Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum

Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation

Operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum maintains various Collections related to the history and culture of the Seminole people and other indigenous peoples from the present Southeastern United States. Its Library & Archives holds several items related to the early history of Florida, including hundreds of government documents, a sizeable selection of 19th century newspapers, and family papers related to the Seminole Wars. The Museum also has a large Oral History Collection made up of hundreds of VHS, DVD, CD, and other media formats, but it is largely restricted to tribal members only. Researchers can search the Museum’s holdings through its Online Collections Database.

Diocese of St. Augustine Archives

St. Augustine

Housed in the Sisters of St. Joseph Covent, the Diocese of St. Augustine Archives preserves the ecclesiastical history of northern Florida. Its holdings include four centuries of Catholic Church records, including the parish registers of the Cathedral-Basilica (1594-1881) and the Episcopal archives (1857-1967). Much of the Archives’ holdings have been digitized and are available through the Slave Societies Digital Archive.

Florida Historical Society

Cocoa

The Florida Historical Society (FHS) boasts a solid collection of early Florida sources. Its Library of Florida History curates these materials and makes them accessible to the public. Among these items are a large selection of rare books that include government publications from Florida’s colonial and territorial periods, as well as Spanish and English language works of fiction and travel narratives. There are some 10,000 photographic prints and 15,000 postcards, both of which are organized geographically. Over 1,000 maps, plat books, and surveys of early Florida are housed in the Library, too. Several 19th century Florida newspapers are also available. Various manuscript collections are held by the Library and span much of Florida’s history from the Spanish era to the American Civil War. Some highlights include the El Destino Plantation Papers, the Fort Dade Papers, the Francis P. Fleming Papers, the John Milton Letter Book and Correspondence, and the Mary Martha Reid Papers. Many Finding Guides are available. Items held and/or digitized by the FHS may be searched with its Online Collections Database.

HistoryMiami Museum

Miami

Formerly the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, HistoryMiami Museum is the largest history museum in the Sunshine State. Its Collections chronicle both the documentary and the material history of Florida from its colonial eras to the present. Research access to these materials is provided at the Museum’s Research Center. Some highlights of the holdings include the Woodrow W. Wilkins Archives of Architectural Records, some 37,000 Museum Artifacts that make up the Museum’s exhibits, an Archaeology Collection of Miami-Dade County, the Seminole Collection of Seminole Indian textiles and crafts, a unique Maritime Collection, and much more. Rare prints are also a feature at the Museum’s Research Center, including an original first edition of John James Audubon’s Birds of America. There are also several manuscript collections that focus on the Miami region, such as the Apthorp Family Papers and the Perrine Family Papers. Some Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Museum may be searched in its Online Catalog.

John C. Hitt Library

Orlando

The John C. Hitt Library serves as the main library for the University of Central Florida. Its Special Collections & University Archives is home to a large selection of early Florida sources. These include manuscripts, photographs, and rare books that touch on a variety subjects, including African Americana, Botany, the Caribbean West Indies, the Civil War, Floridiana, and Political Papers. Several Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with the UCF Libraries’ Online Catalog. Some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

John C. Pace Library

Pensacola

The John C. Pace Library serves as the main library for the University of West Florida. Its University Archives and West Florida History Center maintains nearly 2 million unique items related to West Florida’s history and culture. There are some 700 Manuscript Collections available, many of which contain materials related to early Florida. Highlights include the Luna Papers, the French Archive Records, the Panton Leslie and Company Collection, and the Slaves or Slavery in Pensacola Newspapers Collection. Items held by the History Center may be searched with its Online Catalog.

Otto G. Richter Library

Coral Gables

The Otto G. Richter Library serves as the main library for the University of Miami. Its Special Collections boasts some of the most significant archival materials for the early Americas in the United States. These collections are housed in the Kislak Center at the University of Miami. A vast selection of Rare Books touches upon the history and literature of not just Florida, but across the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. There are approximately 500 Manuscript and Archival Collections. These materials also span the Caribbean and focus on the colonial and early national histories of Florida and the surrounding region. Highlights include the Caribbean Documents Collection, the Florida Documents Collection, and the Latin America Documents Collection. Other holdings consist of 2,000 architectural drawings, 5,000 maps, and over 100,000 photographs. Bibliographies and Subject Guides are available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through the University of Miami Libraries Digital Collections.

P. K. Yonge Library of Florida History

Gainesville

Located at the University of Florida, the P. K. Yonge Library of Florida History maintains a sizeable collection of early Florida sources. Its Manuscript Collections are particularly strong in Florida’s colonial and antebellum histories. Microfilm copies of Spanish and British colonial documents are available, as are extensive papers on the American acquisition of Florida, the Seminole Wars, the expansion of slavery, and the American Civil War. Other Collections include the Historical Map Collection, the Newspaper Collection, and the Postcard and Brochure Collection. Several Finding Aids are available, as well as the Index to the East Florida Papers held by the Library of Congress. Much of the Library’s material has been digitized and can be viewed via its Digital Collections. Another online resource provided by University of Florida is the Florida Digital Newspaper Library. Various forms of research funding are available, including Travel Grants and Fellowships, and the Chase Family Award for Visiting Graduate Scholars.

St. Augustine Historical Society

St. Augustine

Besides preserving the Oldest House in St. Augustine, the St. Augustine Historical Society maintains a solid collection of documents related to the colonial and early national history of St. Augustine and St. Johns County. The Society’s Research Library provides access to various Collections from the Spanish, British, and American periods. There are nearly 200 Manuscript Collections, highlights of which include the ESCRITURAS (East Florida Papers) Collection, the Pedro Menendez de Aviles Papers, and the St. Augustine Catholic Cathedral Parish Records. Over 100 Photograph Collections are also available. Other materials managed by the Research Library consist of 16th and 17th century maps, court records, rare books, and much more. Subject guides for African American History, British Florida History, and The Kings Road are available. Items held by the Research Library may be searched with its online catalog, Emily. Some of the Research Library’s early materials have been digitized and can be viewed through the Society’s Digital Projects, especially The Civil War in St. Augustine.

S. E. Wimberly Library

Boca Raton

The S. E. Wimberly Library serves as the official library for Florida Atlantic University. Its Special Collections hold a variety of early American sources, especially in the form of Rare Books and Manuscripts. Several collections feature material from the American Civil War, such as the Arlyn Austin Katims Civil War Collection, the Elliot Cross and James A. Cross Civil War Collection, and the Karanetta Lazarus Rockwell Civil War Letters. The highlight of the Special Collections is the Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection. With over 13,000 rare prints and publications from the 18th century, this collection resembles the holdings of the American Antiquarian Society and the Library Company of Philadelphia. Besides the various imprints, there are also several boxes of Documents and Letters which cover diverse subjects. Finding Aids for the collection are available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through the FAU Digital Collections.

State Archives of Florida

Tallahassee

The State Archives of Florida serves as the official repository for the State of Florida. It features several Collecting Areas that hold vast collections of early Florida sources. State and Local Government Records date back to 1821 and include gubernatorial records, legislative records, court records, military records, and other materials related to state governance. Several Manuscript Collections contain the private papers of prominent individuals, businesses, and organizations. Highlights include a Saint Augustine Map from 1589 and the Call and Brevard Family Papers. Other holdings include the Florida Photographic Collection of 1.5 million images, and the Genealogical Collection. Several Indexes & Guides are available to assist researchers. Items held by the Archives may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Archives’ material has been digitized and can be viewed through Florida Memory.

Strozier Library

Tallahassee

Strozier Library serves as the main library for Florida State University (FSU). Its Special Collections & Archives maintains an impressive selection of early American sources. These Collections are very diverse and document well Florida’s history as a space of Spanish, British, and American colonization, as well as archival materials from across the Americas. Highlights include the Dr. Mark F. Boyd Collection, 17th-20th Century Correspondence and Documents, Documents of the British Possessions of East and West Florida, Pensacola Imprints and Land Grants, Moravian Missionary Diaries, and so much more. Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with the FSU Libraries’ Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections’ material has been digitized and can be viewed through DigiNole: FSU’s Digital Repository.

Other Florida Archives & Sources

Several Florida counties may still maintain their earliest records. Check with local county clerks to see what is available. The University of Central Florida Libraries keeps a very useful guide of Florida Archives and Manuscripts Repositories. One useful resource for finding Florida sources online is La Florida: The Interactive Digital Archive of the Americas, which brings together digitized sources related to Florida from various institutions. A similar the Florida Digital Newspaper Library.

Several regional repositories maintain sources on early Florida, including the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the Georgia Historical Society, the Mobile Municipal Archives, and the South Caroliniana Library. Early Florida sources can also be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

As a space of imperial competition and colonization between France, Great Britain, and Spain, there is no shortage of early sources related to Florida in Europe. These can be found in France at the Archives Nationales d’Outre-Mer and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, in Spain at the Archivo General de Indias, and in the United Kingdom at the British Library and the National Archives at Kew.