Invasions of American volunteer armies under Andrew Jackson in 1813 and 1818, fighting Creek and Seminole uprisings, led to the annexation of Florida to the United States.
To protect the new Territory, a string of military forts and bases were established throughout Florida to protect the coastlines and cities. As part of the Confederate States of America, Florida saw her share of military battles and occupations as port cities like Key West, Pensacola, and others became important points on the Union blockade of the South.
Following the Civil War, Florida became a major training and embarkation point for the War with Cuba in 1898, and the site for major military training bases after World War I. Naval aviation brought the need for good weather training sites in the 1920s including the development of Naval Aeronautical Stations in Pensacola, and naval bases in Jacksonville, Tampa, Key West, and other locations. Eglin Air Force Base, the largest air force base in the world in size, was created to provide weapons and armament training for World War II and continual support services into the 21st century.
As is the case with the histories of many other states and countries around the world, military efforts pave the way for the rest of society's development, and while these actions may be considered unnecessary or brutal by some, no one can deny the influence of military history on the growth and development of Florida and it's people. The Florida Heritage Collection presents works on the many wars and battles in Florida's history, including the Mexican War, wars and skirmishes with the original Native American population, wars with the British, Spanish, and more. A close study of this section of the collection will provide an interesting view of Florida's early development.
The role of art and expression is one of the most defining characteristics of any culture. It is through examination and study of these works of creativity, one can see elements of a society that are not easily expressed in any other form. Music is one of the most expressive forms of art, and projects thoughts, experiences and feelings that others may have never experienced. Florida's diverse musical history has ranged from the Native American songs of the Seminoles and the Creeks to ballads of the frontier and lumbermen, to the classical presentations of opera and culture. In addition to songs about Florida, numerous musicians wrote and produced music in Florida including Stephen Foster and others. The Florida Heritage Collection stives to provide works on the role of music in Florida's culture and history.
The Native American population of Florida has played one of the most significant roles in the history of this region. As the original settlers of this county, they have an intimate knowledge of the land that cannot be as easily understood by other races who moved into the country from other areas of the world. Their life, experience, sufferings, and spirit will always play a strong role in the culture and society of Florida. The Florida Heritage Collection contains many works on Native American history, culture, folklore, and warfare. Thorough examination of this body of literature will open one's mind to the Native American experience in Florida.
What is one of the first things that people think of when they think of Florida? Perhaps, the think of a tropical paradise, but due to the tropical nature of the state of Florida, the land is subject to one of the most destructive forces of nature ever seen--hurricanes. Early accounts called them "big storms." Today we know that Florida is a prime target for hurricanes. Major hurricanes that hit Florida leave a historical record of destruction of people and property. A number of historical works deal with reminiscences of these storms, as well as pictures of the destruction they leave behind. The Florida Heritage Collection contains a variety of items regarding Florida hurricanes, such as the infamous Hurricane Andrew, but there are also works on other natural disasters. Florida's primary source for building materials has been its pine forests. Historically this creates a number of problems in that the decay of wood in a tropical climate has made it difficult to preserve Florida's historical buildings. But another prevalent danger was fire. A number of historical works deal with major fires in Jacksonville and other cities where one fire could destroy an entire business district.
When Florida came under English control in 1765, a number of English naturalists came into the state to study its strange animals, plants, and natural history. American botanists like William Bartram and Mark Catesby published studies of plants. John James Audubon produced paintings of the Brown Pelican and other birds. Silas Stearns gathered fish specimens for the Smithsonian Institution in the late 19th century. Florida was unlike any other American state--a lush tropical paradise of jungle and plants, with an extraordinary large wetland that became known as the Everglades.
This section of the Florida Heritage Collection contains various works on the Florida outdoors. Biological and botanical information is available, as well as information about hiking on Florida's trails, observations of Florida's flora and fauna, and details on camping and related outdoor activities. The writings of the many naturalists are still important today for they provide information on natural habitat, the uses of plants, and even document native species that have all but disappeared.
For more information "Browse Persons"People are the most significant element of the development of any society. Without the efforts of the people of Florida, there would be no Florida to speak of. This section of the Florida Heritage Collection contains works concerning the achievements and efforts of Floridians which contributed to the growth and development of society and culture in this region.
Into the twentieth century, Florida has had a history of political intrigue and power clashes in government. From the Reconstruction Republicans to the Southern Democrats, Florida has seen hard-fought political battles, including the rise of important national politicians such as Bob Sikes and Claude Pepper. At the same time, Florida has had to deal with governmental problems unique to a state that is rural and urban, dependent upon both agriculture and tourism, and dramatically changed by the growth of transplanted non-native citizens.
Politics and government are very significant and necessary forces in the development of society. Through government, laws and norms are established, and structure is given to the state. The Florida Heritage Collection contains works that cover a variety of areas in this category, such as the establishment of desegregation policies in schools and other public institutions, environmental policy development and works related to the use of Florida swamplands, regulatory policies for public institutions such as the police force, population surveys, hearing reports, and much more. This section of the collection details the development of Florida's government and policies for providing structure to the state.
Early in Florida history, Yellow Fever was a serious problem for the state. This major disease historically affected Florida in many ways. Yellow Fever often wiped out whole communities, such as the destruction of St. Joseph, Florida. At the same time, attempts to treat the cause and effect of the disease led to the discovery of air-conditioning by John Gorrie and the rise of public health agencies to foster control and quarantines of Florida cities.In the 1880s, Florida saw the rise of public health - the concern for health of citizens by governmental agencies such as city and county Board of Health. Into the twentieth century, these organizations became concerned over contagious diseases, health care for children and rural citizens, vaccination programs, and health education.
The Florida Heritage Collection contains materials which help document much of the research related to Yellow Fever, as well as documents dealing with statistical information and firsthand accounts. There are also works on social welfare and descriptions of the efforts of state health organizations to better the state of public health in Florida.
The end of the Civil War meant a social change in Florida between African-Americans and Whites. The turbulent 1920s and 1960s saw civil unrest with race riots and desegregation concerns. The influx of Cubans, Hispanics, and Vietnamese has also created racial relation concerns. Historically, race relations have not always been positive, but it is important historically for us to understand these issues and the research materials produced about them.
Much of the historical information in the Florida Heritage Collection deals with the interaction of different races and social groups who are located in proximity to one another. At times this type of interaction can be plagued with hatred and misunderstanding. The collection contains many works on the interaction of African Americans and the white population of Florida during the time of integration, but there are also works on the interactions of whites and Native Americans and other social groups. A solid understanding of the concepts presented in these works can help to open the minds of the reader, and promoting tolerance and understanding.
The growth of railroads in Florida before the Civil War was limited to a few companies who tried to connect major cities with cities in other states. It was perhaps the lack of railroads in Florida that made the state less of a battleground than other Confederate States. But after the Civil War, the growth of railroads exploded. The major cities of Florida were connected in the 1880s as the Louisville and Nashville Railroad expanded throughout the South, and the development of the East Coast Line by Henry Flagler led to the development of cities like Miami, Palm Beach, and the introduction of Florida as a tourism destination.
While there is less reliance on railroads as a major source of transportation today, they still remain an important element in today's society and in the development of Florida infrastructure. Some works relate the history of railroads across the state, and there are also directories and pamphlets related to the railway system.
From Spanish crown grants through modern court records, land records tell the story of people who populated Florida's lands and what they did with them. Land records in Florida tend to over three stages. First come Spanish land grants, and British land sales. Then, following the creation of the Territory of Florida in 1821, a federal land commission held hearings and made reports to Congress concerning the land claims in the 1820s. The last period is the township and section survey of the State; these records tend to be in the courthouses of the appropriate county but are occasionally published and indexed in print.
Land issues and real estate have played very important roles in the growth and development of this state. Through the buying and selling of lands, Florida has become a very densely populated region, and offers many resources to its population. The Florida Heritage Collection provides access to works on land records and other territorial issues.
This section of the Florida Heritage Collection contains works on the socio-cultural aspects of Floridian society. There is access to works on child development and other sociological topics, as well as works on social structures, institutions and interactions. Important currents in Florida society and culture are discussed in this section.
Land issues and real estate have played very important roles in the growth and development of this state. Through the buying and selling of lands, Florida has become a very densely populated region, and offers many resources to its population. The Florida Heritage Collection provides access to works on land records and other territorial issues.
Urban growth and development has proceeded at an amazing rate in the state of Florida. Cities and towns that started out as small cowtowns have been developed into massive population centers. As Florida has changed from a tourist destination to a retirement state, growth planning has been a major component of infrastructure development. Growth planning may include studies of water demands, transportation needs, housing and urban growth, and related growth planning materials.
The Florida Heritage Collection offers many works about the growth and development of Florida. Some of the documents highlight historical sketches of towns such as Miami and Tampa, growth of the school systems, and government efforts and programs for development, such as the Works Progress Administration. The materials in this section of the collection detail many interesting aspect's of Florida's evolution as a major population center, providing both historical and more current views on the subject.
Women development of cultures around the world, and the efforts of women in Florida have made serious contributions to the current state of the region. This part of the Florida Heritage Collection focuses on the many aspects of these efforts and achievements, including works about women pioneers in the state, feminist activism, biographical information on important Florida women, and images of women in Florida history. The documents contained in this collection offer a unique perspective on Florida's history and culture. Some of the works may include biographies and autobiographies and accounts of specific women and their contributions in health care, education, and other fields.
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Established 1824.
Alachua is either a Muskogee or Timucua word for "sinkhole".
Major cities include: Alachua, Gainesville, Hawthorne,High Springs, Waldo
FEFDL link to Alachua County
Digital library resources about Alachua County.
Established 1861.
Named after James McNair Baker, Fourth Municipal District, Confederate Senator.
Major cities include: MacClenny, Glen Saint Mary
FEFDL link to Baker County
Digital library resources about Baker County.
Established 1913.
Named after St. Andrews Bay.
Major cities include: Callaway, Mexico Beach, Panama City,
Panama City Beach
FEFDL link to Bay County
Digital library resources about Bay County.
Digital library resources about Hernando County.
Established 1861. (was New River, 1858 -1861)
Named after Captain Richard Bradford, killed at Battle
of Santa Rosa Island during Civil War.
Major cities include: Lawtey, Starke
FEFDL link to Bradford County
Digital library resources about Bradford County.
Established 1855. (was St. Lucia 1844 -1855)
Named after either Doctor Ephriam Brevard, writer of the so-called Mecklenberg (N.C.) Declaration of Independence, or Theodore Washington Brevard, state comptroller, 1854, 1855 -1860.
Major cities include: Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville
FEFDL link to Brevard County
Digital library resources about Brevard County.
Established 1915.
Named after Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, governor 1905 -1909.
Major cities include: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach
FEFDL link to Broward County
Digital library resources about Broward County.
Established 1838.
Named after John C., U.S. Senator from South Carolina.
Major cities include: Altha, Blountstown
FEFDL link to Calhoun County
Digital library resources about Calhoun County.
Established 1921.
Named after the Bay of Charlotte Harbor.
Major cities include: Boca Grande, Punta Gorda
FEFDL link to Charlotte County
Digital library resources about Charlotte County.
Established 1887.
Named for the county's citrus trees and citrus industry.
Major cities include: Crystal River, Inverness
FEFDL link to Citrus County
Digital library resources about Citrus County.
Established 1858.
Named after Henry Clay, U.S. Senator from Kentucky.
Major cities include: Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Orange Park, Penney Farms
FEFDL link to Clay County
Digital library resources about Clay County.
Established 1923.
Named after Barron Collier, landowner and developer.
Major cities include: Everglades City, Marco Island, Naples
See the Big Cypress National Preserve and Reclaiming the Everglades collections.
FEFDL link to Collier County
Digital library resources about Collier County.
Established 1832.
Named after Christopher Columbus.
Major cities include: Fort White, Lake City
FEFDL link to Columbia County
Digital library resources about Columbia County.
see, Miami-Dade
Established 1887.
Named after Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorer.Digital library resources about De Soto County.
Established 1921.
Lyric term for the South.
Major cities include: Cross City, Horseshoe Beach
FEFDL link to Dixie County
Digital library resources about Dixie County.
Established 1822.
Named after William P. DuVal, Territorial Governor, 1822-1834.
Major cities include: Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach
FEFDL link to Duval County
Digital library resources about Duval County.
Established 1821.
Named after Escambia River, from the Spanish for "barter" or "exchange".
Major cities include: Century, Pensacola
FEFDL link to Escambia County
Digital library resources about Escambia County.
Established 1917.
Named after Henry M. Flagler, East Coast railroad builder.
Major cities include: Bunnell, Flagler Beach, Marineland
FEFDL link to Flagler County
Digital library resources about Flagler County.
Established 1832.
Named after Benjamin Franklin, scientist and author.
Major cities include: Apalachicola, Carraabelle
FEFDL link to Franklin County
Digital library resources about Franklin County.
Established 1823.
Named after James Gadsden of South Carolina, aide-de-camp of Jackson in Florida campaign of 1818.
Major cities include: Chattachoochee, Greensboro, Gretna, Midway, Quincy
FEFDL link to Gadsden County
Digital library resources about Gadsden County.
Established 1925.
Named after Albert W. Gilchrist, governor, 1909-1913.
Major cities include: Bell, Fanning Springs
FEFDL link to Gilchrist County
Digital library resources about Gilchrist County.
Established 1921.
Named after the Florida Everglades.
Major cities include: Moore Haven
FEFDL link to Glades County
Digital library resources about Glades County.
Established 1925.
Named after the Gulf of Mexico.
Major cities include: Port St. Joe, Wewahitchka
FEFDL link to Gulf County
Digital library resources about Gulf County.
Established 1827.
Named after Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of U.S. Treasury.
Major cities include: Jasper, Jenning, White Springs
FEFDL link to Hamilton County
Digital library resources about Hamilton County.
Established 1921.
Named after Cary A. Hardee, Governor, 1921-1925.
Major cities include: Bowling Green, Wauchula, Zolfo Springs
FEFDL link to Hardee County
Digital library resources about Hardee County.
Established 1923.
Named after Captain Francis A. Hendry, one of the first settlers.
Major cities include: Clewiston, La Belle
FEFDL link to Hendry County
Digital library resources about Hendry County.
Established 1843. (was Benton, 1844 -1850)
Named after Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorer.
Major cities include: Brooksville, Weeki Wachee
FEFDL link to Hernando County
Digital library resources about Hernando County.
Established 1921.
Named for the county's Highland terrain.
Major cities include: Avon Park, Lake Placid, Sebring
FEFDL link to Highlands County
Digital library resources about Highlands County.
Established 1834.
Named after Wills Hill, Viscount Hillsborough of England.
Major cities include: Plant City, Tampa, Temple Terrace
FEFDL link to Hillsborough County
Digital library resources about Hillsborough County.
Established 1848.
Named after Thomas J. Holmes of North Carolina who settled in the area about 1830.
Major cities include: Bonifay, Esto, Noma, Ponce de Leon, Westville
FEFDL link to Holmes County
Digital library resources about Holmes County.
Established 1925.
Named after the Indian River
Major cities include: Fellsmere Indian River Shores, Orchid, Sebastian, Vero Beach
FEFDL link to Indian River County
Digital library resources about Indian River County.
Established 1822.
Named after Andrew Jackson, President, U.S., 1829-1837.
Major cities include: Marianna
FEFDL link to Jackson County
Digital library resources about Jackson County.
Established 1827.
Named after Thomas Jefferson, President, U.S., 1801-1809.
Major cities include: Monticello
FEFDL link to Jefferson County
Digital library resources about Jefferson County.
Established 1856.
Named after Marquis de Lafayette, French officer who served with Washington in the American Revolution.
Major cities include: Mayo
FEFDL link to Lafayette County
Digital library resources about Lafayette County.
Established 1887.
Named for the large number of lakes in the area.
Major cities include: Eustis, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Tavares
FEFDL link to Lake County
Digital library resources about Lake County.
Established 1887.
Named after General Robert E. Lee.
Major cities include: Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel
See the Koreshan State Historical Site, Sanibel Island History,
and Southwest Florida Environmental Documents collections.
FEFDL link to Lee County
Digital library resources about Lee County.
Established 1824.
Named after Juan Ponce de Leon, first European to reach Florida.Digital library resources about Leon County.
Established 1845.
Named after David Levy (Yulee), U.S. Senator, 1845-1851, 1855-1861.
Major cities include: Cedar Key, Williston
FEFDL link to Levy County
Digital library resources about Levy County.
Established 1855.
Name applied to a common objective of American people.
Major cities include: Bristol
FEFDL link to Liberty County
Digital library resources about Liberty County.
Established 1827.
Named after James Madison, President, U.S., 1809-1817.
Major cities include: Greenville, Lee, Madison
FEFDL link to Madison County
Digital library resources about Madison County.
Established 1855.
Named for the sea cow, or manatee.
Major cities include: Anna Marie Island, Longboat Key
FEFDL link to Manatee County
Digital library resources about Manatee County.
Established 1844.
Named after General Francis Marion, Revolutionary War Hero.
Major cities include: Belleview, Dunnellon, McIntosh, Ocala, Silver Springs
FEFDL link to Marion County
Digital library resources about Marion County.
Established 1925.
Named after John W. Martin, Governor, 1925-1929.
Major cities include: Jupiter Island, Ocean Breeze Park,
Stuart, Sewall's Point
FEFDL link to Martin County
Digital library resources about Martin County.
Established 1836.
Named after Major Francis L. Dade, killed at the Dade Battlefield, 1835.
Major cities include: Coral Gables, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach
See the Miami Metropolitan Archive and Reclaiming the Everglades collections.
FEFDL link to Miami-Dade County
Digital library resources about Miami-Dade County.
Established 1823.
Named after James Monroe, President, U.S., 1817-1825.
Major cities include: Islamorda, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, North Key Largo Beach
See the Big Cypress National Preserve and Mile Markers collections.
FEFDL link to Monroe County
Digital library resources about Monroe County.
Established 1824.
Named after the Duchy of Nassau, Germany.
Major cities include: Callahan, Fernandina Beach, Hillard
FEFDL link to Nassau County
Digital library resources about Nassau County.
see, Bradford
Established 1858 through 1861. It was subsequently renamed Bradford.
Established 1915.
Choctaw Indian words oka (water) and lusa (black).
Major cities include: Destin, Fort Walton Beach
FEFDL link to Okaloosa County
Digital library resources about Okaloosa County.
Established 1917.
Hitchiti words oki (water) and chobi (big).
Major cities include: Okeechobee City
FEFDL link to Okeechobee County
Digital library resources about Okeechobee County.
Established 1845. (was Mosquito, 1824 -1845)
Named for the county's oranges and orange industry.
Major cities include: Apoka, Orlando
FEFDL link to Orange County
Digital library resources about Orange County.
Established 1887.
The Indian leader Osceola, whose name means "Singer of the Black Drink".
Major cities include: Celebration, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Walt Disney World
FEFDL link to Osceola County
Digital library resources about Osceola County.
Established 1909.
Named for the county's palms and beaches.
Major cities include: Boca Raton , Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach
FEFDL link to Palm Beach County
Digital library resources about Palm Beach County.
Established 1887.
Named after Samuel Pasco, U.S. Senator, 1887 -1899.
Major cities include:Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey,
Saint Leo, San Antonio, Zephyrhills
FEFDL link to Pasco County
Digital library resources about Pasco County.
Established 1911.
From the Spanish "Pinta Pinal", meaning "Point of Pines".
Major cities include:Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Largo, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs
FEFDL link to Pinellas County
Digital library resources about Pinellas County.
Established 1861.
Named after James K. Polk, President, U.S., 1845 -1849.
Major cities include: Auburndale, Bartow, Lakeland, Lake Wales, Winter Haven
FEFDL link to Polk County
Digital library resources about Polk County.
Established 1849.
Named after either for Israel Putnam, Revolutionary hero, or Benjamin A. Putnam, officer in Seminole War and unsuccessful
candidate, U.S. House of Representatives, 1815.
Major cities include:Crescent City, Interlachen, Palatka, Pomona Park, Welaka
FEFDL link to Putnam County
Digital library resources about Putnam County.
Established 1821.
Named after St. John the Baptist.
Major cities include: Hastings, Marineland, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach
FEFDL link to St. Johns County
Digital library resources about St. Johns County.
see, Brevard
Established 1844 - 1855.
Established 1844.
Named after St. Lucie of Syracuse, Roman Catholic Saint.
Lucie was Born in Sicily and was executed in 304 AD for being a Christian.
Major cities include: Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie
FEFDL link to St. Lucie County
Digital library resources about St. Lucie County.
Established 1842.
Named after Rosa de Viterbo, Roman Catholic Saint.
Major cities include: Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, Navarre, Pace
FEFDL link to Santa Rosa County
Digital library resources about Santa Rosa County.
Established 1921.
From Calusa Indian language, meaning "not known",
but perhaps "Point of Rocks".
Major cities include: Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota, Venice
FEFDL link to Sarasota County
Digital library resources about Sarasota County.
Established 1913.
Named after the Seminole Indians. "Seminole" is thought to be derived from Spanish word "cimarron", meaning "wild" or "runaway."
Major cities include: Lake Mary, Oviedo, Sanford
FEFDL link to Seminole County
Digital library resources about Seminole County.
Established 1853.
Named after General Thomas Sumter, Revolutionary War hero.
Major cities include: Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, Wildwood
FEFDL link to Sumter County
Digital library resources about Sumter County.
Established 1858.
Either Cherokee "sawani", meaning "echo river", or corruption of Spanish San Juan.
Major cities include: Branford, Live Oak
FEFDL link to Suwannee County
Digital library resources about Suwannee County.
Established 1856.
Named after Zachary Taylor, President, U.S., 1849-1851.
Major cities include: Perry
FEFDL link to Taylor County
Digital library resources about Taylor County.
Established 1921.
Unity.
Major cities include: Lake Butler, Raiford, Worthington Springs
FEFDL link to Union County
Digital library resources about Union County.
Established 1854.
Named after Volus, an English settler.
Major cities include: Daytona Beach, Deland, Halifax, Orange City, Ormond Beach
FEFDL link to Volusia County
Digital library resources about Volusia County.
Established 1843.
Probably Timucuan Indian word for "spring of water".
Major cities include: Crawfordville, St. Marks, Sopchoppy
FEFDL link to Wakulla County
Digital library resources about Wakulla County.
Established 1824.
Named after George Walton, Secretary, Territorial Florida, 1821- 1826.
Major cities include: DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, Paxton
FEFDL link to Walton County
Digital library resources about Walton County.
Established 1825.
Named after George Washington, President, U.S., 1789-1797.
Major cities include: Caryville, Chipley, Ebro, Sunnyville, Vernon, Wausau
FEFDL link to Washington County
Digital library resources about Washington County.
Florida's rich history is stored in a variety of collections across Florida and the United States. Selected institutions with significant collections on Florida communities, history, and culture are listed below by subject. Many of these institutions offer inter-library loan, reference desk, and Ask A Librarian virtual reference services to the public. Please contact specific institutions directly for additional information on accessing collections. Contact us to suggest related sites not yet listed or for help using the Florida Heritage site.
State Archives
State Library
of Florida,
Florida Department of State
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Ask A Librarian: http://www.askalibrarian.org/
U.S. National
Archives & Records Administration (NARA)
Including information on the Genealogy Research
Room.
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740
Contact Us: http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/contact_us.html
Black Archives (FAMU)
including the Black Archives Electronic Gallery
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL 32307
(850) 599-3020
Black Archives History & Research Foundation
5400 NW 22nd Avenue, 7th Floor
Caleb Center
Miami, Florida 33142
(305) 654-6545
Florida
African American Heritage Preservation Network,
FAAHP
John G. Riley Center/Museum of African American History & Culture
419 East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, Florida 323601
The Black Experience: A Guide to African American Resources
in the Florida State Archives
Florida Department of State, Division of Library & Information
Services
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Ask A Librarian: http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/stlib/ref.html
Materials on the Destruction of Rosewood, Florida
Florida Department of State, Division of Library & Information
Services
Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
(850) 245-6444
Feedback Form/Contact Information: http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/
Florida Archaeology
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida - Powell Hall
P.O. Box 112710
Gainesville, Florida 32611
(352) 846-2000
City-Owned Cemeteries Master Burial Index
City of Tallahassee, Real Estate Division
Names Found in Florida Cemeteries
Tallahassee
Trust for Historic Preservation & Paul
Donovan
Documenting the American South
Academic Affairs Library, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
Subject Index/Feedback: http://docsouth.unc.edu
Florida in the Civil War
A Museum of
Florida History exhibit.
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 245-6400
MyFlorida.com, The Official Portal of the State
of Florida: Government links
Find a State of Florida agency or Florida local government
counties and cities
Florida Public Documents Collection, State Library of
Florida
Includes a list of Florida State Documents Depositories
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Government documents holdings are accessible via the online
catalog WebLuis,
including PALMM digital library collections with digitized
documents such as Florida
Historical Legal Documents, Florida
Environments Online, and Reclaiming
the Everglades.
U.S. Census Bureau
Department of Commerce
Including Publications, Census
2000, American
FactFinder,
and State & County
QuickFacts
4700 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD
More Federal, State, & Local government resources via FirstGov: http://www.firstgov.gov
Library of Congress
Especially, American Memory digital library collections such
as America
from the Great Depression to WWII, American
Life Histories, and Built
in America.
101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540
Ask A Librarian: http://www.askalibrarian.org/
Florida's Libraries
State Library
of Florida, Florida Department of State
Florida
Collection, Florida
Memory, and State Archives
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Ask A Librarian: http://www.askalibrarian.org/
State University Libraries of Florida
Holdings information is accessible via the online catalog,
including PALMM digital library collections, the Florida
State Archives, and the P.
K. Yonge Library of Florida History, UF
University of Miami Libraries
Including the Cuban
Heritage, Florida, and other Special
Collections & Archives
1300 Memorial Dr.
Coral Gables, Florida 33124
Ask OTTO: http://www.library.miami.edu/ask_a_librarian.html
More Libraries & their Catalogs via LibDex: http://www.libdex.com
Florida Historical Map Collection
P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida
Florida Historical Society
1320 Highland Avenue
Melbourne, FL 32935
(321) 254-9855
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida - Powell Hall
P.O. Box 112710
Gainesville, Florida 32611
(352) 846-2000
HistoryMiami
101 West Flagler Street
Miami, Florida 33130
Departments & Staff: http://www.historymiami.org/about-us/contact-us/
Museum of
Florida History, Division of Historical Resources
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
(850) 245-6400
Calusa, Tequesta, and Timucua
Miami
Circle, HMSF
Calusa Artifacts: Remnants of a Vanished Culture, ENP
The
Calusa:"The Shell Indians", FCIT
The
Timucua in St. Augustine, FNHM
Miccosukees and Seminoles
Miccosukee Seminole Nation
Seminole Tribe
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
Seminole History
General History
Prehistoric Native Americans
South
Florida Archaeology and Ethnography, FMNH
UF Newspaper Article Database, 1762-1885
Florida Newspaper Project
PHOTOGRAPHS & VISUAL
IMAGES
PALMM Visual Collections
Including Mile Markers:
Linking Keys History, Florida
Aerial Photography, and Type
Specimens from the University of
Florida Herbarium.
Florida Photographic Archive, Florida State Archives
Collections from the HistoryMiami, including the Miami News Collection, Ralph Munroe Photographs, and Claude C. Matlack Photographs
Florida Facts & History
Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of
State
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Ask A Librarian: http://www.askalibrarian.org/
U.S. National
Archives & Records Administration (NARA)
Including the Genealogy
Research Room.
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740
Contact Us: http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/contact_us.html
U.S. Census Bureau
Department of Commerce
Including Selected
Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts and Census
2000 Gateway.
4700 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD
Contact Us: http://www.census.gov/about/contact-us.html/a>
More federal, state, & local government statistical sources via Fedstats: http://fedstats.sites.usa.gov/
<< Previous: Florida Counties Next: Copyright Information >>
Florida Heritage is a collection of digital images made from source materials in the collections of libraries, archives and museums.
Unless additional restrictions are noted, copyrighted electronic materials in this collection may be used for research, instruction, and private study under the provisions of Fair Use. Fair Use is a provision of United States Copyright Law (United States Code, Title 17, section 107) which allows limited use of copyrighted materials under certain conditions. Factors to be considered with regard to a particular use's falling under Fair Use include: the purpose or character of the use; The nature of the copyrighted work; The amount and substantiality of the work being used; The effect of the use on the market for and value of the original. Under Fair Use you may view, print, photocopy, and download images from this site without prior permission, provided that you provide proper attribution of the source on all copies. For any other use of these electronic materials, including but not limited to display, publication and commercial use, permission of the copyright holder must be obtained.
There are several good sources of information about copyright and Fair Use on the web. For additional information, you may want to start with the Smathers Library Copyright Reference Page at http://cms.uflib.ufl.edu/copyright Libraries_Policies_and_Procedures.html, or the Copyright Management Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis at http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/special/collections/uarchives/ua089.
Citations, quotations, and use of images in this collection made under Fair Use or with permission of the copyright holder must acknowledge their source. Proper attribution includes the name of the resource, the name of the Florida Heritage project, the name of the copyright holder, and the URL of the Florida Heritage project homepage.
Users assume all liability for copyright infringement and are advised to contact the institution holding the source materials for copyright information and permission to use the electronic versions. Permission must be obtained for display, publication, commercial use, or any other use of the digital materials in this collection except as allowed under Fair Use.
The institution holding the source material is noted in the full bibliographic information for the document. "Search" on the Florida Heritage Project Homepage by entering a search for the material you are interested in. When you find the desired item, click on the underlined title, and full bibliographic information will display. You will find full information about the source, including holding library and any copyright restrictions pertaining to the original material and the digital images made from it.
Last updated 2011. Please contact help@flvc.org for current information.
members of the Digitization Projects Planning Committee,with special thanks to Institutional Representatives:
Cataloging and Access Guidelines for Electronic Resources, with special thanks to:
Contact information may be out of date. If unable to reach Library staff member please contact help@flvc.org for current information.
| Institution | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| For general technical and administrative information | |
| Florida Virtual Campus | help@flvc.org |
| For questions about Florida Heritage documents, including inquiries about rights and permissions, please contact the appropriate department in the library holding the source materials. | |
| Florida A&M University | Cornelia A. Taylor, Supervisor Special Collections S. H. Coleman Library Florida A&M University Tallahassee, FL 32307 ctaylor@famu.edu Phone: (850) 599-3330 Fax: (850) 651-2561 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Digital Services Librarian, Digital Library Wimberly Library Florida Atlantic University P. O. Box 3092 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL 33431-0992 lydig@fau.edu Fax: (561) 297-0139 |
| Florida International University | Head - Digital Collections Center Green Library 11200 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33199 Phone: (305) 348-6708 Fax: (305) 348-6355 |
| Florida State University | Krystal Thomas, Digital Archivist Special Collections & Archives Florida State University Libraries Tallahassee, FL 32306-2047 kmthomas@fsu.edu Phone: (850) 644-5214 |
| University of Central Florida | Selma K. Jaskowski, Assistant Director for Systems & Technology University of Central Florida Libraries P.O. Box 162666 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816-2666 selmaj@mail.ucf.edu Phone: (407) 823-5444 Fax: (407) 823-2529 |
| University of Florida | Director, Digital Library Center Digital Library Center P.O. Box 117001 Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-7007 Phone: (352) 846-0129 Fax: (352) 846-3702 |
| University of North Florida | Aisha Johnson, Special Collections Librarian Thomas G. Carpenter Library University of North Florida 1 UNF Drive Jacksonville, FL 32245 a.johnson@unf.edu Phone: (904) 620-2618 Fax: (904) 620-2719 |
| University of South Florida | Mark Greenberg, Special Collections Librarian Tampa Campus Library 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa, FL 33620-5400 USF Libraries Digital Center migreenberg@usf.edu Phone: (813) 974-4141 Fax: (813) 396-5400 |
| University of West Florida | Dean DeBolt, Special Collections/West Florida Archives John C. Pace Library 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514-5750 ddebolt@uwf.edu Phone: (850) 474-2213 Fax: (850) 474-3338 |
"PALMM has made available materials that would require weeks of research and considerable expense to locate in libraries and archives. It is an invaluable research tool."
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"Thank you for helping to distribute your resources broadly." "I was very excited to encounter the Miami Metropolitan Archives on the Net thanks to your efforts."
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"I have just discovered your PALMM Literature for Children website and am thrilled with what I see of the collection here. I hope you are able to continue adding to the online collection of these marvelous treasures."
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"The work you all have done is fantastic. This is a great resource."
"Thanks for the wonderful work and the fascinating things you are making available."
The Florida Heritage Collection is an ongoing cooperative project of the State University System (SUS) of Florida to digitize and provide online access to materials broadly representing Florida's history, culture, arts, literature, sciences and social sciences. Thematic areas in this growing collection include Native American and minority populations, exploration and development, tourism, the natural environment, and regional interests. Materials are taken from archives, special collections, and libraries of the eleven state universities which make up the SUS. These materials represent only a small part of the wealth of historical and archival treasures held by the SUS libraries. Users should note the source of materials they use on this site and should contact the holding libraries or archives directly for more information.
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