Audubon Society Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary records, 1937-2019

Summary

Creator:

Ed Carlson

Abstract:

The Audubon Society Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary records contain materials collecting the history of this sanctuary and the scientific and outreach work conducted on the property and surrounding area. In addition, this collection includes research materials from several National Audubon Society projects, including from the Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary and Platte River.

Extent:

51 Linear Feet

96 boxes

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of organizational papers, scientific data, field notebooks, correspondence, photographs and photographic slides, maps, and clippings.

Biographical / historical:

Audubon Florida's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a site which had been protected by Audubon wardens since the 1910s. With no interest from the state in preserving the area, Audubon Florida founded the sanctuary in the mid-1950s. From an initial 5,000 acres, it was expanded to more than 13,000 acres. It is especially notable for its bald cypress forest and cypress domes, the only part of the original Fakahatchee cypress strand in the area to be preserved from logging, which commenced in 1944. As part of the Corkscrew watershed, the sanctuary is part of the western Everglades. To save the remaining cypress and vital habitat from destruction, Audubon led an effort to raise money to buy the property. By 1954, 5,680 acres were accumulated, the last virgin cypress forest in the entire world and the most important Wood Stork rookery in the U.S. When offered the property, the state of Florida expressed no interest in the site, so Audubon took ownership. By the 1970s and 80s, development had altered the local landscape and made the sanctuary a much less isolated site. Under the leadership of Executive Director (and longtime Audubon employee) Ed Carlson in the 1980s and 90s, the sanctuary incoroporated more formal education programs, a visitor center, and a boardwalk that provides a scenic tour of parts of the property. These records document the activities of the sanctuary, including habitat studies, research materials, educational records, correspondence, and general management of the site, from invasive species mitigation to controlled burns.

Arrangement:

This collection is divided into four series: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary records, subject files, photographs and slides, and oversized material. The first series includes documents from work conducted at the sanctuary proper, though additional related documents may be found in the subject files. Within series, folders are arranged alphabetically.

Physical description:

Good.

Related

Separated material:

Maps and publications related to the archival collection are cataloged individually and shelved in the Environment and Natural History Collection. Titles and links to the catalog record are available on this finding aid via the "Cataloged Books, Publications, and Media" and "Cataloged Maps" series.

Other descriptive data:

The Audubon Florida Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Records donation included published book materials that are being processed for inclusion into the collection and will be traced on this record.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Ecology -- Florida
Conservationists -- Florida
Birds -- Habitat -- Florida
Birds -- Migration

Restrictions:

Until 2034, USF Libraries must provide a 90 day notice to Florida Audubon Society in advance of any exhibition or cultural activity initiated by USF Libraries in which the sole focus of the exhibition or activity is the Florida Audubon Society.

Terms of access:

None. The contents of the collection may be subject to copyright.  Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.

Location of this collection:

USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections

The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus

4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122

Tampa

FL

33620-5400

USA

Contact:

https://lib.usf.edu/special-collections/