Collections

This collection consists of ten Smith family letters, thirty-three receipted invoices, one bill for tuition, and one diary, all dating between 1782-1864. The letters were chiefly among members of the Smith family and confined to family subjects, but several have educational value in that they represent the thinking of that period, the closeness of family, their religious nature, and in one case a letter by a young lady who moved from Rhode Island to Savannah, Georgia, writes back to her family in Rhode Island and tells of her impressions of the South. One very religious letter by James W. Smith of Thomasville, Georgia, dated 1864, to his uncle, Mr. Remington Smith of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, acknowledges a letter to his father which arrived a week before "his demise."

Consists of publications, advertisements, photographs, administration and research on the east coast railroads of the United States collected by history scholar Gregg M. Turner. Consists of four series, including but not limited to documents and photographs of railroad history (1830-1890), the Plant System Co. Inc.(1860-1902), the three primary railroads on the eastern seaboard of the United States (1830-present), and independent railroads. A portion of the collection has been digitized by Florida Gulf Coast University's Library Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives and is available on D[url=https://fgcu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/search/?type=edismax&collection=fgcu:0216]igitalFGCU[/url].

This collection consists of various examples of stationery used during the mid-1800s. The collection contains samples of embossed stationery from 1850-1860 and Rewards of Merrit related to her grandfather, Isaac Gage, and great, great uncle, Horace Randall, both of Vermont. Other names appearing are: Louise Austin, Master Charles Cleveland, Alba Southard, and Albert Egerton. These materials are good examples of the types of envelopes and embossed stationery in use during this time period, and the Rewards of Merrit are especially unique. Also included in the collection are some 30 courtesy cards and a booklet, entitled "Floral Album and Ladies' Companion." There is an envelope addressed to Mr. James Shores of Vermont, showing post mark West Burke, Vermont, 1895, with a two cents stamp, with a return address of E. A. Smith & Co., Spruce and Hard Wood Lumber, West Burke, Vermont.

The Walker Papers, dating 1745 to 1938, cover the careers of both George Keith Walker and Major George Wythe Walker. Among those pertaining directly to Major George Wythe Walker is a certificate showing that he was appointed by Governor Francis P. Fleming to be Major of the Eighth Regiment of the enrolled Militia of the State of Florida, and thirteen certificates of appointment as State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida and signed by the ten governors of Florida under whom he served.

Materials consist of correspondence, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and photographs. The collection relates primarily to Fuller's activities as a real estate developer during and after the Florida land boom. Subjects covered include farming, fish, Florida natural history, Florida population and economy, geology, hurricanes, the New Deal, and real estate in Cuba, Levy County, Melbourne, Ocala and Sarasota County.

The Dr. William Straight Collection held in the Special Collections and University Archives Department at Florida International University is an extremely fascinating and well researched collection that contains an extensive history of the first and founding doctors in Miami beginning in the late 1800's. This collection was the personal research of his collection is the result of years of comprehensive research about individuals, organizations, and topics such as James M. Jackson, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Victoria Hospital, various medical societies throughout the state of Florida, epidemics, military medicine, South Florida memoirs, and other unique and interesting memorabilia and ephemera relating to Florida doctors, history and medicine. This collection contains personal research and papers, photographs, antique medical cases, and index cards with historic and biographical information on each topic that Dr. Straight researched.

Business, personal, family and military papers, correspondence, orders, bills, pictures, publications, engineering diagrams and blueprints. This collection contains the business papers of John S. Winthrop and Mrs. Susan Winthrop, including correspondence, plantation records, bills, orders, mortgages, tax information and bookkeeping records. There are also personal and family papers of the Winthrop family, including pictures of persons such as Sindey Alder and members of the Winthrop family, as well as the military papers for Captain Guy L. Winthrop. The collection contains a set of eight blueprints and designs, the business papers of Francis B. Winthrop, and a map of Burrow Hill Place.