Florida Societies and Archives
It is wise to acquaint yourself with any Florida repository which you might visit by writing to the appropriate Florida archive or library in advance. Every Florida repository has published materials that introduce its collections and research policy. Florida State archives and Florida historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.
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)245-6700
The 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, [EMAIL], Order by one of the following methods
- Mailing address: Office of Vital Statistics, Attn: Customer Services, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042; Order Birth form , Order Death form (PDF format - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )
- In person address: Office of Vital Statistics, 1217 Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Phone (904) 359-6900 extension 9000; M-F 8:00 - 5:00 EST (Credit card orders will be accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (877) 550-7330
- Fax: State Office: (904) 359-6633 Order Birth form , Order Death form (PDF format - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader ) (credit card orders may also be faxed directly to VitalChek for credit card acceptance at 1 (877) 550-7428
Florida Libraries
- 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 32202
(Excellent holdings on Jacksonville and northern Florida.)
- Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32801
(Records depository for the Florida Daughters of the American Revolution.)
- Miami-Dade County Library, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130
(Its genealogy collection contains microfilm copies the Federal Censuses.)
- John C. Pace Library, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514
(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 32611 (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
Florida Museums
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, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local 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
- St. Augustine Historical Society, 271 Charlotte Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (Especially strong in early St. Augustine and Spanish Florida)
- Pensacola Historical Society, 405 South Adams Street, Pensacola, FL 32501 (Strong on West Florida and has a large photographic collection.)
- Alachua County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 12078, Gainesville 32604
- Amelia Island Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6005, Fernandina Beach 32035-6005
- Apalachicola Historical Society, P.O. Box 75, Apalachicola 32329
- Apopka Historical Society, Museum of Apopkans, 122 East 5th, Apopka 32703
- Baker County Historical Society, P.O. Box 856, Macclenny 32063
- Barnacle Society, Inc., The, 3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove 33133
- Bay County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 662, Panama City 32402-0662
- Brevard Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1123, Cocoa 32923-1123
- Broward County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 485, Ft. Lauderdale 33302
- Broward County Historical Commission, 151 S.W. 2nd Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33301
- Central Florida Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 177, Orlando 32802-0177
- Charlotte County Genealogical Society, PO Box 494707, Port Charlotte 33949-4707
- Citrus County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2211, Inverness 34451-2211
- Clewiston Historical Society, 112 Commercio Street, Clewiston 33440
- Collier County, Genealogical Society Of,
- Cornish American Heritage Society, 3438 Pennyroyal Rd., Port Charlotte 33953
- Daughters Of The American Revolution, Cocoa
- East Central Florida Genealogical Society Co-op,
- East Hillsborough Historical Society, 605 North Collins Street, Plant City 33566-3321
- Edward Felix Jasnoch, Tampa, Florida, Tampa 33634
- Escambia County Historical Society, 223 South Palafox Place, Pensacola 32501-5845
- Florida Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 18624, Tampa 33679-8624
- Florida Society For Genealogical Research, 8461 54th Street North, Pinellas Park 33565
- Florida State Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10249, Tallahassee 32302-2249
- Gadsden County Historical Society, P.O. Box 231, Quincy 32351-0231
- Genealogical Society Of Broward County, P.O. Box 485, Ft. Lauderdale 33302
- Genealogical Society Of Collier County, P.O. Box 7933, Naples 34101
- Genealogical Society Of South Brevard, P.O. Box 786, Melbourne 32902-0786
- 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 Society, P.O. Box 2297, Mango 33550-2297
- Greater Miami, Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 162905, Miami 33116-2905
- Gulf County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 541, Port St. Joe 32457
- Halifax Genealogical Society, 30 South Beach St., Ormond Beach 32174
- Hamilton County Hist. Museum Soc., Inc., P.O. Box 929, Jasper 32052
- 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 34605-1793
- Highlands County Historical Society, 430 S. Commerce Ave, Sebring 33870
- Historic Ocala/marion County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1206, Ocala 34478-1206
- Imperial Polk Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10, Kathleen 33849
- Indian River County Historical Society, P.O. Box 6535, Vero Beach 32961
- Indian River Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1850, Vero Beach 32961-1850
- Jacksonville Genealogical Society, 1224 Knobb Hill Drive, Jacksonville 32221-6117
- Jefferson County Genealogical Society, 695 East Washington Street, Monticello 32344-2546
- Key West Family History Center, 3424 North Side Drive, Key West 32001
- Lee County Genealogy Society, Inc., Fort Myers
- Madison County Florida Genealogical Society, 115-117 West Base Street, Madison 32340-2400
- Manasota Genealogical Society, 1405 4th Avenue West, Bradenton 34205
- Manatee County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1000, Bradenton 34206-1000
- Martin County Genealogical Society, 701 East Ocean Drive, Stuart 34996
- Martin County, Historical Society Of, 825 N.E. Ocean Boulevard, Stuart 34996-1696
- Micanopy Historical Society, P.O. Box 462, Micanopy 32667
- Monroe County Genealogical Society, 21 Ventana Lane, Big Coppitt Key 33040
- Myakka City Historical Society, P.O. Box 500, Myakka City 34252
- North Brevard, Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 897, Titusville 32781-0897
- Okaloosa County, Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 1175, Ft. Walton Beach 32549
- Okeechobee County Historical Society, 55 S. Parrott Ave., Okeechobee 34974
- Okeechobee, Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 371, Okeechobee 34973
- Orange County Historical Society, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando 32803
- Osceola County Historical Society, 750 N. Bass Road, Kissimmee 34746
- Palm Beach County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1746, West Palm Beach 33402-1746
- Palm Beach Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1745, West Palm Beach 33402
- Pasco County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2072, Dade City 33526-2072
- Pensacola Historical Society, 117 E. Government Street, Pensacola 32501
- Pinellas Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 1614, Largo 34649-1614
- Polk County Historical Society, P.O. Box 9000, Bartow 33830
- Ponte Vedra Historical Society, 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082
- Putnam County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 418, Palatka 32078
- Santa Rosa County, Genealogical Society Of, 805 Alabama St., Milton 32570
- Sarasota County Courthouse, 2000 Main Street, Sarasota 34237
- Sarasota Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1917, Sarasota 33578
- Sebastian Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 781348, Sebastian 32978-1348
- Slovenian Genealogy Society, 12776 Maiden Cane Lane, Bonita Springs 33923-3435
- South Brevard Historical Society, P.O. Box 1064, Melbourne 32902-1064
- South Brevard, Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 786, Melbourne 32901-0786
- Southeast Volusia County, Genealogical Society Of, 105 South Riverside Dr., New Smyrna Beach 32168
- Southern Genealogist's Exchange Society, 6215 Sauterne Drive, Jacksonville 32210
- St. Augustine Historical Society, 1960 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd, St. Augustine 32084
- Stockment Family Genealogical Society, 19811 Sw 101 Court, Miami 33157-8612
- Suwannee Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 967, Live Oak 32604
- Tallahassee Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 4371, Tallahassee 32315-4371
- Treasure Coast Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3401, Ft. Pierce 34948
- Volusia Genealogical Society, City Island Library, Daytona Beach 32114
- Wakulla County Historical Society, P.O. Box 151, Crawfordville 32326-0151
- West Florida Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 947, Pensacola 32594-0947
- West Pasco County Genealogical Society, PO Box 1142, Port Richey 34673
- West Pasco Historical Society, 6431 Circle Boulevard, New Port Richey 34652-2360
- West Volusia Historical Society, P.O. Box 733, Deland 32721-0733
Florida Periodicals
- The Florida Genealogist: published by the Florida State genealogical Society , is the only genealogical periodical of statewide coverage
- The Southern Genealogist's Exchange Quarterly . Issues published from 1957-1981