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This collection contains papers pertaining to Leroy Charles Heinse's experiences at Pass Christian training school in Mississippi, and as a United States Merchant Marine during World War II, and as an injured veteran after the Mustard Gas bombings of the SS John Bascom. The papers include photographs, letters, short stories, drawings, certificates, mustard gas information, medical documents, information about Merchant Marine Veterans, newspapers, military documents, photographs of medals, booklets, foreign money, Merchant Marine songs, magazines, and official logbooks from the SS John Bascom.

The materials comprising the Collins papers range in date from the 1940s to the 1980s, with concentrations in Collins' terms as Governor and materials related to his 1968 unsuccessful Senatorial campaign. The collection consists of 344 manuscript boxes, approximately 200 linear feet of papers which include and are not limited to correspondence files, working papers, reports, campaign research, memoranda and speeches. The collection also includes approximately 35 scrapbooks, memorabilia, and an extensive amount of pictures. Film and recordings from the collection were transferred to the State Library and Archives of Florida for preservation.