Today we launch the Florida Memory blog in the spirit of our mandate to make resources from the State Library and Archives of Florida available to the public.
We will highlight interesting photos, incoming collections, documents, events in Florida history, and also discuss issues that arise from preserving and ensuring access to such exciting materials. Our sound archivist will stop by to give behind-the-scenes accounts of the preservation and digitization of audio recordings. Perhaps he will share the story of saving deteriorating open reel tapes with a food dehydrator.
We hope you will join us in promoting the study of Florida’s rich history and culture.
I am trying to find information on John Kunkle Small. He was a botanist who spent a lot of time in the Everglades. He wrote a lot and took many pictures. But he didn’t take pictures of himself. If anyone knows of good pictures of him, especially in south Florida, I would like to know about how to view them.
Thanks,
Bru
Thank you for your question. While we have over 2,000 images from photographer John K. Small, I was unable to find a portrait of John Small himself.
The John K. Small Collection, primarily a record of Small’s botanical research, also documents Florida’s Seminole Indians, ancient Indian mounds, lighthouses, sugar cane grinding and boiling, a coontie (arrowroot starch) mill, the plant introduction station at Miami, and the Royal Palm Park (now the Everglades National Park). Of particular significance are his photographs of Indian mounds and various views of hammocks before early development destroyed them. In almost all cases, identification of Small’s images are taken directly from his notes.
In response to your question, the photographic archivist pulled the original collection and was able to find four photographs of John K. Small.
These are now scanned and online. I hope that this is helpful in your research!
Just found your blog- great stuff- looking forward to more great posts!
We’re glad you stopped by. Let us know if you have suggestions for future posts.