Collections

The Elliot Cross and James A. Cross Civil War Collection documents the Southern perspective of the American Civil War. As FAU's largest collection dedicated solely to the Civil War, the Cross collection contains hundreds of manuscript and published items including personal correspondence from Jefferson Davis, Alexander Stephens, Robert E. Lee and many other Confederate military and government leaders. Also included are Confederate government documents and general orders pertaining to the war as well as photographs and illustrations from the period. The Cross Collection was donated by Elliot Cross' son James A. Cross in the early 1970s, following his father's death. Elliot Cross, a life-long aficionado of the Confederacy, purchased papers, lithographs and prints, currency, published and unpublished letters and memorabilia over a period of forty years. FAU Libraries received the collection mounted in four custom-made maroon leather scrapbooks. The items have been removed from these scrapbooks for preservation purposes. The publication of several articles about the collection in 1988 led to research by Civil War scholars that culminated in ground-breaking publication. One such breakthrough identified pneumonia as T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson's cause of death; a thesis supported by documents in the Cross Collection and published in Robert K. Krick's, The Smoothbore Volley that Doomed the Confederacy: the Death of Stonewall Jackson and other Chapters on the Army of Northern Virginia. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2002).

The Ellyn F. Walters Collection contains correspondence, professional papers, programs, photographs, awards, objects, and a scrapbook belonging to Ellyn F. Walters of Fort Lauderdale, Florida during her service as a teacher, fundraiser, and community leader.

This collection consists of commemorative items and documents honoring Elsie Davie's service to Covenant Village of Florida residents and her philanthropic legacy in the community. Included is a plaque recognizing her as Benefactor of the Year, an engraved Lucite award from the Broward Community College Foundation, an annual foundation report, and heritage pins. These materials document Davie's volunteerism, fundraising, and honored status in both education and eldercare.

The Emmanuel George Collection contains correspondence, photographs, printed materials, certificates, short videos and artwork related to African Americans in Broward County, Florida. Correspondence contains cards written to Emmanuel George about his internships with Encore and the Lake Wales Public Library African American Archives Project. Crispus Attucks High School materials include a yearbook, student report cards, commencement programs, and class reunions. Photographs display African American individual and group portraits in Broward County. Printed materials include newspaper articles about African American neighborhoods in Broward County, specifically Hollywood, an African American Research Library and Cultural Center brochure, signed Legacy of Broward trading cards, funeral programs, and a magazine article featuring Emmanuel George at Sistrunk-A-Fair. Awards includes a certificate from the City of Miami awarded to Emmanuel George for his participation as a featured artist in the "Reimagine the Neighborhood" campaign in April 2022. Paintings of African Americans include the following: Tamara James, Attucks High School alumni (30 x 30), Kitty Oliver (36 x 36), Cannonball Adderley, Dr. James Sistrunk, and Esther Rolle.

This collection relates to Master Sergeant Enoch Johnston Meekins, Jr. who served as a Sergeant Pilot and ground crew with the 10th Air Force in North Africa, India, Burma, and China during World War II. The collection contains a Chinese color lithograph print and oral history interview transcript.

Eugene S. Brown served as a member of the 78th Infantry Division in the European Theater during World War II. He served from 1943-1946. His unit arrived in France in November of 1944. He performed duties as a runner and a jeep driver for his unit. This collection contains a transcript from an interview conducted June 7, 2000.