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IMC Agrico Phosphate Company collection, 1890-1960, Date acquired: 09/18/1995

 

Summary

Creator:
IMC-Agrico Company
Extent:
5.38 Linear Feet
11 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

IMC Agrico-Phosphate Company collection, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes annual and semi-annual reports, memos, property holding records, inventories, histories, correspondence, memoranda, and publications (1903 to the 1920s).  Photographs (1904 to c. 1972) depict company structures and mining and dredging operations in Florida.  Also includes records of the segregated public schools for White and African American children in the "company town" of Pierce (1936-1943).

Biographical / historical:

Companies began mining phosphate in Florida for commercial use in the 1890s. By the turn of the century, numerous companies were in operation, with a heavy concentration in central Florida and especially what are the modern Polk, Hillsborough, and Peace River areas. IMC-Agrico was formed by the merger of International Minerals and Chemical Company and the American Agricultural Chemical Company. Due to poor transportation and the isolation of the phosphate mines from urban centers, the phosphate industry built and ran company towns for employees. Extensive records of Pierce, Brewster, Nichols, Tiger Bay and other "company towns" are also included in this collection. By 1913, Florida was responsible for more than 80% of the total United States production and roughly 20% of world production of hard rock and land pebble phosphate.

Acquisition information:

Vernon Peeples

Donation

Arrangement:

By series and type. Photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

None.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

IMC Agrico-Phosphate Company collection, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Location of this collection:
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus
4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122
Tampa
FL
33620-5400
USA