Collections

The African American Success Foundation (AASF) collection contains administrative files, photographs, awards and printed materials documenting the operation and history of the organization. The collection also includes Board of Directors agendas and minutes, by-laws, articles of incorporation, Lydia Donaldson Tutts Jones Memorial research papers, photographs of the AASF summits, journals, newsletters, newspaper clippings, audio-visual materials, awards, and ephemera.

These photocopies of Civil War papers include a letter from Bird B. Wright of Shepherdstown in Jefferson County, Virginia to his wife Amy R. Wright of Quincy Florida in Gadsden County. The letter dated September 21, 1862, informs her that he has been badly wounded while in combat near Sharpsburg, Maryland and gives instructions how to get to the place where he is and tells her that she or his brother should come to see him. Among other things, he tells her that his Captain was killed the same day he was wounded. Also included is a Certificate of Parole, Waldo, Alachua County, Florida, dated May 20, 1865 to J. A. Tompkins...Private of Co. B. 2nd Regiment, Florida Calvary, and a transmittal letter with further details by Weston Taylor of Tallahassee, Florida to "Mrs. Frost."

The Gilchrist Papers are comprised of the official papers of Albert Waller Gilchrist, 20th Governor of Florida, as well as newspaper articles, military and state official documents, items pertaining to the naming of Gilchrist County, materials regarding educational institutions including Carolina Military Institute and West Point, personal correspondence, genealogical research, and papers pertaining to Gilchrist's estate and will.

Facsimile reproduction of letters written by Alexander Farnsley of Fernelea to Mary Elizabeth Thurman of Louisville, whom he always addressed as "Dear Bettie." The letters were written between 1856-1860 and reproduced on the occasion of the weddings of two of their great granddaughters, Sally Burrell Farnsley, married at Louisville, July 28, 1962, and Anne Peaslee Farnsley, married at Hamburg, Germany, August 5, 1962.

The Alex Haley papers consists of manuscripts including those from his time with the Saturday Evening Post, Boy's Life Magazine and Kiwanis Magazine; correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, business files, awards, and other materials documenting Alex Haley's literary career. The papers also include fan mail during the popularity of the book and the subsequent television series "Roots", and photographs in Gambia.

The Allen Morris Papers consist of personal and professional records and research materials accumulated by Mr. Morris over a period of about forty-one years. The papers consist of correspondence; biographical sketches of Florida officials and other famous Floridians; photographs, programs, and other materials related to the Allen Morris Legislative Awards; historical data concerning place names, historical houses, rivers and river boats.

Correspondence pertaining to Home Economics professor, Anna Marie Erdman.

As Director of the Jacksonville Expressway Authority during the pivotal transportation years of 1956-1972, Mr. Sollee was a major influence in the development of the Jacksonville, Florida road system in Duval County, Florida in the mid-twentieth century. The collection consists primarily of correspondence, subject files and reports, and newspaper clippings relating to transportation projects in Duval County. It includes extensive documentation on the development of Jacksonville's road system, circa 1950-1970, consisting chiefly of numerous, albeit irregular, primary reports / studies; beach erosion / bulkhead data; and personal notes on Jacksonville transportation issues from the perspective of a prime participant. Historical source documents include project files relating to plans for Metropolitan Park and the Duval County Courthouse, and correspondence / newspaper clippings relating to the University of North Florida site selection. Few personal items are included.