Florida Archives, Societies & Publications
It is a good idea to familiarize personally with just about any repository in Florida that you simply might travel to by communicating with to the best suited archive or library in advance.
Most, if not all, Florida repositories have written and published content that present its collections as well as research policy.
Florida archives and historical organizations usually have On-line sites that provide equivalent details. Several also contain down loadable data for some or parts of their collections.
List of Florida Archives
- Florida Dept of State Div of Library & Information Services, Bureau of Archives & Records Management, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250; (850)245-6700The Florida State Archives is located on the first floor of the R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida, two blocks west of the State Capitol. Our public research facilities are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.The Archives is closed Sundays, on state holidays , and on the Saturdays of Friday or Monday holidays. Researchers are encouraged to check with the Archives to verify operating hours and records availability prior to visiting. Directions to the Archives are available in an on-line map (PDF) . For more information on visiting the Archives, please see our Information for Researchers .The archives is the state’s official repository for public records. It holds excellent collections, already described above, stretching beyond this mandate. The state library maintains the printed and secondary source material for the state, such as city directories, histories, biographies, church surveys, as well as manuscripts.
- The Florida Department of Military Affairs, Historical Services Division, State Arsenal, P.O. Box 1008, St. Augustine, Florida 32045
- The Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, Attn: Customer Services, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
- Florida State Records Center, 4319 Shelfer Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250; (850)245-6750;Â Hours: By Appointment Only
- Alachua County Archives
- Julian W. Lowenstein Archive Center & Genealogy Department, Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; Phone: 772-770-5060 x4148
- Florida Black Archives, Research Center and Museum, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307; (850) 599-3020
List of Florida Libraries & Museums
- Florida State Library, R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250, (850)245-6600; Hours: Mon.- Fri. 9:00am – 4:30pm, Sat. 9:30am – 3:30pm
- Alachua County Library District
- Eaton Florida History Room, Manatee County Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34217; 941-748-5555
- Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library, Old Courthouse Building, Main and Broadway, Bartow, FL 33830 Especially strong in Florida and the southeast.
- Haydon Burns Public Library, 122 N. Ocean Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202Â (Excellent holdings on Jacksonville and northern Florida.)
- Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32801Â (Records depository for the Florida Daughters of the American Revolution.)
- Miami-Dade County Library, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130Â (Its genealogy collection contains microfilm copies the Federal Censuses.)
- Manatee County Historical Records Library, 1405 4th Ave. West, Bradenton, FL 34205; 941-741-4070
- John C. Pace Library, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514Â (A Guide to the Manuscripts and Special Collections of the John C. Pace Library describes the extent of this valuable research material, particularly the Panton, Leslie Papers (1783-1821), a significant block of material on British and Spanish West Florida trade with Native Americans).
- P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611Â (Largest collection of Spanish colonial documents in the United States and largest microfilm collection of Florida newspapers.)
- The Alma Clyde Field Library of Florida History -435 Brevard Avenue, Historic Cocoa Village, 32922 (321) 690-1971 or (321) 690-0099
- Collier County Museum and Archives, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, East Naples, FL 33942; 941-774-8476
- Clewiston Historical Society, 109 Central Avenue, Clewiston, Florida 33440; 863.983.2870
- Eustis Historical Museum & Preservation Society, 536 N. Bay St., Eustis, FL 32726
- The Family Heritage House Museum , 1707 15th St. East, Bradenton, FL 34205
- The LaBelle Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 2846, 150 S. Lee St., LaBelle, FL 33975; 941-674-0034
- Lake Placid Historical Society Depot Museum, 12 W. Park St. Lake Placid, Florida 33852; 863-465-1771
- Sebastian Area Historical Society, P. O. Box 781348, Sebastian, FL 32978-1348
List of Florida Historical & Genealogical Societies
For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both.
In addition to their own work, Florida groups many times help coordinate the efforts of local societies throughout the Florida.
Their unique publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those created through the area societies.
Regional and State Societies
- Florida State Genealogical Society, PO Box 10249, Tallahassee, FL 32302-2249
- Florida Historical Society 1320 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL 32935 (321) 254-9855; (321) 690-1971 or (321) 690-0099
- Florida Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 18624, Tampa 33679-8624
- Florida Society For Genealogical Research, 8461 54th Street North, Pinellas Park 33565
- Central Florida Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 177, Orlando 32802-0177
- East Central Florida Genealogical Society Co-op,
- Florida Daughters Of The American Revolution, Cocoa
- Southwest Florida Historical Society, P. O. Box 1362, Ft. Myers, FL 33902
- West Florida Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 947, Pensacola, FL 32594-0947
County, Township and City Societies
- St. Augustine Historical Society, 271 Charlotte Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084Â (Especially strong in early St. Augustine and Spanish Florida)
- Pensacola Historical Society, 405 South Adams Street, Pensacola, FL 32501Â (Strong on West Florida and has a large photographic collection.)
- Alachua County Genealogical Society, Post Office Box 12078,
Gainesville, FL 32604 - Amelia Island Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6005, Fernandina Beach 32035-6005
- Apalachicola Area Historical Society, P. O. Box 75, Apalachicola, FL 32320
- Amelia Island Museum of History, 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
- Anna Maria Island Historical Society, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, FL 34216
- Apopka Historical Society, Museum of Apopkans, 122 East 5th, Apopka 32703
- Archer Historical Society, P. O. Box 1850, Archer, FL 32618
- Baker County Historical Society, P.O. Box 856, Macclenny, FL 32063
- Barnacle Society, Inc., The, 3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove 33133
- Bay County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1476, Panama City, FL 32402; Phone: (850) 785-9036
- Bay County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 662, Panama City 32402-0662
- Beaches Area Historical Society,  P. O. Box 50646, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
- Boca Raton Historical Society, 71 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432
- Bradford County Historical Board, P. O. Drawer A, Starke, FL 32091
- Brevard Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 1123, Cocoa, FL 32922
- Brevard Heritage Council, 870 Indionola Dr., Merritt Island, FL 32953
- Broward County, Inc, Genealogical Society of, P. O. Box 485, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33303
- Broward County Historical Commission, 151 S.W. 2nd Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33301
- Cape Coral Historical Society, 4707 SE Fifth Ave, Cape Coral, FL 33904
- Charlotte County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 2682, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
- Citrus County Historical Society, One Courthouse Square, Inverness, FL 34450
- Citrus County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 2211, Inverness, FL 34451-2211
- Clay County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 1071, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
- Clay County Historical Society , P.O. Box 1202 , 915 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043; (904) 284-9644
- Clewiston Historical Society, 112 Commercio Street, Clewiston 33440
- Collier County Historical Society, 137 Twelfth Ave. South, Naples, FL 33940
- Collier County Genealogical Society of , P. O. Box 7933, Naples, FL 33941-7933
- Columbia County Historical Society, 810 S. Seventh St., Lake City, FL 32055
- Coral Gables Historical Preservation Division, City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134; 305-460-5361
- Dade Heritage Trust, 190 SE 12th Terrace, Miami, FL 33131
- DeSoto County Historical Society, Inc., P. O. Box 1824, Arcadia, FL 34265; (863)993-3277
- Dixie County Historical Society, PO Box 928, Cross City, FL 32628; (352) 542-0047
- East Hillsborough Historical Society, 605 North Collins Street, Plant City 33566-3321; (813) 757-9226
- Escambia County Historical Society, 223 South Palafox Place, Pensacola 32501-5845
- Flagler County Genealogy Society of, PO Box 35-4671 Palm Coast, FL. 32135-4671
- Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa, PO Box 18624, Tampa, FL 33679-8624
- Gadsden County Historical Society, P.O. Box 231, Quincy 32351-0231
- Genealogical Society of South Volusia County, 105 S. Riverside Dr., New Smyrna, FL 32168-7197
- Gilchrist County Genealogical Society, 105 Ne 11th Avenue, Trenton 32693
- Glades County Historical Society, P.O. Box 10, Moore Haven 33471-0100
- Greater Brandon Genealogical and Historical Society, Post Office Box 2635, Valrico, FL 33595-2635
- Genealogical Society of Greater Miami, P. O. Box 162905, Miami, FL 33116-2905
- Geneva Historical & Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 145 OR P. O. Box 91, Geneva, FL 32732
- Gulf County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 541, Port St. Joe 32457
- Halifax Historical Society, 252 S. Beach St., Daytona Beach, FL 32114-4407; 904-255-6976
- Halifax Genealogical Society, 30 Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
- Hamilton County Historical Society and Museum, Inc., P.O. Box 929, Jasper 32052; 386-792-3850
- Hastings Historical Society, 150 S. Main Street, Hastings 32145
- Hendry County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1760, Labelle 33935-1760
- Hernando County Genealogical Society of , P. O. Box 1793, Brooksville, FL 34605-1793
- Highlands County Genealogical Society, c/o Lake Placid Library 47 Park Dr. Lake Placid, FL 33852
- Historic Apalachicola Foundation, P. O. Box 41, Apalachicola, FL 32320
- Historic Florida Keys Preservation Board, 500 Whitehead St., Key West, FL 33040
- Historical Preservation Society of The Upper Keys, P. O. Box 2200, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Historic Gainesville, Inc., P. O. Box 466, Gainesville, FL 32602
- Historic Lakeland, Inc., P. O. Box 3347, Lakeland, FL 33802
- Holmes County Historical Society, 412 W. Kansas, Bonifay, FL 32425
- Imperial Polk Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10, Kathleen 33849
- Indian River County Historical Society, P. O. Box 6535, Vero Beach, FL 32961
- Indian River Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 1850, Vero Beach, FL 32960
- Jackson County Historical Society, 413 North Green Street, Mariana, FL
- Jacksonville Historical Society, 100-B Wharfside Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207; 904-396-6307
- Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission, 128 E. Forsyth St., Jacksonville, FL 32202; 904-630-1904
- Jacksonville Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 43010, Jacksonville, FL 32203
- Jefferson County Genealogical Society, 695 East Washington Street, Monticello 32344-2546
- Jefferson County Historical Association, P. O. Box 496, Monticello, FL 32344
- Keystone Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 50, Monticello, FL 32344; 904-997-3304
- Key West Family History Center, 3424 North Side Drive, Key West 32001
- Kinseekers Genealogical Society of Lake County, Florida, PO Box 492711, Leesburg, FL 34749-2711
- Lafayette County Historical Society, Rt 1 Box 665, Mayo, FL 32066
- Lake County Historical Society, P. O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778
- Lake County Kinseekers Genealogical Society, 19 Quail Run, Wildwood, FL 32785
- Lee County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 150153, Cape Coral, FL 33915-0153
- Levy County Genealogy and History Society, 12751 NW 92nd Street, Chiefland, FL 32626
- Madison County Genealogical Society, PO Box 136, Madison, FL 32341-0136
- Manatee Genealogical Society, PO Box 1194, Bradenton, FL 34206
- Manatee County Historical Society, 604 15th St., Bradenton, FL 34208
- Marion County Historical Society, PO Box 1206, Ocala, Florida 34478-1206; Telephone: (352) 897-0840
- Martin County Historical Society of , 825 NE Ocean Blvd., Hutchinson Island, Stuart, FL 34996-1696; 407-225-1961
- Martin County Genealogical Society, 1395 NE Waveland, Jensen Beach, FL 33457
- Micanopy Historical Society, 706 NE Cholokka Blvd., P. O. Box 462, Micanopy, FL 32667
- Monroe County Genealogical Society, 21 Ventana Lane, Big Coppitt Key, FL 33040
- Myakka City Historical Society, P.O. Box 500, Myakka City 34252
- North Brevard Genealogical Society of, Inc., P. O. Box 897, Titusville, FL 32780
- Northeast Polk County Historical Society, 801 Ledwith Ave., P. O. Box 1507, Haines City, FL 33845
- Oakland Park Historical Society, 3976 NE Sixth Ave., Oakland Park, FL 33334
- Okaloosa County Genealogical Society of , P. O. Box 1175, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
- Okeechobee County Historical Society, 55 S. Parrott Ave., Okeechobee 34974
- Okeechobee County Genealogical Society of , PO Box 371, Okeechobee, FL 34973-0371
- Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, 219 WS 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; (954) 463-4431
- Orange County Historical Society, 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803; 407-897-6350
- Orange County Regional History Center, 65 East Central Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32801; (407) 836-8581
- Osceola County Historical Society, 750 N Bass Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34746
- Osceola County Dept. of Genealogical Research, 326 Eastern Ave., St. Cloud, FL 32769
- Palm Beach County Historical Society of , P. O. Box 1147, Palm Beach, FL 33480
- Palm Beach County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 1746, West Palm Beach, FL 33402
- Palm Beach Landmarks Preservation Commission, P. O. Box 2029, Palm Beach, FL 33480
- Pasco County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2072, Dade City 33526-2072
- Pastfinders of South Lake County, Cooper Memorial Library, 620 W. Montrose St, Clermont, FL 34711
- Peace River Valley Historical Society, P. O. Box 1379, Arcadia, FL 33821
- Pensacola Historical Society, 117 E. Government St., Pensacola, FL 32501; 904-433-1559
- Pensacola Historical Preservation Society, P. O. Box 12404, Pensacola, FL 32582; 850-434-3050
- Pinellas County Historical Society, 11909 125th Street North, Largo, FL 34615
- Pinellas Genealogical Society, C/o Largo Public Library, 351 East Bay Drive, P. O. Box 1614, Largo, FL 33779-1614
- Polk County Historical Association, P. O. Box 2749, Bartow, FL 33830-2749
- Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library, 100 E. Main St., Bartow, FL 33830-4629; 941-534-4380
- Ponte Vedra Historical Society, 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082
- Putnam County Archives and History Commission, 518 St. Johns Ave., Palatka, FL 32077
- Putnam County Historical Society, P.O. Box 35; Palatka, FL 32178-0035
- Putnam County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 418, Palatka, FL 32078
- Riverside-Avondale Preservation, Inc., 2624 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32204
- Santa Rosa County, Genealogical Society Of, 805 Alabama St., Milton 32570
- Sarasota Genealogical Society of, Inc., P. O. Box 1917, Sarasota, FL 33578-1917
- Sarasota County Dept. of Historical Resources, 701 Plaza de Santo Domingo, Sarasota, FL 34236
- Sebring Historical Society, 321 West Center Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870; 863-471-2522
- Sebastian Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 781348, Sebastian 32978-1348
- Seminole County, Genealogical Group of , P. O. Box 2148, Casselberry, FL 32707
- South Bay Genealogical Society, PO Box 5202, Sun City Center, FL 33571
- South Brevard Historical Society, P. O. Box 1064, Melbourne, FL 32902-1064;
- South Brevard Genealogical Society of, P. O. Box 786, Melbourne, FL 32902-0786
- Southeast Volusia County, Genealogical Society Of, 105 South Riverside Dr., New Smyrna Beach 32168
- Southern Genealogist’s Exchange Society, PO Box 2801, Jacksonville, FL 32203-2801
- St. Augustine Historical Society, 271 Charlotte St., St. Augustine, FL 32084-5033; 904-824-2872
- St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library, 6 Artillery Lane, St. Augustine, FL 32084; 904-825-2333
- St. Augustine Genealogical Society, C/ St. Johns County Public Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32084
- St. Lucie Historical Society, 414 Seaway Drive, St. Lucie, FL 34949
- Stockment Family Genealogical Society, 19811 Sw 101 Court, Miami 33157-8612
- Sumter County Historical Society, 6355 East CR-478 South Center Hill, Florida 33514.
- Suwannee Valley Genealogical Society, C/o Historical Museum, P. O. Box 967 , 208 N. Ohio Ave., Live Oak, FL 32060
- Tampa Historical Society, 245 S. Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, FL 33606; 813-259-1111
- Tampa Bay History Center, 225 S. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33600; 813-228-0097
- Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc., 423 East Virginia Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301; (850) 488-7100
- Tallahassee Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 4371, Tallahassee, FL 32315-4371
- Taylor County Historical Society, 118 East Main Street, Perry, Florida 32347; 850/584-4478
- Treasure Coast Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3401, Ft. Pierce 34948
- Vero Heritage, Inc., P. O. Box 758, Vero Beach, FL 32961
- Volusia County Genealogical & Historical Society, P. O. Box 2039, Daytona Beach, FL 32015
- Villages Genealogical Society, 26706 La Posada Drive, The Villages, FL 32159
- Volusia Genealogical Society, City Island Library, Daytona Beach 32114
- Wakulla County Historical Society, P. O. Box 151, Crawfordville, FL 32326-0151; (850) 926-7405
- West Florida Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 947, Pensacola 32594-0947
- West Gadsden Historical Society, Post Office Drawer D, Greensboro, FL 32330-0803
- West Pasco Historical Society, P. O. Box 1855, New Port Richey, FL 34291
- West Pasco County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 1142, Port Richey, FL 34673
- West Volusia Historical Society, P.O. Box 733, Deland 32721-0733
Religious and Ethnic Societies
- Slovenian Genealogy Society, 12776 Maiden Cane Lane, Bonita Springs 33923-3435
- Jewish Genealogical Society of Miami, 8405 SW 107th Ave. 313, Miami, FL 33173
- Jewish Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County, 6037 Point Regal Circle 205, Delray Beach, FL 33484-1814
Ethnic Societies
- Cornish American Heritage Society, 3438 Pennyroyal Rd., Port Charlotte 33953
- Florida Black Archives, Research Center and Museum, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307; (850) 599-3020
Florida Newspapers & Publications
Florida Genealogical publications (magazines, newsletters, periodicals, books, etc.) contain all types of invaluable information about specific ancestors, whole lineages and families, places in time, and about all sorts of genealogical records and repositories.
Newspapers
A Tory announcing that the American Revolutionary War had ended published the first Florida newspaper in 1783.
When Spain took over control of Florida again, that newspaper was shut down. Once Florida became part of the United States again, in July of 1821, St. Augustine became home to the Florida Gazette.
Almost every library in the state, both large and small, has some newspapers on file. Larger libraries tend to have bigger collections.
The George A. Smathers Library and the P. K. Yonge Library in Gainesville have two of the largest newspaper collections, along with the University of Florida. In 1944, an effort started to collect and preserve newspapers from each Florida county.
There is now a Florida Newspaper Project website, which researchers can access for more information.
The following repositories also have large newspaper collections:
- State Library of Florida in Tallahassee
- Robert Manning Strozier Library at Florida State University in Tallahassee
- John C. Pace Library at the University of West Florida in Pensacola
- University of Miami’s Otto G. Richter Library
- University of South Florida’s Tampa Campus Library
Historical libraries and Universities across the South hold manuscript collections that include information about Florida. Many public manuscript collections also exist. Researchers should check the National Union Catalog of Manuscripts for more information.
- Florida Historical Newspapers
- Florida Newspapers Directory Listings
- Historical Newspapers from Florida (1823 – 1959) – Immediately identify names and keywords and phrases in over 450 million content articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements as well as other items published in over 2,800 old U.S. newspapers. New content added on a monthly basis!
- Florida Newspaper List
Periodicals
Genealogical journals provide you with plenty of sources of information and facts, they are generally overlooked by genealogy and family history researchers and genealogist in looking around for family history.
Many regional and county genealogical and/or historical societies produce periodicals which have records relating to the region or vicinity they operate.
Frequently these publications have articles involving records that are not obtainable somewhere else.
- The Florida Genealogist:published by the Florida State genealogical Society , is the only genealogical periodical of statewide coverage
Books
- Florida Books at Amazon.com
- Florida Historical Books (1749 – 1900) – rare and fully searchable old books, historical maps and documents give fresh insights into the daily lives of your early Florida ancestors.
- Genealogy Publishing Company
- Florida Genealogy Books
- Southern Historical Press Florida Books