The Jacksonville History Collection
The Jacksonville History Collection preserves and makes accessible the records of Jacksonville, past and present, and stewards the collections for the future. Our collections span over 200 years of Jacksonville’s history, housing primary and secondary sources created and collected by individuals and organizations.
Developed as the foundation of the Jacksonville Historical Society in 1929, the archive serves the people of Jacksonville as a place to learn about the rich and diverse history of the city.
Collection Highlights
The Jacksonville History Collection contains tens of thousands of items, including photographs, negatives and plates, documents, rare books, articles, films, memorabilia, clothing, furnishings and more. Here are just a few of the notable collections.
T. Frederick Davis Collection
The collection spans approximately 200 years, from 1801 to the 1990s, and contains family papers, both from Davis and his extended family; correspondence about his work; newspaper clippings; photographs of Davis, his family, where he lived, and some of his activities, and three scrapbooks.
The highlight of this collection is a family Bible dated to 1801 that contains genealogical records of the Davis family.
The Jacksonville Terminal Collection
The Terminal is one of Jacksonville’s most visible and popular Neo-Classical Revival style of architecture. When completed in 1919, it was the largest terminal in the South. Now it is part of the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
The collection contains records that span daily reports, accounts records, memorandum, reports, architectural drawings, and project reports that cover its 55-year history.
The Garden Club of Jacksonville Collection
Inspired by the gardens of Europe, Ninah May Holden Cummer gathered a group of 17 friends in her Riverside home on March 25, 1922, to organize a garden club to create a more beautiful city. This group ultimately was to become the Garden Club of Jacksonville.
The collection includes scrapbooks from the various Garden Club Circles through the years.
Research Requests
The Jacksonville History Collection is a public archive, open to anyone during business hours with a research appointment. To begin the research request process, complete the research request form and the Archives staff will review the request and respond within three weeks. If your research request has a time constraint of less than three weeks, please indicate that on the form, and we will be in touch within a week.
Donate to our Collections
The Jacksonville History Collection accepts donations to our collections from individuals and organizations who have items that directly connect to Jacksonville’s history. We accept documents, photographs, books, and objects, either created or collected by you and/or your family members. Please note that we do not purchase or appraise items.
To begin the donation process, complete the donation request form below, and the Archives staff will review it with the Acquisitions Committee and email you its decision within one month. If you have a time constraint, please indicate the date on the form and we will address your donation request as soon as possible.