Secretary of State

Member of Cabinet: 1845 – 2003

The Secretary of State was created in the 1838 Constitution (effective in 1845) to maintain the State's public records.  From 1845 to 1868, the officer was elected by the Legislature; afterwards, it became a popularly elected office. In 2003, the secretary became a gubernatorial appointed office. In 1969, the Secretary of State became the head of the Department of State.  The Secretary of State keeps records of all official acts of the Legislature and the Executive Department.  The Secretary and the Department administer elections, public records, the Great Seal, and the Administrative Code; issue charters to corporations; and manage the state's library services, archives, cultural affairs, museum, and historic resources.  The Secretary is also the Chief Cultural Officer and the Chief Protocol Officer of the State.

• James Tillinghast Archer (July 23, 1845 - April 11, 1848)
• Augustus Emmett Maxwell (April 11, 1848 - July 23, 1849)
• Charles W. Downing (July 23, 1849 - July 1, 1853)
• Fred L. Villepigue (July 1, 1853 - January 13, 1863)
• Benjamin Allen (February 25, 1863 - August 7, 1868)
• George Alden (August 7, 1868 - November 6, 1868)
• Jonathan C. Gibbs (November 6, 1868 - January 17, 1873)
• Samuel B. McLin (January 17, 1873 - January 3, 1877)
• William D. Bloxham (January 3, 1877 - October 1, 1880)
• F. W. Rankin (October 1, 1880 - January 21, 1881)
• John L. Crawford (January 21, 1881 - January 28, 1902)
• H. Clay Crawford (January 28, 1902 - September 23, 1929)
• William Monroe Igou (September 23, 1929 - April 12, 1930)
• Robert A. Gray (April 12, 1930 - January 3, 1961)
• Tom Adams (January 3, 1961 - January 5, 1971)
• Richard Stone (January 5, 1971 - July 8, 1974)
• Dorothy Glisson (July 8, 1974 - January 7, 1975)
• Bruce Smathers (January 7, 1975 - July 19, 1978)
• Jesse McCrary (July 19, 1978 - January 2, 1979)
• George Firestone (January 2, 1979 - August 5, 1987)
• Jim Smith (August 5, 1987 - January 3, 1995) and (August 5, 2002 - January 7, 2003)
• Sandra Mortham (January 3, 1995 - January 5, 1999)
• Katherine Harris (January 5, 1999 - August 5, 2002)
• Kenneth W. "Ken" Detzner (Interim, January 7, 2003 - February, 2003)
• Glenda Hood (February, 2003 - 2005)
• David E. "Dave" Mann (Interim, 2005)
• Sue M. Cobb (2005 - 2007)
• Kurt S. Browning (2007 - 2010)
• Dawn K. Roberts (Interim, 2010-2011)
• Jennifer Kennedy (Acting, 2011)
• Kurt S. Browning (2011- February 16, 2012)
• Kenneth W. "Ken" Detzner (February 17, 2012 - present)

 James Tillinghast Archer (July 23, 1845 - April 11, 1848)

[1819-1859]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to James T. Archer.
  • Search Archer, James T., 1819-1859 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

Other Repositories:

Family Papers, 1843-1869 Strozier Library, Florida State University

 

 Augustus Emmett Maxwell (April 11, 1848 - July 23, 1849)

[1820-1903]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Augustus Emmett Maxwell.
  • Search Maxwell, A. E. (Augustus Emmett), 1820-1903 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M74-46 Portrait of Augustus Emmet Maxwell, 1848

Related Links:

• Augustus Emmett Maxwell, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 

 Charles W. Downing (July 23, 1849 - July 1, 1853)

[1825-1862]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Charles W. Downing.
  • Search Downing, Charles, d. 1845 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M82-130 Secretary of State Charles Downing photographs, 1849-1922

 Fred L. Villepigue (July 1, 1853 - January 13, 1863)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

 Benjamin Allen (February 25, 1863 - August 7, 1868)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

 George Alden (August 7, 1868 - November 6, 1868)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

 Jonathan C. Gibbs (November 6, 1868 - January 17, 1873)

[1827-1874]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Jonathan C. Gibbs.
  • Search Gibbs, Jonathan C. (Jonathan Clarkson), 1831-1874 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917
  • RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M88-75 Samuel Floyd Diary, 1872

 Samuel B. McLin (January 17, 1873 - January 3, 1877)

[1833-1879]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

 

 William D. Bloxham (January 3, 1877 - October 1, 1880)

[1835-1911]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to William D. Bloxham.
  • Search Bloxham, William Dunnington, 1835-1911 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M77-157 Papers, 1896-1911
  • M77-165 Financial papers, 1875-1878

 F. W. Rankin (October 1, 1880 - January 21, 1881)

[1835-1894]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

 John L. Crawford (January 21, 1881 - January 28, 1902)

[1816-1902]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to John L. Crawford.
  • Search Crawford, John Lovick, 1816-1902 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917
• RG 690 State Board of Pardons
  • S 158 Pardon, commutation, and remission decrees, 1869-1909

Other repositories:

• Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, 1887-1968 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee

 H. Clay Crawford (January 28, 1902 - September 23, 1929)

[1856-1929]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to H. Clay Crawford.
  • Search Crawford, H. Clay (Henry Clay), 1856-1929 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 24 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State letterbooks, 1830-1865, 1889-1905, 1922-1926
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917
• RG 690 State Board of Pardons
  • S 158 Pardon, commutation, and remission decrees, 1869-1909
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M97-9 Memoirs 1914

Other repositories:

• Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, 1887-1968 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee

 

 William Monroe Igou (September 23, 1929 - April 12, 1930)

[1871-1933]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to William Monroe Igou.
  • Search Igou, William Monroe, 1871-1933 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• No papers

Other repositories:

• Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, 1887-1968 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee

 

 Robert A. Gray (April 12, 1930 - January 3, 1961)

[1882-1975]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Robert A. Gray.
  • Search Gray, R. A. (Robert Andrew), 1882-1975 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 154 Division of Archives, History, and Records Management 
  • S 1090 Public Records Screening Board Minutes, 1957-1968
  • RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M75-85 Papers, 1917-1973

Other repositories:

• Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, 1887-1968 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee
• Scrapbooks 1901-1969  Strozier Library, Florida State University

Published materials:

• Gray, R.A. Civil Government of Florida Philadelphia: John C. Winston, 1921
• ________ The Government of Florida Philadelphia: John C. Winston, 1942

 

 Tom Adams (January 3, 1961 - January 5, 1971)

[1917-2006]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Tom Adams.
  • Search Adams, Tom, 1917-2006 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
  • S 262 Inaugural committees records, 1961-1983
• RG 103 Governor (1971-1979 : Askew)
  • S 950 Governmental Assistant Joseph W. Landers correspondence, 1970-1973
• RG 119 Lieutenant Governor
  • S 961 Tom Adams speech files, 1971
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 106 P ress releases, 1961-1970
  • S 124 Correspondence, 1961-1970
  • S 137 Administrative files, 1962-1980
  • S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
  • S 233 Photographic files, 1961-1970
  • S 501 Subject files, 1961-1970
  • S 697 Press files, 1961-1970
  • S 983 State seal authorizations and correspondence, 1965-1985
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 107 Speech files, 1963
• RG 154 Division of Archives, History, and Records Management 
  • S 1090 Public Records Screening Board Minutes, 1957-1968

Other repositories:

• Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, 1887-1968 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee

 

 Richard Stone (January 5, 1971 - July 8, 1974)

[1928- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Richard Stone.
  • Search Stone, Richard, 1928- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 137 Administrative files, 1962-1980
  • S 180 Secretary of State correspondence, 1971-1980
  • S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
  • S 983 State seal authorizations and correspondence, 1965-1985
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
• RG 154 Division of Archives, History, and Records Management
  • S 538 Black Archives Conference proceedings, 1974
• RG 156 Division of Elections
  • S 710 Voter apathy correspondence, 1972-1973
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • N2007-5 Senator Richard B. Stone papers, 1974-1981

Other repositories:

• Biennial report - State of Florida Department of State, 1969-1972 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee
• Annual report, 1973-1974 State Library of Florida, Tallahassee

Related Links:

• Richard Stone, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 

 Dorothy Glisson (July 8, 1974 - January 7, 1975)

[1913-2001]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Dorothy Glisson.
  • Search Glisson, Dorothy, ca. 1914-2001 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
• S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
• S 137 Administrative files, 1962-1980
• S 180 Secretary of State correspondence, 1971-1980
• S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
• S 983 State seal authorizations and correspondence, 1965-1985
• S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002

 Bruce Smathers (January 7, 1975 - July 19, 1978)

[1943- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Bruce Smathers.
  • Search Smathers, Bruce A., 1943 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 137 Administrative files, 1962-1980
  • S 180 Secretary of State correspondence, 1971-1980
  • S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
  • S 534 Secretary of State Bruce Smathers press releases, 1975-1978
  • S 983 State seal authorizations and correspondence, 1965-1985
  • S 1254 Secretary of State Bruce Smathers speech files, 1974-1978
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
• RG 161 Division of Library and Information Services
  • S 1880 Secretary of State's Office correspondence, 1975 -2002
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M73-93 Papers, 1970-1974
  • M95-1 Save the Capitol records, 1971-1982

 Jesse McCrary (July 19, 1978 - January 2, 1979)

[1938- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Jesse McCrary.
  • Search McCrary, Jesse J., Jr. in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 137 Administrative files, 1962-1980
  • S 180 Secretary of State correspondence, 1971-1980
  • S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
  • S 983 State seal authorizations and correspondence, 1965-1985
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
• RG 161 Division of Library and Information Services
  • S 1880 Secretary of State's Office correspondence, 1975-2002

 George Firestone (January 2, 1979 - August 5, 1987)

[1931- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to George Firestone.
  • Search Firestone, George, 1931 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 137 Administrative files, 1962-1980
  • S 180 Secretary of State correspondence, 1971-1980
  • S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
  • S 983 State seal authorizations and correspondence, 1965-1985
  • S 1104 Secretary of State George Firestone reading files, 1979-1987
  • S 1137 Secretary of State George Firestone press files, 1979-1987
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
• RG 161 Division of Library and Information Services
  • S 1880 Secretary of State's Office correspondence, 1975-2002
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • M82-18 Milton Abby Oral History, 1982

Other repositories:

Oral History, Florida Legislative Research and Museum, Tallahassee, Florida

 

 Jim Smith (August 5, 1987 - January 3, 1995) and (August 5, 2002 - January 7, 2003)

[1940- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Jim Smith.
  • Search Smith, Jim, 1940- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

As Secretary of State

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 185 Secretary of State cabinet files, 1966-1988
  • S 1243 Secretary of State Jim Smith correspondence, 1987-1994
  • S 1343 Secretary of State Jim Smith trip files, 1987-1989
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
  • S 1511 Secretary of State Jim Smith daily itineraries, 1987-1994
  • S 1512 Secretary of State Jim Smith invitation acceptance files, 1990-1994
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1966 Secretary of State transition period correspondence, 2001-2003
• RG 161 Division of Library and Information Services
  • S 1880 Secretary of State's Office correspondence, 1975-2002
• RG 900000 Manuscripts
  • N2003-2 Reporters Lee Mainella and Bill Burke's master story video tapes, 1982-1991

As Attorney General

• RG 650 Department of Legal Affairs
  • S 1366 Sunshine Skyway Bridge litigation files, 1980-1988
  • S 1368 Ethylene dibromide litigation files, 1983-1987
  • S 1390 Attorney General Jim Smith correspondence, 1985

 

 Sandra Mortham (January 3, 1995 - January 5, 1999)

[1951- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Sandra Mortham.
  • Search Mortham, Sandra Barringer, 1951 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
  • S 1747 Secretary of State investigation records, 1995-1998
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1672 1997 Outstanding Women Achievement Awards presentation videotape, 1997
  • S 1748 Secretary of State Sandra Mortham's correspondence, 1995-1999
  • S 1750 Secretary of State Sandra Mortham's subject files, 1994-1998
  • S 1758 Mock election project files, 1998
  • S 1759 Secretary of State Mortham's travel records, 1995-1999
  • S 1978 Secretary of State Sandra Mortham's media contact report files, 1994-1998
• RG 161 Division of Library and Information Services
  • S 1880 Secretary of State's Office correspondence, 1975-2002

Other repositories:

• Oral History, Florida Legislative Research and Museum, Tallahassee, Florida

 

 Katherine Harris (January 5, 1999 - August 5, 2002)

[1957- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Katherine Harris.
  • Search Harris, Katherine, 1957- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 150 Dept of State
  • S 1394 Cabinet meeting audio recordings, 1966-2002
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1804 Secretary of State Katherine Harris's correspondence files, 1999-2002
  • S 1806 Secretary Katherine Harris's subject files, 1999-2003
  • S 1887 Election 2000 litigation files, 2000-2001
  • S 1908 Election 2000 public records requests, 2000-2001
  • S 1966 Secretary of State transition period correspondence, 2001-2003
  • S 1977 Secretary of State Katherine Harris's speech files, 2000-2002
  • S 2000 United States Presidential election 2000 vote count deadline extension correspondence, 2000-2001

Published materials:

• DaHaven-Smith, Lance. The Battle For Florida: An Annotated Compendium of Materials from the 2000 Presidential Election. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005.
• ”Katherine Harris” in Women in Congress, 1917-2006. Prepared under the direction of the Committee on House Administration by the Office of History & Preservation, U. S. House of Representatives. Washington: Government Printing Office, 2006.
• Harris, Katherine. Center of the Storm: Practicing Principled Leadership in Times of Crisis. Nashville, Tenn.: WND Books, 2002.
• Rakove, Jack. Unfinished Election of 2000. Basic Books, 2002.
• Toobin, Jeffrey. Too Close to Call: The 36-Day Battle to Decide the 2000 Election. New York: Random House, 2002.

Related Links:

• Katherine Harris, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 

 Kenneth W. "Ken" Detzner (interim secretary January 7, 2003 - February, 2003) and (February 17, 2012 - present)

[1952- ]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1966 Secretary of State transition period correspondence, 2001-2003
  • S 2054 Department of State transition and reorganization records, 2002-2003

 Glenda Hood (February, 2003 - 2005)

[1950- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Glenda Hood.
  • Search Hood, Glenda E. (Glenda Evans), 1950- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 2057 Secretary of State Glenda Hood's public activities records, 1997-2004
  • S 2072 Public event, program, and appearance video and audio recordings and photographs, 2003-2006

 David E. "Dave" Mann (interim secretary)(2005)

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Dave Mann.
  • Search Mann, Dave in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1990 Assistant Secretary of State David Mann's Election 2000 e-mails, 2000 - 2001

 Sue M. Cobb (2005-2007)

[1937- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Sue M. Cobb.
  • Search Cobb, Sue in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 100 Office of the Governor
  • S 184 Cabinet meeting official records, 1966-2005
• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 2072 Public event, program, and appearance video and audio recordings and photographs, 2003-2006

Published materials:

• Cobb, Sue M. The Edge of Everest: A Woman Challenges The Mountain. Stackpole Books, 1989.

 Kurt S. Browning (2007 - 2010) and (2011- )

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Kurt Browning.
  • Search Browning, Kurt S. in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Related Links:

• Kurt Browning, Florida Secretary of State