Red Kerce Collection--over 800 images of historical people and places in Tallahassee and the surrounding area from 1940-1964

Collection Number: M87-34
Creator: Kerce, Red (Benjamin L.), 1911-1964.
Title: Photographic Collection, 1940-1964.
Quantity: 1,600 photographs
The images on this Web site represent a selection from the Red Kerce Collection. The entire collection can be viewed onsite at the State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee.

Description: This collection consists of 1,600 negatives taken by Red Kerce. Subject matter includes news events, government officials, fairs, residences, and street scenes in the Tallahassee, Florida, area and neighboring counties in northern Florida. The images include those taken by Kerce in the capacity of photojournalist for the Tallahassee Democrat, the Associated Press, the Florida Highway Patrol, and Life Magazine.

Historical Note: Benjamin L. ("Red") Kerce was born in 1911 in Alachua County, Florida. He began his career as a photojournalist at the age of 21 with the Bradford County Telegraph in Starke, Florida. In 1944, he settled in Tallahassee, Florida, after serving in the military. Throughout his career, Kerce worked as Feature Editor for the Tallahassee Democrat, covered legislative news for the Associated Press, worked as a stringer for Life Magazine, and was Press Relations Director for the Florida Highway Patrol. Kerce died in 1964 at the age of 53.