Stewards of Florida History

There is a great need to advocate and promote interest in Florida's history. Too often we are told that the state has no history or that the public is not interested in state history because everyone has moved here from someplace else. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Florida has a rich history dating back thousands of years into prehistoric times. Even today, it is home to several Native American tribes. It has a long and complicated colonial history. It was an early underground railroad for people escaping from slavery. It was a state torn apart and divided during the Civil War. It is one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in all of the United States and a national vacation spot. It is home to the space program. It has one of the fastest growing, largest, and most diverse populations anywhere in the country. No history? It is history.

Stewards of Florida History is a call to be an advocate for the importance of the state's history. The mission of Stewards is to assist the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History in maintaining collections on Florida and, more importantly, to help promote a love for the state and its past.

Interested in getting involved? Please read Our Information Brochure and feel free to contact me, the curator of the Florida history collection, at any time.

Upcoming Events for Stewards of Florida History:

• March 15, 2008, Coliseum, St. Petersburg, Fla.: Staff from the collections will be on hand at the 27th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair to show sample documents and materials from the collection and discuss the history of Florida with attendees. Information about the book fair can be found at Antiquarian Book Fair