Florida Historical Society

The Florida Historical Society (FHS) is an independent, member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and interpreting the history of Florida. Established in 1856, it is one of the state’s longstanding historical organizations and combines archival stewardship, scholarly publishing, public education, broadcasting, conferences, museum operations, and archaeological outreach. The Society’s central research resource is the Library of Florida History, which it has maintained since 1905. The library holds more than 8,000 bound volumes, rare manuscripts, historical postcards, more than 1,000 early Florida and colonial-era maps, soil surveys, and over 10,000 photographs depicting Florida’s past. Its holdings support academic researchers, genealogists, students, authors, and members of the public. The collection is cataloged online, while in-person research is generally arranged by appointment so that staff can prepare requested materials. The library is located in a historic 1939 post office in Historic Cocoa Village, a building constructed through the Works Progress Administration. The collection has moved among several Florida locations during its history, including St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tampa, before reaching Cocoa in 1997. FHS is also a publishing organization. Its principal scholarly periodical, the Florida Historical Quarterly, began publication in 1908 and appears four times a year. The journal, originally titled the Florida Historical Society Quarterly, publishes research concerning Florida’s political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic past. Through the Florida Historical Society Press, the Society publishes books on Florida history and accepts manuscript submissions subject to its editorial guidelines. The organization also supports archaeological interpretation through the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute, based at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. The institute publishes the annual Adventures in Florida Archaeology magazine, which has been issued since 2016, and contributes talks and media discussions about archaeological discoveries. Public engagement is a major part of the Society’s identity. FHS organizes an annual meeting and symposium, including juried presentations and panel discussions by professional historians, graduate students, and other researchers. It also holds a Public History Forum, generally in May, featuring presentations, panels, and visits to historic sites, museums, and archives. Educational outreach includes lectures, workshops for teachers and students, exhibits, theatrical presentations, and participation in festivals and other events across Florida. The Society extends its reach through Florida Frontiers, a weekly half-hour radio magazine launched in 2009. The program covers Florida history, heritage, archaeology, and cultural tourism, and is distributed through the Society’s website, radio stations, podcast services, and related digital channels. FHS also produces a Florida Frontiers television program and publishes related blog material, including articles made available through Florida Today. These programs feature historians, archaeologists, architects, and other specialists. FHS manages the Historic Rossetter House Museum and Gardens and provides volunteer and internship opportunities in archival cataloging, manuscript description, museum work, broadcasting, and related activities. Its institutional role is therefore broader than that of a conventional archive or learned society: it connects historical collections and scholarship with public programming, media, preservation, and community participation. The Society’s present work remains focused on making Florida’s history accessible while maintaining resources for long-term research.

The Florida Historical Society was established in 1856 with the purpose of preserving and advancing knowledge of Florida’s history. Its work has traditionally involved collecting historical records and images, maintaining archival resources, publishing scholarship, and educating the public. Rather than functioning solely as a repository, the Society has developed as a statewide historical network linking researchers, educators, museums, cultural institutions, and interested members of the public. The Society’s library has been maintained since 1905. Its early collection was housed in the Cordova Hotel in St. Augustine and later moved to Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tampa. In 1997, the library relocated to Cocoa, where it occupies a historic 1939 United States post office in Historic Cocoa Village. The building was constructed through the Works Progress Administration and now provides a distinctive setting for the Library of Florida History. The collection includes thousands of books and bound volumes, rare manuscripts, postcards, maps, photographs, and other materials documenting Florida’s communities, landscapes, institutions, and residents. Among the early gifts to the collection was a 1605 first edition of La Florida del Inca, donated by industrialist and railway magnate Henry Flagler. Publishing has been a central activity. The Florida Historical Quarterly has appeared since 1908, initially under the name Florida Historical Society Quarterly. Published four times annually, it provides a scholarly forum for research in Florida history. The Society began publishing books through the Florida Historical Society Press in 1925. The press continues to make historical studies and other books available through its website and book distributors, while inviting authors to submit manuscripts for consideration. The Society underwent a reorganization in 2002, after which it began holding annual meetings intended to bring together professional historians and others interested in Florida history. Its program of conferences expanded to include the annual meeting and symposium, generally held in October at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and the Public History Forum, generally held in May at changing locations around the state. These events provide settings for scholarly papers, juried presentations, panels, public-history discussions, and tours of historic places and collections. FHS broadened its public communications through Florida Frontiers, a weekly radio magazine that began airing in 2009. The program addresses historical events, people, archaeology, heritage, and cultural tourism, and is distributed through broadcast stations and digital listening services. The Society later developed a related television program, with archived episodes available through its website and online video platforms. Its written outreach has also included blog articles and contributions published in Florida Today. Archaeology became another important area of activity through the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute, based at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. The institute provides talks, publications, and public discussion of archaeological research and discoveries. Since 2016 it has published Adventures in Florida Archaeology magazine annually. The Society also manages the Historic Rossetter House Museum and Gardens, extending its preservation and interpretation work into a historic-site setting. Education and participation remain important to the institution. FHS organizes lectures, workshops for teachers and students, exhibits, theatrical programs, and activities at cultural festivals. Volunteers and interns assist with cataloging, manuscript finding aids, museum work, archival projects, and broadcasting. Through these activities, the Society serves both specialist audiences and the wider public, maintaining historical resources while encouraging Floridians and visitors to engage with the state’s diverse past.

• 2016

  Archaeology magazine begins

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute began publishing Adventures in Florida Archaeology annually.

• 2009

  Florida Frontiers radio program launched

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  FHS began producing the weekly Florida Frontiers radio magazine, later distributed through broadcast and digital channels.

• 2002

  Society reorganized

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A reorganization was followed by the introduction of annual meetings intended to provide a forum for historians and others interested in Florida history.

• 1997

  Library relocates to Cocoa

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  After earlier locations in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tampa, the Library of Florida History moved to Cocoa, Florida.

• 1925

  Book publishing begins

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society began publishing books, a program later associated with the Florida Historical Society Press.

• 1908

  Florida Historical Quarterly begins publication

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society began publishing its scholarly quarterly, originally called the Florida Historical Society Quarterly.

• 1905

  Library of Florida History maintained

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society began maintaining the library that became its principal archival and research collection.

• 1856

  Society established

  [1]Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Florida Historical Society was established as an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting knowledge of Florida’s history.

A statewide historical institution combining scholarly research, archival preservation, public history, cultural education, media production, museum interpretation, and archaeology.

• Scholarly journal · 1908

  Florida Historical Quarterly

  The Society’s principal academic periodical, published four times a year since 1908. It presents research and interpretation concerning Florida’s history and was originally published under the title Florida Historical Society Quarterly.

• Book publishing · 1925

  Florida Historical Society Press

  The Society’s book-publishing program, active since 1925. It makes books about Florida history available through online sales and distributors and accepts manuscript submissions under its editorial guidelines.

• Radio and podcast programming · 2009

  Florida Frontiers

  A weekly half-hour radio magazine covering Florida history, heritage, archaeology, and cultural tourism. Episodes are made available through the Society’s website, radio outlets, and digital listening services.

• Television and video programming

  Florida Frontiers TV

  A television and online video program presenting interviews and features about historical events, notable people, archaeological discoveries, cultural institutions, and Florida heritage.

• Archaeology magazine · 2016

  Adventures in Florida Archaeology

  An annual publication of the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute focused on archaeological discoveries, research, interpretation, and public education in Florida.

• Historical archive and research library · 1905

  Library of Florida History

  The Society’s research library and archive, containing books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, postcards, and other materials relating to Florida. Its Cocoa facility supports catalog-based research and appointment-only in-person consultation.

• 2016

  Launch of Adventures in Florida ArchaeologyProduct launch

  Background

  The Society’s Archaeological Institute needed a recurring publication to share archaeological research and discoveries with a wider audience.

  Action taken

  The institute began publishing Adventures in Florida Archaeology annually.

  Aftermath

  The magazine became a continuing part of the institute’s publication, lecture, and public-education activities.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of Florida Frontiers radio programProduct launch

  Background

  FHS sought to make Florida history accessible beyond its library, publications, conferences, and museum activities.

  Action taken

  The Society began producing a weekly radio magazine on Florida history, heritage, archaeology, and cultural tourism.

  Aftermath

  The program expanded the Society’s public reach through radio broadcasts, the organization’s website, podcasts, and other digital listening services.

  Source

• 2002

  Reorganization and annual-meeting programStrategy

  Background

  The Society reorganized its operations and sought to create a more regular forum for professional historians, students, and members of the public interested in Florida history.

  Action taken

  It began holding annual meetings and related scholarly and public-history events.

  Aftermath

  The annual meeting and symposium became part of the Society’s continuing conference program, alongside the Public History Forum.

  Source

1. 1Florida Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Florida Historical Society official websitemyfloridahistory.org