Significant Documents provide images of historically significant documents from the State Library and Archives of Florida's collections. These documents represent some of the formative events in Florida history and offer an important resource to researchers and students.
St. Augustine Map, 1589 from: Baptista Boazio, Saint Augustine Map, 1589 (Collection M81-21).
Spanish Land Grant Claim Survey Map, ca. 1818 from: United States Board of Land Commissioners, Confirmed Spanish Land Grant Claims, 1763-1821 (Series S 990, Box 35).
Territorial Governor DuVal's Message to Legislative Council, 1822 from: Territorial Legislative Council Unicameral Period Records, 1822-1838 (Series S 876).
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First Act of the Territorial Legislature, 1822 from: Acts of the Territorial Legislature and Acts of the Legislature, 1822-Present (Series S 222).
H. Lee (Henry Lee IV) to Judge Woodward (Augustus Brevoort Woodward) September 15, 1824 from: Florida Supreme Court case files (Series 49, Wallet 774).
1826 Leon County Election Return from: Office of Secretary of State, Election Returns by County, 1824-1926 (Series S 21, Box 24, FF 1).
Letter of Complaint on the Awarding of the Contract to Build Florida’s Second Capitol Building, 1828 from: Secretary of State, Territorial and Early Statehood Records, 1821-1878 (Series S 2153).
Harriet Randolph Letter from: Randolph Family, Papers, 1829-1978 Correspondence Transcribed/Dated (with originals) (Collection M75-86, Box 1, FF3).
Daniel H. Wiggins 1838 Diary Entry from: Wiggins, Daniel H., Diaries 1816-1834, 1838-1841, 1862 (Collection M89-32, Box 1).
Act Establishing Florida Statehood, 1845 from: An Act For The Admission of the States of Iowa and Florida Into the Union, 1845 (Collection M81-22).
Petition to Establish the East Florida Seminary in Alachua County, 1852 from: Secretary of State, Territorial and Early Statehood Records, 1821-1878 (Series S 2153).
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B.A. Vaughan, T.S. Rogers, and T.B. Goldsby to Governor Thomas Brown, February 25, 1853; Governor Thomas Brown to B.A. Vaughan, T.S. Rogers, and T.B. Goldsby, March 9, 1853
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Letter Concerning the Outbreak of Hostilities in the Third Seminole War, 1856 from: Governor (1853-1857 : Broome), Correspondence, 1853-1857, Box 2, Folder 3, Indian and Military Affairs (Series 777).
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Alachua County Returns for Presidential Election of 1860 from: Office of Secretary of State, Election Returns by County, 1824-1926 (Series S 21).
Contract for Sale of Slaves from: Elliot Family, Papers, 1851-1957 (Collection M86-38, Box 1).
Civil War Letter to Governor Call, 1860 from: Call, R. K. (Richard Keith), 1792-1862 (Collection M84-16).
Muster Roll of Fernandina Volunteers, c. 1860-1861 from: Division of Recreation and Parks, Fort Clinch Exhibit Materials, 1765, 1820-1940 (Series S 1319, Box 1).
Ordinance of Secession, 1861 from: Florida Convention of the People, Ordinance of Secession, 1861 (Series S 972).
Report on the Dismantling of Florida Lighthouses Upon the Outbreak of the Civil War, 1861 from: Florida Governor, State Governors' Incoming Correspondence, 1857-1888 (Series S 577, Box 1, FF 8).
View the Report on the Dismantling of Florida Lighthouses Upon the Outbreak of the Civil War »
Notice of Robert E. Lee's Assignment to Command of Confederate Forces on the Coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, 1861 from: Governor, State Governors' Incoming Correspondence, 1857-1888 (Series S 577, Box 1, FF 10).
Proposal to Develop a Multiple Barrel Machine Gun, 1861 from: Governor, State Governors' Incoming Correspondence, 1857-1888 (Series S 577, Box 1, FF 8).
Presentation of Confederate Battleflag to Family of Colonel George T. Ward, 1862 from: Governor, State Governors' Incoming Correspondence, 1857-1888 (Series S 577, Box 1, FF 15).
View the Presentation of Confederate Battleflag to Family of Colonel George T. Ward »
Letter Describing Florida Brigade's Retreat from Gettysburg, 1863 from: Bryan, Council A., Papers, 1862-1902 (Collection M87-35, Box 1).
View the Letter Describing Florida Brigade's Retreat from Gettysburg, 1863 »
Letters Relating to the Civil War Service of William T. Stockton from: Stockton, William Tennent, Papers 1845-1869 (Collection M88-21, Box 1).
View the Letters Relating to the Civil War Service of William T. Stockton »
Letter on the End of the Civil War in Florida, 1865 from: Fletcher, Zabud, Family Papers, 1835-1870 (Collection M90-15, Box 1).
Jefferson County, Florida Freedmens' Contract, 1867 from: Circuit Court (2nd Circuit: Jefferson County), Miscellaneous Court Records, ca. 1828-1955 (L 346, Box 12).
Letters Relating to the Efforts to Impeach Governor Harrison Reed During the Reconstruction Era, 1868-1872 from: Governor, State Governors' Incoming Correspondence, 1857-1888 (Series S 577).
Henry S. Sanford Letter to Governor Drew Concerning the Election of 1876, February 18, 1877 from: Governor Drew Family Papers, 1856-1999, (Collection M82-8).
Steamboat Company Documents, 1885, 1887 from: Hart, Hubbard L., Papers, 1850-1918 (Collection M81-7, Box 1, FF 7).
Confederate Pension Claim Applications, 1888-1909 from: State Board of Pensions, Confederate Pension Files, 1885-1954 (Series S 587).
Last Letter of Governor George Franklin Drew from: Drew Family, Papers 1856-1999 (Collection M82-8, Box 2, FF 8).
Letters Concerning Spanish Spies in Florida During the Spanish American War, 1898 from: Governor Bloxham, Correspondence, 1897-1901 (Series S578); and Governor, Territorial and State Governors' Letterbooks, 1836-1909 (Series S 32).
View the Letters Concerning Spanish Spies in Florida During the Spanish American War »
Minutes of Magdalene Union, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 1905 from: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Tampa, Fla.), Records, 1905-1922 (Collection M89-7, Box 1).
View the Minutes of Magdalene Union, Woman's Christian Temperance Union »
An Act to Remove the Remains of Ponce de Leon to Florida, 1907 from: Acts of the Territorial and State Legislatures, 1822 to Present,(Series 222).
View the An Act to Remove the Remains of Ponce de Leon to Florida »
Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916 from: Lee, Joseph E., Papers, 1876-1920 (Collection M86-27, Box 3).
View the Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916 »
World War I "National Crisis Day" Proclamation, 1917 from: Division of Elections, Proclamations and Executive Orders, 1845-1995 (Series S 13, Volume 15).
Florida 1st Infantry World War I Poster, 1917 from: World War I Poster, 1917 (Collection M89-33).
World War I Letter Describing Armistice Day from: Drew Family, Papers 1856-1999 (Collection M82-8, Box 12, FF 1).
The United States Recognizes the Swastika Flag as the Official Flag of Germany, September 1935 from: Governor (1933-1937: Sholtz), Correspondence, 1933-1937, Series S 278.
View the The United States recognizes the swastika flag as the official flag of Germany »
Pre-Natal Care Health Poster, 1940s from: State Board of Health, Bureau of Health Education, Printed Matter, 1940-1949 (Series S 908).
Captain Colin P. Kelly from: Governor (1941-1945: Holland), Correspondence, 1941-1945 (Series S 406, Box 63, FF 9).
Midwifery from: State Board of Health, Midwife Program Files, 1924-1975 (Series S 904 Box 1, FF6, FF2).
Blackout orders for Palm Beach, Florida from: State Defense Council, Subject Files, 1940-1946, Holland, Spessard L. - Governor (1942) (Series S 419, Box 25).
Office of War Information Document on Rationing from: State Defense Council, Subject Files, 1940-1946, Rationing Board, Local (Series S 419, Box 41).
World War II Posters, ca. 1942-1944 from: State Defense Council, Posters, ca. 1942-1944 (Series S 1205).
Blanding, Albert Hazan, 1876-1970 from: Blanding, Albert Hazan, Papers, 1917-1958, Correspondence (incoming) - 1919-1958 (Collection M87-46, Box 1).
Governor Millard F. Caldwell Telegram Dated August 13, 1945, Urging President Harry S. Truman Not to Accept Anything Less than the Unconditional Surrender of Japan; Truman's Note of Reply Dated August 14, 1945, the Day Japan Agreed to Surrender from: Governor Caldwell (1945-1949) Correspondence, Series 576.
V-J Day Proclamation, 1945 from: Division of Elections, Proclamations and Executive Orders, 1845-1995 (Series S 13, Volume 15).
Rev. C.K. Steele, Gov. LeRoy Collins, and the 1956 Bus Boycott from: Governor (1955-1961: Collins), Correspondence, 1955-1961 (Series S 776, Box 33).
View the Rev. C.K. Steele, Gov. LeRoy Collins, and the 1956 Bus Boycott »
Interposition Resolution in Response to Brown v. Board of Education, 1957 from: Acts of the Territorial Legislature and Acts of the Legislature, 1822-Present (Series S 222).
View the Interposition Resolution in Response to Brown v. Board of Education »
Gideon v. Wainwright from: Florida Supreme Court case files (S. 49, Box 2780, Case 31116).
Reports of Investigators on Meetings of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Ku Klux Klan from: Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, Records, 1954-1965 (Series S 1486, Box 1, FF 6).
Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment by the Florida Legislature, 1969 from: Acts of the Territorial Legislature and Acts of the Legislature 1822-Present (Series S 222).
View the Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment by the Florida Legislature »
Equal Rights Amendment from: Smathers, Bruce A., Papers, 1970-1974, (Collection M75-93, Box 16)/ Goovernor's Commission on the Status of Women, Records, 1974-1985 (Series S 79, Box 5).
Governor Charlie Crist's Clemency Board Notes on the Restoration of Felon Civil Rights, 2007 from: Florida. Governor 2007: Crist (Series S 2068).
View Governor Charlie Crist's Clemency Board Notes on the Restoration of Felon Civil Rights »
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