Collections

The collection contains primary resources and ephemera which document the historic 2008 United States Presidential Election and the Inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009 as the 44th President of the United States. Print materials include selective copies of campaign brochures, magazines, and full newspapers, articles and newsclippings. The contents of the collection include both local (Jacksonville, Florida) and national news items. Memorabila consists of local campaign posters and signs, and buttons and apparel. In totality, the collection provides insight, commentary, and documentation on a pivotal event in United States history, and it serves as an educational resource for informative data not readily available elsewhere.

This collection includes a manuscript entitled "History of USS Ashland (LSD-1) 1943-46," which tells stories about the Navy's USS Ashland serving in the Pacific Theater. Section 1 contains sea stories by the crew of the Ashland; clippings from the Ashlander (daily newspaper); various official records, including a letter of appreciation from the U.S. Marine Corps; and daily life materials (food and ship store items). Section 2 contains the daily deck logs, monthly diaries, and action reports (transferred from the National Archives' microfilm). Also, the collection contains diaries of the crew members and their personal accounts. (LSD--primary mission of the LSD is to transport combat-loaded landing craft to enemy beaches). The Ashland was built at the Moore Drydock Company in Oakland, California. It participated in the Baker Island occupation, and the invasions at Betio, Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, Eniwetok Atoll, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, and Iwo Jima.

This collection deals mainly with the U.S.S. Independence (CVL-22), and its participation in the Pacific war, from it's commissioning in 1942, until the wars end. This collection includes an oral history transcript, as well as documents published on, and related to, the U.S.S. Independence, from its construction until its sinking as part of a naval excercise. The collection also includes a minor amount of details surrounding the various ships named "Independence".

Individual award plaques for Keldrick Averhart, Amy Bueno, Amanda Clonts, Josh Finley, Jason Hebert, Chris King, Brandon Malone, Cora Merritt, Arianna Moore, Nicholas Paschvoss, Sarah Quieros, Jordan Self, Winston Riley, Chris Thrasher, and Cherrell Worsham; mounted plaques include Jamie Calvert, Alex Francois, Yasmin Hernandez, Dierre Johnson, Zenani Johnson, Erin Larkin, Savannah Lewis, Daniel McBurney; with plaques for 5th Place, Top fundraising Team, UWF Relay for Life, 2005; University of West Florida, Oustanding Departmental Student Organization Award presented to Student Government Association, 2009-2010; Outstanding Department, Student Government Association, 2012-2013; and framed certificate UWF Homecoming Hero Award to SGA for 2021 UWF Homecoming celebrations.