The State Library’s Florida Collection maintains a variety of sources covering
all aspects of Florida’s history and society, including a wealth of documentation
on black history. The collection is housed in the Dorothy Dodd Room, named
for Florida’s first State Archivist, who was later appointed State Librarian
in 1952 and served in this capacity until her retirement in 1965.
During her twenty-four years as State Librarian, Dr. Dodd actively worked
to preserve those works that richly document Florida’s heritage. Through
her efforts, many important items were saved from destruction and now represent
the core of the Florida Collection. Researchers are able to gather information
on a wide range of topics, including wildlife, business, agriculture, the
arts, Florida fiction, government and history.
The information is contained in a variety of formats including books, pamphlets,
maps, clippings, pictures, microforms, and personal papers. This section
of the guide highlights the sources in the Florida Collection that relate
to the black experience in Florida. More information on these materials
is available from the State Library of Florida at 500 S. Bronough Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250, phone 850-245-6600, e-mail library@mail.dos.state.fl.us.
Gavin, J.G. (1859-1940?)
Papers, 1880s-1940s, 4 boxes; 24 file folders; 646 pieces
Prominent African American citizen of Wakulla County, involved with the
Florida Republican Party, the church, and fraternal work. He was born in
March 1859, probably a slave on the plantation of Abram Gavin. He married
Hattie (born May 1866) around 1890. Five children were born, three of whom
still lived in the household in 1910: Edna L., Mana A., and Vasco. Nephew
Johnny Watson also lived with them.
Gavin was an officer on the Wakulla Republican Party Executive Committee
as early as 1890. He made Executive Secretary in 1900. He was very active
in New Bridge Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Shadeville.
The collection is divided into four series: 1) the Gavin Family Correspondence;
2) Miscellaneous Legal Papers, including military discharges for relatives,
court summons, fishing licenses, and other unidentified church and fraternal
material; 3) Incoming Correspondence, including correspondence and related
materials regarding the Republican Party in Wakulla, as well as farm letters,
broadsides, and clippings; and 4) Papers Relating to New Bridge Hope Primitive
Baptist Church in Shadeville, including handwritten correspondence, minutes,
and committee reports dating from 1892.
Bethune, Mary McLeod (1875-1955)
Papers, 1923-1943, Microfilm roll
Noted African American educator whose school for girls became Bethune-Cookman
College, one of Florida’s historically black colleges, in 1923. A woman
of national stature, Bethune served as advisor to several presidents from
Coolidge to Truman. During Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration she served
in the “Black Cabinet,” which advised the President on minority issues. In
1924 she was elected president of the National Association for Colored Women’s
Clubs, and in 1935 she founded the National Council of Negro Women and became
its first president.
This microfilm roll of eight boxes of valuable papers consists of incoming
and outgoing correspondence, speeches, newspaper clippings, travel itineraries,
telegrams, and articles written by Mrs. Bethune.
Bryan, John T.
Papers, 1882-1865, 4 items
Collection includes a bill of sale for slaves.
Dekle, George A.
Papers, 1843-1873
Collection includes bills of sale for slaves.
Slave Schedules, 1850-1860,
2 microfilm rolls
The 1850 and 1860 slave population schedules are arranged
by county and include the name of the owner, number of slaves owned, and
the age group of
the slaves.
Broadsides, 1840.
A poster announcing the sale of nearly fifty slaves on the Chaires Plantation
decreed by the Superior Court of Leon County, April 1840.
Biographical File
This is essentially a newspaper clipping file containing information on
state, county, and municipal officials, celebrities, and ordinary people.
Clippings on African Americans who served in governmental positions, achieved
celebrity status, or accomplished a noteworthy goal are included.
Historical Church Surveys
The original church surveys housed in the Florida Collection include the
county, city, name of church, denomination, year established (if known), the
types of records available (such as marriage, baptism, death, membership,
minutes, confirmations), the date span of the records, and who maintained
possession of the records. These surveys were secured through a project conducted
by the Works Project Administration and include inventories for black churches
throughout Florida.
Card File on Black Legislators During Reconstruction
This file lists the African Americans who served in the Florida Legislature
during the Reconstruction Era. Each card contains the legislator’s name,
whether he was a Senator or Representative, party affiliation, year(s) served,
and the county from which he was elected.
Books and Journals
Numerous books and articles have been written about African Americans in
Florida. Listed below is a sample of those contained in the Florida Collection;
this is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of the resources available
from the Florida Collection or from the State Library of Florida.
Books:
Federal Writers' Project. The Slave Narratives: A Folk History
of Slavery in the United States, From Interviews with Former Slaves.
(St. Clair Shores, Mich.: Scholarly Press, 1976.) Florida Narratives. Volume
17.
Kingsley, Z. 1765-1843. A Treatise on the Patriarchal, or Cooperative
System of Society as it Exists in some Governments, and Colonies in
America, and in the United States, under the Name of
Slavery with its Necessity and Advantages. (Freeport, N.Y., Books for
Libraries Press, 1970)
Rivers, Larry E., 1950-. Slavery in Florida: territorial
days to emancipation. (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, c2000)
Richardson, Joe Martin. The Negro in the Reconstruction of Florida,
1865-1877. Tallahassee, Florida State
University, 1965.
Klingman, Peter D., 1945-. Josiah Walls: Florida ’s
Black Congressman in Reconstruction. (Gainesville: University Presses
of Florida, 1976)
Black Reconstructionists. (Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall,
1972)
Emilio, Luis Fenollosa, 1844-. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment
of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865 (cover
title
A Brave Black Regiment, 54th Mass, 1863-1865). (Boston:
Boston Book Co., 1894)
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911. Army Life in a Black Regiment.
(Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 1982, c1869)
Wilson, Joseph T. 1836-1891. The Black Phalanx: a history of the Negro
soldiers of the United States in the wars of 1775-1812, 1861-'65.
( Hartford, Conn.: American Pub. Co., 1888)
Williams, George Washington, 1849-1891. A history of the Negro troops
in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865; preceded by a review of the military
services of Negroes in ancient and modern times. (New York, Harper &
Bros., 1888)
Spellman, Cecil Lloyd, 1906-. Elm City, a
Negro community in action. ( Tallahassee, Florida A. and M. College, c1947)
Skinner, Woodward B. Peoples and cultures of early Florida. (Chuluota,
Fl., Mickler, c1971)
Black pioneers in Broward County: a legacy
revealed. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: The Links, Inc., 1976)
Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938. The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured
Man. (New York: Knopf, 1944, c1927)
Hurston, Zora Neale. Mules and Men. (Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott,
1935)
Price, Hugh Douglas. The Negro and Southern Politics. (New York,
New York University Press, 1957)
Black Tampa: The Roots of a People. (Tampa: Hillsborough
County Museum, 1978?)
Florida Legislature. Legislative Investigation Committee. Racial and
Civil Disorders in St. Augustine: Report of the legislative
Investigation. (Tallahassee: The Committee, 1965)
United States Commission on Civil Rights. Florida Advisory Committee.
Constitutional Principle vs. Community practice: A Survey of the Gap in
Florida. (Washington, 1964)
Neyland, Leedell W. Twelve Black Floridians. (Tallahassee, Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical University Foundation, 1970)
Various county histories with chapters on black communities
Journal Articles
“Florida ’s First Reconstruction Legislature, 1868.” Florida Historical
Quarterly, Volume 32 (1953) pp. 41-43.
“Military Reconstruction and the Growth of Anti-Negro Sentiment in
Florida, 1867.” Florida Historical Quarterly, Volume 47 (1949) pp. 380-400
“An Evaluation of the Freedmen’s Bureau in Florida,” Florida Historical
Quarterly, Volume 41 (1963) pp. 223-238.
“Florida Black Codes,” Florida Historical Quarterly, Volume 47 (1969)
pp. 365-379.
“The Freedmen’s Bureau and Negro labor in Florida,” Florida Historical
Quarterly, Volume 39 (1960) pp. 167-174
“Jonathan C. Gibbs: Florida’s Only Black Cabinet Member,” Florida Historical
Quarterly, Volume 42 (1964) pp. 363-368
“The Negro in the Reconstruction of Florida,” [Ph.D. dissertation] Joe
M. Richardson, Florida State University, 1963.
“A Plan to Homestead Freedmen in Florida in 1866,” Florida Historical
Quarterly, Volume 43 (1965) pp. 379-384
“The Negro Abraham,” Florida Historical Quarterly, Volume 25 (1946) pp.
1-43.
