Location: AC.3.A.3.6.3
Location: AC.3.B.1.5.3 - AC.3.B.1.5.5
These objects, linked to a period of approximately 1870-1940, offer a glimpse into the subtle influence of colonial oversight. Field spirits were crafted to protect women and children, homes, crops, domestic animals, and providers (hunters) and also displayed warnings to those venturing onto protected lands, fields, homes, or pilfering from the property owner. The reliance on such objects indicates that longstanding conversion to Christianity among the Fante did not replace traditional beliefs about the security of homes, crops, domestic animals, and people.
These examples of field spirits are rare because they were tools, not created to be objects of art, but crafted to offer specific protection and security for the people who placed them in the fields. Environmental exposure and insects, particularly termites, destroy wooden objects in West Africa very quickly. It is precisely because such field spirits were normally left in the fields that very few remain.
Sem títuloLocation: AC.3.B.1.5.2
"The nation’s first Black junior college, Booker T. Washington Junior College, opened in Pensacola, Florida, in 1949 on the campus of all-black Booker T. Washington High School. The two institutions shared a name, a building, and an administrator: Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins.
Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins was, at the time, the only educator in all of northwest Florida with an earned doctorate, and he served as founding (and only) president and dean of the college and principal of the high school and was known as “the smartest man in the county.”
Before landing at Booker T. Washington, Wiggins served on the faculty at Florida A&M University. He’s remembered as “an educational catalyst, dedicated to the concept that black children must realize the importance of receiving an education.”
Booker T. Washington Junior College provided many Black students with a foundation to transfer into Bethune-Cookman College, Edward Waters College, and Florida A&M University with a solid foundation in teaching, medicine, law, and theology.
In 1965, Booker T. Washington “merged” with then Pensacola Junior College, and Wiggins went on to serve as Pensacola Junior College’s Director of Research until his retirement. However, many argue the school was effectively closed, as Pensacola Junior College did not make a great effort to include the Booker T. Washington’s students or faculty into the fabric of the institution.”
Location: AC.1.B.1.6.3
Dr. Alexander Dumas “A.D.” Brickler (1929–2023) was a pioneering physician and respected obstetrician whose decades-long career had a lasting impact on the Tallahassee community. A graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, Brickler began practicing medicine during segregation and became one of the Black physicians who helped integrate local healthcare systems.
Throughout his career, Dr. Brickler delivered more than 30,000 babies and was widely known for his compassion, professionalism, and dedication to equitable care. He worked extensively at the Florida A&M University Hospital and later at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, where a women’s pavilion was named in his honor.
In addition to his clinical work, Brickler served as a mentor to generations of medical professionals and remained committed to patient care well into his later years. His legacy endures through the thousands of families he served and his contributions to advancing healthcare in Tallahassee.
Location: AC.2.A.2.6.1
Dr. Charles Leonard “Chuck” Evans, Sr. (1945–2013) was a distinguished educator, civil rights leader, and community activist who made a lasting impact at Florida A&M University and in Tallahassee. Born in Durham, North Carolina, he became involved in civil rights activism as a student, participating in protests, sit-ins, and the 1963 March on Washington.
Evans later built a prominent academic career, serving for over 30 years as a professor of marketing and associate dean at FAMU’s School of Business and Industry. Alongside his academic work, he was a dedicated leader in the NAACP, serving multiple terms as president of the Tallahassee branch and advocating for education, equality, and community development.
Known for his lifelong commitment to service, Dr. Evans combined scholarship, activism, and leadership to advance civil rights and improve opportunities for others, leaving a lasting legacy in both education and the Tallahassee community.
Location: AC.2.A.2.6.6
Dr. Anne Richardson Gayles-Felton is a distinguished educator and scholar who dedicated her life to advancing education at Florida A&M University. A native of Georgia, she built a remarkable career spanning more than four decades at FAMU, where she served as a professor of secondary education, department chair, and mentor to countless students.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gayles-Felton taught at multiple academic levels and played a key role in shaping teacher education programs, while also contributing to research, writing, and curriculum development. Her legacy is marked by her commitment to improving educational opportunities and supporting future educators, including the establishment of scholarships to assist students pursuing teaching careers.
Location: AC.2.A.3.1.1
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.2.B.3.5.1. - AC.2.B.3.5.2
Dr. LaSalle Doheny Leffall, Jr. (1930–2019) was a distinguished surgeon, oncologist, and medical educator born in Tallahassee and raised in Quincy. A prodigious student, he graduated from Florida A&M University at age 18 and earned his M.D. from Howard University College of Medicine by age 22. Leffall became a leading figure in surgical oncology, dedicating his career to cancer research and education, particularly focusing on disparities affecting African American communities. He served for 25 years as chairman of the Department of Surgery at Howard University, trained thousands of medical students, and held prominent leadership roles, including president of the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dr-lasalle-d-leffall-jr-38