Florida History

Special Collections & Archives (SCA) is a division of FSU Libraries. The mission of SCA is the preservation of rare and unusual books and original primary source materials, as well as facilitating research through providing access to these materials. SCA collaborates with other departments to provide instruction that gives students an introduction to primary source literacy and they also support active learning and discovery through exhibitions and other programs. The division includes several areas that work towards these goals: the Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Heritage & University Archives (HUA), The Claude Pepper Library, and the Digital Library Center.

SCA’s collections of unique manuscripts, historic maps, rare books, photographs, and university archives offer abundant opportunities for discovery and scholarship.Their collecting strengths include: Napoleon and the French Revolution, poetry, political papers, artists’ books, children’s literature, Florida history, Southern business history, and the history of Florida State University. However, our 90,000 volumes and over one million manuscript items cover more than just these strengths. If you are interested in learning more about Special Collections & Archives, please visit our website at https://www.lib.fsu.edu/special-collections. If you would like to search our collections further, visit www.lib.fsu.edu/special-collections/collections. Finally, if you are interested in instruction with SCA, please visit our class visit webpage.

FSU Libraries Catalog Advanced Search - https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01FALSC_FSU:Home&mode=advanced
The FSU Libraries Catalog is the best source of information on rare books collections. It also includes description of some archival collections, with links out to finer description in the Finding Aid Database (see below).

• To limit your search results to Special Collections holdings, use the facet Library: “FSU STROZIER, Special Coll” located on the left-hand side menu of your search results
• Limiting search by year (“Start and End Dates”) is often useful to Special Collections researchers
• Sort or Narrow search results using terms in left-hand column
• Click through search results to get full records for books or collections
• Anything mentioning “Special Coll” in Location information is available through the Special Collections Research Center reading room in 110 Strozier Library
• To request specific books in reading room, use the Title and Call Number (Location). For example, to see this book, https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01FALSC_FSU/pag4dr/alma990243569410306576 (Links to an external site.), ask for Sketches of St. Augustine, Special Coll Florida -- F319.S2 S5 1849.

Finding Aid Database - https://archives.lib.fsu.edu
The Finding Aid Database is the best source of information about our archives collections. 

• Searches can be limited by record type; keyword, title, creator, and subject; and by date
• Filter search results using terms in right-hand column
• Click through search results to get full records for collections or archival items
• Researchers can browse by topical area by clicking on “Classifications”
• Most collections available through the Special Collections Research Center reading room in 110 Strozier Library
• Some collections note that “Users may access this collection at the Claude Pepper Library” - Claude Pepper Center, 636 W Call St
• To request specific items in the reading room, use the collection title, collection Identifier, and box number (citation)
• Collections belonging to non-FSUL repositories can be accessed by using the contact information on the Repository’s page

Digital Library - https://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu:digital_library
The FSU Digital Library Includes digital copies of Special Collections & Archives items, born-digital collections, and digital objects hosted for other organizations

• Use keyword search at the top of the screen, advanced search in the tool bar, or click through themed collections to discover digital objects
• Sort or Narrow results using terms in left-hand column or search within a collection using the search box on the right side.
• Click through Search Results to get full records and see digital copies
• Summary tab - see a digital copy
• Item Description tab - information about the digital object
• Click through “Subject(s)” to find related digital items
• Check the “Is Part Of” field to find related items in Special Collections & Archives

Keywords are what we use to search databases, but rarely does a single keyword produce perfect or complete results. Resources may not be described how you expect, and this is why approaching a search with multiple terms will produce the best outcome. 

When formulating keywords, focus on:

• Identifying the main concepts of your topic or research question
• Brainstorming synonyms and antonyms
• Spelling out any words that are abbreviated
• Avoiding abstract concepts as search terms

Example Search

Research Question: What is the history of the Everglades and how are they a unique ecosystem?

Keywords: Everglades, Florida, swamp, marsh, wetlands, mangroves, ecosystem, flood control, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Bay, cypress, Miami, manatees, alligators, sawgrass, Kissimmee River, biodiversity, coastal prairie, aquifer, environmental restoration