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This World War II collection relates to Robert C. Watson, an African American soldier who served in the Navy during World War II. It contains a page of the roll call from the 316th Port Company with Robert C. Watson's name. There are also news articles and comics from the base. There are photographs of Robert C. Watson's unit and his Veteran's questionnaire. There is also an article he wrote about his experience as a black man who appeared white in the Navy.

The collection contains materials relating to the activities of the following Northeast Florida organizations during the time periods listed: Civic Round Table of Jacksonville, Florida (1990-2000); Community Foundation in Jacksonville (2001); Duval Audubon Society (1993-1996); Florida League of Conservation Voters, Northeast Florida Chapter (1982-1997); Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (1996-2000); Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board (1983-1984); Jacksonville Symphony Association Guild (1984-2009); Northeast Florida Coastal Zone Management Citizens Advisory Committee (1977-1981); Riverside Avondale Preservation (1983-2009); San Marco Preservation Society (1981-1999); Volunteer Jacksonville, Inc. (1994). Documents, primarily research and study materials, correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, surveys, newsletters, and minutes and agendas of meetings. The majority of correspondence and documents relate to the membership and activities in these organizations of Robert G. Grimes, a Jacksonville insurance executive and community activist. Mr. Grimes was active in a number of community organizations from 1977 to 2000, and served in different capacities as an officer, board member, and newsletter editor. Environmental groups are well-represented, due to his interest in conservation issues. Of particular interest are printed materials and correspondence relating to the Mimi and Lee Adams Environmental Awards, an annual Jacksonville environmental award named in memory of Mimi Adams, an environmental activist, and her husband, Lee, a nature artist.

Robert H. Dodd was in the Army Air Force during World War II and served with the 459th Bombardment Group. His collection includes handwritten letters to his parents about his Air Force training in the USA and time overseas in Italy and North Africa. The collection also includes an oral history about his upbringing, time in Yugoslavia, Austria and Italy during the war and his retirement in Florida. Aerial photographs of Italian and Romanian cities and newspaper photocopies are also included.

This collection includes sheet music, programs, biographical information, photographs, and news articles related to the MacDonalds' tenure at Florida Southern College.

The Sergeant Robert L. Wilson transcript describes his experiences as a truck driver in the 63rd Infantry Division in France and Germany during World War II.

This forty page oral history interview transcript relates to Robert Mckay who was a student and interned by the Japanese at Baguio in the Philippine Islands during World War II.  The interview was conducted with McKay at a Baguio Internee reunion. The transcript covers McKay's experiences before, during, and after internment.

These materials consist of first editions, first reissued editions, limited editions, a first trade edition, and uncorrected proof copies of Robert Olen Butler's novels and short stories, published from 1980-2004, and are signed or inscribed by Butler. The collection includes his Pulitzer Prize-winning short story anthology, A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain. There is also a letter from Simon and Schuster about his novel The Deuce, and a brochure from Cloud Books, which provides further information about these writings. The collection is particularly valuable to students of creative writing and to literary researchers.