Central Florida Memory is a unique digital collection of material contributed by partner institutions to create a virtual place where visitors can discover what Central Florida was like before theme parks and the space program. Diaries and letters describe the region and how people survived day-by-day in this extreme and rugged environment. Maps, photographs, and postcards illustrate how the region looked in the early years and how it changed over time. Voters’ registration and funeral records and city directories provide demographic information that makes the picture of the Central Florida settler come into focus.

The long-term intent of the project is to provide an online platform and focal point for gathering, preserving, and disseminating the documents, artifacts, and stories of the history of Central Florida. Our interest is in much more than just providing access to or heightening awareness of this history. This project provides educational resources and tools to enhance the delivery of instruction of history at all levels, especially fourth grade students and teachers learning Florida history.

Central Florida Memory is a cooperative project consisting of five partner institutions: University of Central Florida Libraries, Orange County Regional History Center, Orange County Library System, Rollins College, and Museum of Seminole County History. Please visit the Central Florida memory website for more information about the project or to obtain the Digitization Spec Kit.