Collections

Correspondence. This collection is comprised of various groups of letters about Florida, dating between 1837 and 1891 most of which deal primarily with land issues.

Typed autobiographical sketch of Bob Taggart, addressed to "My Dear Jerry." Contains reminiscences of Florida during the 1920s and his acquaintance with Jerry Willams Carter. Letter also covers his life in Texas as a boy and his many adventures throughout his varied careers as a telegraph operator, sailor, soldier, farmer and salesman. Taggart also goes in depth about his experiences serving in both World Wars. 61 pages.

This item is a letter from Captain John Rogers Vinton at Fort New Smyrna, Florida and dated 1840. Addressed to his mother, it was written on his birthday and he wrote: "Since my last birthday, another year has passed over my head, and brought me to that period when it is my wont to make a retrospect of the past and pour out my thoughts to you. It has been a year of exile from civilized life - but not altogether profitless, and by no means an unhappy one..." His letter is highly religious and rather contradictory, as he wrote of having found "in the wilderness of Florida" many things pleasing to him. As Captain Vinton was at Fort Mellon and Fort Taylor in 1837 and 1838, his letter dated Fort New Smyrna, June 20, 1840, must have described the place.

Containing over two million pages, the Claude Pepper Papers includes his official correspondence, speeches, legislative, committee, and campaign files. In addition, there are files of his personal correspondence, speeches, photographs, recordings, and memorabilia. Also included are the personal papers, photographs, recordings, and memorabilia of his wife, Mildred Irene Webster Pepper. Mrs. Pepper always took a deep interest in public affairs and in helping her husband in his political career. She vigorously supported medical research, urban beautification, conservation, and actively participated in charitable and humanitarian organizations. There are also personal papers of the Pepper/Webster family, largely consisting of correspondence from parents, brothers, sisters, and other family members.

The papers of Dr. James A. Leitch Wright, Jr., a historian who taught at Florida State University from 1968 to 1986. Wright received acclaim for his Colonial American research. His papers include correspondence, research materials, and manuscripts for his publications related to Southern Native American tribes.

This collection consists of two scrapbooks covering Tallahassee and Florida history for over a century, 1861-1961.

Personal, business and family correspondence, books, business records (account books), and writing materials of George R. Fairbanks. This collection contains 1473 original material items, as well as 567 items which are copies of original materials. The collection contains biographical sketches of George Rainsford Fairbanks and his family history, his will, papers about personal matters, the Civil War, St. Augustine before and during the war, sale of enslaved peoples, photographs of Fairbanks, Charles Locke Beard, Charles Massey, and sketches of places such as a church in Palatka, Florida. There is a great deal of Civil War correspondence, including persons such as Senator David Levy Yulee and James Ormond.

The materials in this collection are related to the life and work of Fenton McArthur Prewitt. There is a fifty-page typescript entitled, "Chronological facts pertaining to the fifty years and after fifty years of the life of Fenton McArthur Prewitt, discussing his life, family genealogy, and career. There are a number of newspapers in the collection from the following cities in Florida: Tavares, Gainesville, Waldo, Starke, Jacksonville, Wauchula, Tampa, and Plant City. There are two holograph letters, dated March 14, 1897, and September 6, 1911, and one post card dated September 13, 1911. These include a clipping about yellow fever in Florida. A clipping from Gainesville's Daily Sun, dated August 31, 1901, announces Prewitt's marriage. Also in the collection are pamphlets on Florida politics, including a map, the charter of Lakeland, Florida, and the Stark, Florida Centennial.

This collection contains a selection of business letters that serve as examples of early business letterheads from various places in Florida. They are quite elaborate and contain pictures, maps and extensive advertising. They are from different towns and cities in Florida and date from 1879-1896. The letters are mostly to W.D. Bloxham and W.D. Barnes, both comptrollers for the state of Florida. Barnes was comptroller from 1881-1890 and Bloxham from 1890-1897.

Press releases, correspondence, and promotional publications issued by the Florida Commissions for the World's Fairs of 1933 (Chicago) and 1939 (New York City).