Collections : [UNF Library Special Collections and University Archives]

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.

The collection consists of the personal and business correspondence of Bucky Family members and other correspondents from 1893-1915. Most of the letters are incoming correspondence from business associates, close family members, relatives and friends to Jacob (Jake) D. Bucky. Numerous letters from 1893-1895 are written on the "L. Bucki and Son" letterhead stationery. The business correspondence from 1893 to 1895 refers mainly to payments and shipments of materials. Also included are several telegrams and notes concerning Masonic Hall Lodge dues. Of particular interest are the numerous pieces of letterhead stationery providing documentation for late nineteenth century Jacksonville businesses. In 1903-04, several letters from the Jacksonville law firm of Bisbee and Bedell refer to J. D. Bucki's appearance as a witness in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Fidelity & Deposit Co. vs. L. Bucki and Son Lumber Co. Reference is also made by the law firm to the L. Bucki Company ceasing business early in 1898. Three letters written by Fred Bucky to his father on May 16, 22, and 30, 1901 are of special note for their glimpse of life in Jacksonville at the beginning of the twentieth century. The contents also provide a brief eyewitness account of the re-building of Jacksonville after the Great Fire on May 3, 1901. On May 22, he relates to his father: "...It is a sad sight to see the once busy bustling prosperous Jacksonville buried in ashes. One cannot imagine how bad it really is unless they could actually see it. A few well insured ones and those whose homes were spared are alright..." On May 30: "... I know what the poor boy has suffered... the fire excitement was too much for his nerves. The re-building of the city is very slow at present, material is hard to get... " All items are photocopies. Most letters are legible; however, some handwritten letters are difficult to read.

The collection consists primarily of the correspondence of Wesley "Lee" Bouslog, with 106 letters and envelopes dated from December 31, 1917 to May 21, 1918. The first letter describes his arrival at the Camp, and thereafter, the often lengthy letters detail Bouslog's life as a soldier, including descriptions of his daily meals and routines, and maintenance tasks. The letters provide a glimpse into camp life, with Bouslog relating that more than twenty states were represented in his Barracks, as well as several different nationalities, including Irish, Scottish, and Jewish. According to the letters, soldiers enjoyed entertainment, including films and concerts at the Camp theater, and also received educational benefits on-base such as schooling. Due to a lack of initial transportation for the early soldiers on base, there are few references to visits to the City of Jacksonville and vicinity. As a result, many activities took place in the YMCA building on Camp grounds. Letterhead on Bouslog's stationery includes: "With the Colors" YMCA; National War Work Council, Army and Navy, Young Men's Christian Associations; and Camp Joseph E. Johnston Jacksonville, Florida. Printed materials in the collection include postcards, a souvenir folder (depicting 22 views of the Camp), and oversize photographs of the Camp's soldiers. The collection provides printed and visual documentation of the Camp's activities and development from 1917 to 1918, which signal the beginning of a significant military presence in the Jacksonville region.

The collection consists of more than 1,000 items, primarily twentieth century material relating to Jacksonville, Florida. Includes letters, documents, and notes relating to the personal, political, and business activities of Eartha M. M. White. Some subject files include publications, reports, programs, photographs, and memorabilia. Of particular interest are materials pertaining to: Prominent African American leaders, e.g., James Weldon Johnson, A. Phillip Randolph, and Simuel Decatur McGill; Historic Jacksonville business, charitable, and religious organizations including Afro-American Life Insurance Company, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Clara White Mission, Community Chest Association, and Jacksonville Negro Welfare League; Florida social and educational organizations including Florida State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Florida Baptist Academy / Florida Normal and Industrial Institute. The bulk of the collection are photographs depicting friends, relatives and events from her long life. Sizes of the photographs vary, ranging from 5x7 to 12x16 inches. A significant amount of her business and personal correspondence is also included. An extensive subject index is available for use with the collection. The collection also contains 156 black and white photographs of southern African American religious and labor groups, circa 1946-1949, by photographer R. Lee Thomas of Mound Bayou, Mississippi. His imprint contains the caption: Made by R. Lee Thomas, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, The Oldest Negro Town in America. Mr. Thomas was an African American photographer active in the early twentieth century in the southern United States, whose work provides photographic documentation of southern black social life during that time period. The majority of the photographs depict groups from Birmingham, Alabama, and adjacent areas.

The collection contains correspondence, publications and printed materials, project and subject files, and photographs relating to Mr. Simons' personal and professional activities throughout his adult life, from his college years until his retirement in 1970. The chronology begins with documentation of his higher education activities, including class notebooks, his thesis (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1915) and correspondence with professors. His professional career as a planning, zoning and municipal consultant is well-documented with extensive business files, including contracts and agreements, notes, correspondence, and working papers for many of the municipal planning, land use, and zoning projects undertaken by Mr. Simons. One strength of the collection is its depth of project publications, reports and plans created by Mr. Simons over a forty year professional career, 1928-1970. Subject files also show Mr. Simons' broad-ranging interests in various urban planning and financial topics. The Jacksonville, Florida, connection is well-documented in his personal papers. Mr. Simons was a longtime resident and civic leader in Jacksonville with broad personal interests, and the collection contains printed materials, including ephemera, relating to his numerous memberships in local clubs and organizations, and his religious affiliation with Riverside Presbyterian Church. Also, included are rare photographs of early Jacksonville residential construction scenes (Venetia), snapshots of Jacksonville landscapes and buildings, city parks, and numerous group photographs from Mr. Simons' participation in professional and social organizations.

This collection documents the untiring efforts of Jacksonville physician Dr. George Dekle Taylor's twelve-year campaign leading a citizen group in opposition to "the unsightly blemish of the advertising on bus benches which are haphazardly scattered over the community." Two other corollary concerns were that (a) the City and bus companies should provide additional, dignified benches with convenient locations for the bus riding public; and (b) the City investigate the legality of advertising on city property. Documents pertaining to activities, including primarily correspondence, City of Jacksonville Legal Division opinions and bills, City Commission of Jacksonville minutes, Florida Senate bills, bus bench surveys, television editorials, newspaper clippings, presentations and speeches, lists of bus routes, Dr. Dekle's handwritten notes, and photographs. Correspondents include one United States Senator, various Florida state legislators, Jacksonville mayors (Haydon Burns, Louis Ritter, Hans Tanzler), Jacksonville City Commissioners/Council members, City of Jacksonville Police/Recreation/Safety officials, Garden Club of Jacksonville members, individuals from Tallahassee and Orlando spearheading beautification efforts in their respective cities, and interested Jacksonville residents.

The collection consists of administrative files which chronicle the activities and development of the Council from 1998-2001. Materials include primarily annual reports, committee recommendations, correspondence, minutes and agendas of meetings, and membership lists.

The collection contains correspondence, administrative and subject files, and printed materials relating to Mr. Carlucci's political activities. Few personal items are included. Subject files provide detailed information on highly publicized and controversial Jacksonville, Florida issues (Offshore Power Systems, etc.) and prominent local individuals; extensive documentation on the site selection of the University of North Florida; and insights into the Hans Tanzler mayoral era of Jacksonville politics and government. The Carlucci Papers complement related collections on Jacksonville's government consolidation during the same time period: Richard A. Martin Papers; Homer H. Humphries, Jr. Papers; Jacksonville, Florida, Government Consolidation Collection.

John E. Mathews, Jr. was a Florida state legislator from 1956 to 1970 and President of the Florida Senate in 1969-70. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Florida in 1963/64 and 1969/70. The collection contains the extensive personal papers, documents, and memorabilia of Mr. Mathews, spanning the years 1920 - 1988. His early years are particularly well documented, with scrapbooks, report cards, awards, etc. The legislative years (1956-70) are chronicled by detailed reports, documents, and newsclippings; and the gubernatorial campaign years (1963; 1969-70) are well-represented with a near complete set of the master campaign files of correspondence, lists, speeches, newsclippings, scrapbooks, and travel / itinerary materials. The collection is of primary value for research on Mr. Mathews, but in totality, provides insights into Florida political history and government circa 1950-70.

The collection contains correspondence, personal and subject files, and campaign and printed materials relating to Glover's career, chiefly his election and tenure as Jacksonville Sheriff from 1995 to 2003. The core of the collection are printed materials pertaining to his campaigns for Jacksonville Sheriff (1995; 1999) and Mayor (2003), and photographs showing highlights from his JSO years. The images provide visual documentation of his extensive involvement in the community, through neighborhood walks, speaking engagements at local schools, and attendance at numerous ceremonies, events and receptions. In totality, the Glover Papers are of interest to scholars researching race relations in Jacksonville and Florida in the late twentieth century, as well as providing information on Glover as a key figure in promoting change. His post-retirement work is also well-documented in the collection, and significant for its potentially far-reaching effects on Jacksonville's children and social welfare issues.