Written by: The Florida Keys

America’s 250: New Catalog Brings Keys History Out of the Vault and into Public View

The Florida Keys History Center (FKHC), Monroe County’s archive of documents and photographs illustrating the history of the Florida Keys, has a new online catalog providing public access to unique documents in the collection, just in time to start celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Among the items already posted: a manuscript memoir by William A. Whitehead describing his life in Key West in the early 19th century, church records, city directories, Key West High School yearbooks, editions of Solares Hill newspaper, transcripts from oral histories recorded in 1976, and an album of more than 300 photographs from 1917-1918, the earliest days of the Naval Air Station in Key West.

“Protecting the historical record isn’t just about preserving the past; it’s about safeguarding the truth for the future,” said Senior Director of Libraries Kimberly Matthews. “My commitment has always been to ensure that every generation inherits an honest, accessible account of who we are and how we got here.”

The FKHC is housed at the Key West library branch and has been collecting local historical information since 1960, when it was founded by the late Betty Bruce and expanded on by the late Tom Hambright. Almost 25,000 photographs and other images have been scanned, identified, and posted online. Those images have been viewed more than 50 million times.

“It is a real pleasure to make the history of Monroe County widely available,” said Corey Malcom, lead historian. “Now, people anywhere can view these documents, and it is done without any wear and tear to the originals.”

The Naval Air Station photo album provides a rare glimpse into the early days of aviation. It was recently donated by the Key West Maritime Historical Society and the Karl and Mary Haffenreffer Foundation.

“The FKHC’s online archive is a ‘living’ project, and we are working every day to scan additional documents and photographs,” said Malcom. “I hope history buffs and researchers will follow our progress, because there is much more to come.”

To view the documents, go to keyslibraries.org/keyshistory and click on “Our Collection.” The Florida Keys History Center homepage also includes the popular “Today In Keys History” column, Dr. Malcom’s Island Chronicles, and a selection of “Links We Like” for exploring Keys history online.


Images credit: Naval Air Station Key West Photo Album 1918-1919. Florida Keys History Center, Monroe County Public Library

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