Location: AC.3.B.1.3.5 - AC.3.B.1.4.3

Genevieve Josephine Wheeler Thomas (1914–December 24, 2006) was an educator whose career spanned 36 years in the field of home economics. She served as a classroom instructor before becoming Dean of the School of Home Economics, where she played a significant role in advancing academic programming and facilities. During her administration, notable developments included the construction and furnishing of a new Home Economics annex within the Perry-Paige Agriculture and Home Economics Building. She concluded her tenure in 1977 after returning to classroom instruction, leaving a lasting impact on both students and institutional growth.

The Genevieve J. Wheeler Thomas Collection consists of three boxes of materials dating from 1949 to 1960, documenting her professional contributions to education and academic administration. The collection includes instructional materials, meeting minutes, correspondence, and related documents that reflect her work as both an educator and administrator.

These materials provide insight into curriculum development, departmental operations, and the evolution of home economics education during the mid-twentieth century. The collection also highlights Wheeler Thomas’s leadership and involvement in institutional planning, particularly during a period of expansion and modernization. Collectively, the records offer valuable documentation of her career and the broader educational landscape in which she served.

Location: AC.7.A.1.2.2 - AC.7.A.1.5.3

The Black Schools in Florida Collection documents the history, administration, and cultural life of African American education in Florida during the era of segregation and beyond. Comprising twelve boxes of materials, this collection provides rich insight into the development of Black primary and secondary schools, as well as the educators, administrators, and communities that sustained them. The records collectively highlight the structure of segregated schooling, the professional networks of Black educators, and the efforts toward institutional improvement and accreditation.

The collection consists of a wide range of materials, including correspondences, school records, conference records, and publications that reflect the daily operations and broader educational initiatives of Black schools throughout the state. Printed materials such as programs, event programs, yearbooks, newspapers, and school publications illustrate student life, extracurricular activities, and community engagement. Additional items, including certificates of membership, certificates of accreditation, high school diploma covers, plaques, and school emblems, provide evidence of institutional identity, achievement, and recognition.

Educational development and administrative practices are further represented through instructional materials and reports, including a self-study of Nims Middle School, an instructional book for Duval County middle schools, a junior high school handbook, and documentation related to teacher workshops and professional training. The collection also includes records such as a statewide list of Negro principals and materials pertaining to educators in Gadsden County, offering valuable context on leadership and staffing within Black educational institutions. Notably, one empty box labeled “Foreign Affairs” is present, suggesting either removed or relocated materials.

Photographs within the collection visually document school buildings, faculty, students, and events, complementing the textual records and enhancing the historical narrative. Together, these materials provide a comprehensive view of the educational experiences of African American students and educators in Florida, emphasizing both the challenges of segregation and the resilience and accomplishments of Black school communities.

Location: AC.7A.3.1.2- AC.7A.3.2.2

The Central Life Insurance Company of Florida Collection documents the operations, administrative activities, and historical record of the Central Life Insurance Company of Florida through corporate records, certificates, photographs, and ephemera spanning from 1922 to 1987. The collection includes blank certificates, certificates issued to policyholders, stock certificates, occupational licenses, newspaper clippings, and photographic materials documenting company personnel, activities, and community engagement. Together, these materials provide insight into the business practices, visual history, and public presence of the company during the twentieth century.
This collection consists of administrative records, financial documentation, and visual materials related to the Central Life Insurance Company of Florida. The records include blank certificates used by the company, certificates issued to policyholders, occupational licenses, stock certificates, and a stockholders list. The collection also contains newspaper clippings documenting company activities and public recognition. Photographic materials form a significant portion of the collection and include black-and-white prints in various sizes, snapshot photographs, oblong photographs, oversized prints, and photographic negatives depicting company employees, events, and community involvement.

These records provide documentation of the company’s corporate operations as well as its role within the broader community. The materials date from 1922 through 1987 and reflect both the administrative and public-facing aspects of the organization.

The materials are arranged by record type and subject. Administrative documents and certificates appear first, followed by miscellaneous materials and printed ephemera, with photographic materials organized by size and format. Stock certificates and a stockholders list conclude the collection.

The records were processed following a preliminary survey of the materials. Documents were sorted by record type and subject. Rusting hardware was removed, and the materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and archival boxes. The files were arranged alphabetically and by format where appropriate.

The Central Life Insurance Company of Florida records were transferred to the Black Archives from the Florida Department of Insurance.

Location: AC.8.A.2.2.4

The Attorney Armstrong Purdee Collection documents the life, legacy, and historical significance of one of Jackson County’s earliest African American legal professionals. The collection contains photographs, commemorative materials, newspaper articles, publications, and digital resources that highlight Purdee’s professional accomplishments and the lasting impact of his work within the community.

Materials include images of commemorative events, a photograph of Purdee’s gravesite, and newspaper coverage discussing his life and contributions. The collection also contains publications related to African American history in Jackson County, including a family reunion cookbook and a scrapbook documenting the legacy of African Americans in the region.

In addition to printed materials, the collection includes a video link documenting a Black History Month program featuring the Jackson County NAACP and the Jackson County School Board. Together, these materials provide insight into community efforts to preserve the historical legacy of Attorney Armstrong Purdee and the broader history of African American leadership and civic engagement in Jackson County, Florida.

The collection is arranged in a single box and organized by subject and material type, including commemorations, news articles, photographs, and publications related to Attorney Armstrong Purdee.

Location: AC.8.B.1.6.2

This file documents the life, military service, and posthumous recognition of Chester Lee Davis, Sr., one of the pioneering African American Marines trained at Montford Point during World War II. Spanning the years 1942 to 2017, this collection provides valuable insight into both Davis’s individual experiences and the broader historical significance of African American service members who served under segregated conditions in the United States Marine Corps.

Chester Lee Davis, Sr. (1923–1981) was born in Quincy, Florida, to Tommie and Iola Davis and was raised in a large farming family. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, his family relocated to Orlando, Florida. In 1943, at the age of eighteen, Davis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, becoming part of the first generation of African American Marines admitted into service. Due to racial segregation, he trained at Montford Point Camp in North Carolina, a facility established specifically for Black Marines and located near Camp Lejeune, where white Marines trained. Despite facing systemic discrimination and harsh conditions, Davis served with distinction as a member of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Depot Companies. His responsibilities included transporting ammunition and supplies to troops on the frontlines, and he later participated in combat operations throughout the Pacific theater, including assignments in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, Guam, and Okinawa. After completing his service, Davis returned home as a corporal and lived in Gadsden County, Florida, where he raised a family. He passed away in 1981 at the age of 58. In 2011, his service, along with that of fellow Montford Point Marines, was formally recognized when the United States Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, a distinction signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Donated to the Meek-Eaton Black Archives by Chester L. Davis, Jr. on June 13, 2017, the collection reflects a deliberate effort to preserve and share the legacy of Davis and other Montford Point Marines. The materials within the collection collectively document Davis’s military career, his contributions during World War II, and the national, state, and local recognition he received posthumously. The collection includes correspondence, legislative recognitions from the United States Congress, the State of Florida, and the City of Quincy, news articles, photographs depicting medals, military service, and commemorative events, as well as official service records and cassette tapes. These materials not only highlight Davis’s individual achievements but also situate his experiences within the broader narrative of African American military service and the struggle for equality within the armed forces.

At the time of processing in February 2017, the collection lacked an original order. As a result, the materials were organized by subject matter and date, then arranged alphabetically and housed in acid-free folders within a single archival storage box. Where applicable, items within individual files have been arranged chronologically to preserve contextual relationships. The collection was processed and cataloged by Dr. Murell Dawson, Senior Archivist, with assistance from undergraduate intern Shaarnè Morris, and is currently stored in the archival storage area on the third floor. As a cohesive body of records, this collection provides an important resource for understanding the experiences of Montford Point Marines and the enduring legacy of their service, sacrifice, and recognition within American military and social history.

Box 2 of the Dean Maxwell and Jacqueline Holloway-Thomas Collection contains materials dated from 1969 to 1976 and further documents the professional, academic, and civic engagements of its creators during this period. This box reflects a strong emphasis on administrative, evaluative, and organizational records, highlighting institutional operations, leadership responsibilities, and broader professional involvement in the early years represented within the collection.

The folders within Box 2 are arranged alphabetically by subject and document type and include files such as Reports – Financial, Reports – Scholarship Reports, Reports – Institutional Self-Evaluation, and Resume, as well as Reports – Annual Reports and Reports – General Reports. Additional subject files include Budget Files, Annual Reports to the Florida Legislature, Information for the President, and materials related to The Florida Postsecondary Association. There is also a Report – Correspondence file that contains administrative communications, including items such as “The President’s Report ” and related institutional correspondence.

Within each folder, the materials are arranged chronologically, allowing for a clear and structured understanding of developments over time between 1969 and 1976. The reports provide insight into financial management, scholarship oversight, and institutional assessment processes, while legislative and administrative documents reflect broader institutional accountability and planning during this period. Correspondence files document communication among administrators, educators, and external stakeholders, illustrating professional networks and decision-making processes.