General African American History

The African American General History Collection contains resources that span over 150 years of African American life in Florida, and in Tampa specifically. This collection includes oral history recordings and transcripts, interviews, photographs, newspaper clippings, biographical and historical essays, and correspondence. From Reconstruction to segregation to the Civil Rights movement, this collection houses materials on religion and social life, customs and celebrations, civil rights and legal statuses, language and literature, education, folklore, music, and song. Of particular interest are the personal stories of African American life presented in the oral histories and interviews of the Otis R. Anthony collection (1977-2009), the Florida Negro papers (1936-1948), and Narratives of Formerly Enslaved Floridians. 

General African American History Collections

Marti-Maceo club flyer

Sociedad la Unión Martí Maceo records

 822 1024 Tomaro Taylor

La Sociedad la Uníon Martí-Maceo was founded in 1900 by Cuban immigrants of African descent. The records of this mutual aid society include organizational papers, speeches, and a small array of publications.

Dates: 1902-1964
Extent: 15 linear feet (18 boxes)

Click here to access the collection’s finding aid »

read more

Tampa (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated records

 1024 683 Tomaro Taylor

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation established in 1946, whose membership consists of more than 16,000 professional women of color. The Tampa Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was chartered in 1987. Collection items include documents and history from each of the 12 chapter presidents, as well as scrapbooks, speeches, newsletters, and photographs.

read more
St. James Parish School photo

USF Department of Anthropology African Americans in Florida research project

 700 700 Tomaro Taylor

The collection includes materials for the USF Department of Anthropology’s African American in Florida research project, the department’s Central Avenue Legacies Project, and materials originally created and/or collected by the CETA Black History of Tampa Project.

Dates: 1930-1980
Extent: 10.5 linear feet (22 boxes)

Click here to access the collection’s finding aid »

read more

Washington Family papers

 745 1024 Tomaro Taylor

This collection documents both business and personal transactions of the Washington family, with particular emphasis on items created or used by Sam Washington, Mary Washington, and Mary L. Washington.

Click here to access the collection’s finding aid »

read more
Excerpt from the Works Progress Administration Tampa Office Records

Works Progress Administration Tampa Office records

 590 800 Tomaro Taylor

The bulk of this collection consists of manuscripts and revised typescripts of the Florida edition of the American Guide Series, with a substantial number of essays on Ybor City and its immigration history.

Dates: 1917-1943
Extent: 24 linear feet (39 boxes)

Click here to access the collection’s finding aid »
Click here to access portions of the collection online »

read more
  • 1
  • 2