Collections

The Bob Graves collection, 1977-2008, documents Graves' personal and business activities. It contains event programs, advertisements, magazines, informational booklets, photographs, event listings, and other miscellaneous documents related to events either held at or supported by the Full Moon Saloon. The collection includes VHS tapes documenting various LGBTQ+ events and historically LGBTQ+ locations across Central Florida. Much of the collection dates from 1991 to 2006. Robert "Bob" Graves was the owner and operator of the Full Moon Saloon on Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. The Full Moon Saloon, a popular gay bar, opened in 1989, serving the Levi's, leather, and bear communities in Central Florida for more than a decade. It was the home bar for the non-profit social organization, Bears of Central Florida, and hosted Bear Bust, an annual event held in October. The Full Moon Saloon closed on June 30, 2007.

The Bob Kealing Tupperware Collection contains interviews, news clippings, letters, legal documents, photographs, audio tapes, and research notes related to Kealing's book Tupperware, Unsealed: Brownie Wise, Earl Tupper, and the Home Party Pioneers. The book may be found in the Online Catalog.

The Book Arts Ephemera Collection is comprised of various materials related to the book arts community. Items from publishers, art exhibits, and persons involved with book arts are included.

The collection includes personal and professional correspondence, manuscript, and typescript drafts of approximately thirty books and short stories, biographical works, and some of personal logs.

The Bromeliad Society International (BSI) Archive consists of historical materials, including photographs related to cultivation of bromeliads; field notes related to the collection of bromeliads in the wild; list of plant entries in judged bromeliad shows; incoming and outgoing correspondence from early bromeliad growers; biographies; administrative records of the BSI such as, copyright registrations, copies of meeting minutes, annual reports, and bylaws; BSI publications; and ephemera, including posters and pins. The purpose of the BSI is to promote and maintain public and scientific interest in the research, development, preservation, and distribution of bromeliads, both natural and hybrid, throughout the world.

Materials collected by Bruce Ground documenting his life, business, and activism, 1966-2013. Included are documents, memorabilia, photographs, and other items donated by Bruce Ground. These items pertain to his business, personal life, projects, and general accomplishments and achievements. Born in 1962, Bruce Ground spent the first part of his life in Kentucky, living on his family farm. In 1985, Ground moved to Florida and became involved in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a local gay-friendly church in Tampa. It was there he met Marty Pelham, who helped Ground to open his first bookstore, Tomes & Treasures, with him 1987. Pelham left the store in 1990, leaving Ground to own and operate the store as the sole owner and manager. In 1992, Bruce Ground and Gary Bailey, Ground's partner, opened Out & About Books, Orlando's first gay and lesbian bookstore. After his partner's death, Ground continued to operate Out & About Books for another four years before its eventual closing on January 31st, 2001. As of 2023, Bruce Ground resides in Orlando, Florida.

Materials collected by Bruce Nissen documenting the United Faculty of Florida (UFF), 1978 – 2022. Included are UFF meeting materials, agendas, minutes, and reports; published materials, including newsletters, directories, union organizing guides, and collective bargaining agreements. Also included are United Faculty of Florida – Florida International University Executive Council Minutes and meeting materials.