Search

This collection contains dime novels from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. These were cheap, mass-market fiction works sold in five, ten, and twenty cent formats that covered themes of adventure, crime, technology, the American Revolution, pirates, frontier life, the Wild West, and relations with Native Americans. This collection contains issues from popular dime novel publishers, including Frank Tousey, the Winner Library Co., Street and Smith, the George Marsh Company, Beadle and Adams, Norman L. Munro, the Arthur Westbrook Company, and R. M. de Witt. Because of their ephemeral nature, many dime novel publications have not survived. This collection offers a valuable look at American popular fiction from the turn of the twentieth century.

The collection primarily consists of materials related to D.B. McKay and his immediate family, but also includes materials from the Gutierrez and Martin families as well. Collection content consists of manuscripts, biographical materials, newspaper clippings, estate papers, architectural plans, diaries, poetry, family papers, correspondence, certificates, awards, photographs, and articles from the Tampa Tribune's "Pioneer Florida," a column edited by McKay for ten years.

Personal, family, and business correspondence, land deeds, letter of testamentary, papers of the administrator of the estate of Dr. F.A. Byrd. Business and personal papers, certificates of membership, licenses to practice as Physician and Surgeon, 13 early envelopes (some with stamps attached); business correspondence, statements, invoices, and one bound account book.

John O'Sullivan (1939-2000) was a professor of history at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. O'Sullivan attended Fordham University for his undergraduate studies and then Columbia University where he attained a M.A. and Ph.D. After graduating in 1971, he came to Florida Atlantic University where he served as chair of the History Department (1975-1978) and devoted his entire academic career. Dr. O'Sullivan received numerous research fellowships including the American Philosophical Society, the American Historical Association, and the Sloan Foundation.

Collection consists mainly of photocopies of original manuscripts in Spanish from Archivos General de Indias, Sevilla, Spain. There are a few translations in Spanish and English in holograph, a few typed copies of the translations and transcription, plus some holograph notes and typed pages of the manuscript by Dr. Boyd. These, the microfilm rolls, and other items that are included in the gift by Dr. Boyd are packed in separate envelopes, boxes and other containers.