Location: AC.7.A.3.5.1 - AC.7.A.3.6.1

The Florida African American History Education Task Force Files document the development, implementation, and advancement of statewide initiatives to incorporate African American history into Florida’s public school curriculum. The materials date from 1995 to 2003 and are closely tied to the legislative mandate established by the State of Florida in 1994 through Florida Statute 1003.42, which required the teaching of the history, culture, experiences, and contributions of African Americans in K–12 education.

Following the passage of this legislation, the African American History Task Force (AAHTF) was established to ensure the effective execution and sustainability of this mandate. The Task Force played a central role in guiding curriculum development, supporting teacher training, and promoting educational equity through the integration of African American history across grade levels. Grant-supported initiatives were also developed under the Task Force’s direction to provide resources, workshops, and programming aligned with the original intent of the statute.

The collection consists of administrative and programmatic records that reflect the operations and impact of the Task Force. Materials include correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, grant documentation, curriculum guides, workshop and conference materials, and educational publications. These records highlight collaboration among educators, policymakers, and community stakeholders working to institutionalize African American history education throughout Florida’s school system. The files also document outreach efforts, training sessions for teachers, and the evaluation of program effectiveness.

Collectively, the Florida African American History Education Task Force Files provide valuable insight into the institutionalization of African American history within public education in Florida. The collection underscores the role of legislative action, educational advocacy, and community engagement in shaping inclusive curricula and preserving the historical narratives of African Americans for future generations.

Box 1 contains yearbooks published by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College (FAMC) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) documenting student life, academic programs, campus activities, athletics, organizations, faculty, and significant events. Included are The FAMCEAN (1929), The Flamingo (1946), and The Rattler yearbooks (1950–1952). These volumes provide a visual and historical record of the institution's development, student achievements, campus culture, and traditions during the mid-twentieth century. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1929–1952.

Box 1 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, campus organizations, faculty, and significant university events. Included are the 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957 editions of The Rattler. These volumes provide a visual and historical record of the university during the mid-1950s, highlighting student achievements, campus traditions, and institutional growth. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1954–1957.

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Yearbook Collection documents the history, traditions, achievements, and student experiences of one of the nation's premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The earliest known yearbook represented in this collection is The FAMCEAN, published in 1929 by the Senior Class of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College in Tallahassee, Florida. The publication served as a record of student life, academic accomplishments, campus organizations, athletics, and graduating classes during a period of significant growth in Black higher education.

In 1946, the yearbook was published under the title The Flamingo before transitioning to The Rattler in 1950, a name that reflected the university's mascot and institutional identity. Over the following decades, The Rattler became one of FAMU's most enduring student publications, preserving photographs, senior portraits, fraternity and sorority activities, athletic programs, musical organizations, academic achievements, campus events, and significant moments in university history. The yearbooks provide a unique visual and documentary record of changing student experiences, cultural trends, and institutional development throughout the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

The yearbooks were produced through a collaborative effort involving student editors, yearbook staff members, journalism students, graphic artists, photographers, and faculty advisors. Because yearbook production was primarily student-led, editorial teams changed annually, resulting in each volume reflecting the perspectives, priorities, and experiences of a different generation of FAMU students. Faculty members within the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication provided guidance and oversight, while commercial publishing companies, including Taylor Publishing Company, assisted with printing and production. Today, the yearbooks serve as valuable primary sources for research on African American higher education, student life, campus culture, and the history of Florida A&M University.

Box 3 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and major campus events. Included are the 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961 editions of The Rattler. These yearbooks provide insight into the university's growth, traditions, and student experiences during a period of social change and institutional development. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1958–1961.

Box 4 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and significant campus events. Included are the 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965 editions of The Rattler. These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of Florida A&M University during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting student achievements, campus traditions, academic life, and the evolving social and cultural climate of the university. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1962–1965.

Box 9 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and significant campus events. Included are the 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004 editions of The Rattler, featuring themed volumes such as And the Beat Goes On (1995), Authentic 2000 (2000), Survival of the Fittest (2002), Rattler Under Construction (2003), and Evolution 2004 (2004). These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of Florida A&M University at the turn of the twenty-first century, highlighting student achievements, campus traditions, institutional growth, and changes within the university community. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1995–2004.

Box 5 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and major campus events. Included are the 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969 editions of The Rattler. These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of the university during the late 1960s, capturing student achievements, campus traditions, and the impact of social and cultural changes occurring during this pivotal period. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1966–1969.

Box 6 contains issues of The Rattler, the official Florida A&M University yearbook, documenting student life, academic programs, athletics, student organizations, faculty, and significant campus events. Included are the 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1975 editions of The Rattler, including themed volumes such as Far Above Mutual Understanding (1973) and Portrait of Change (1974). These yearbooks provide a visual and historical record of Florida A&M University during the 1970s, reflecting student achievements, campus traditions, and the social, cultural, and institutional changes shaping the university during this period. Materials are arranged chronologically by publication year. Dates range from 1970–1975.