The Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives Center
Welcome to the Sarah D. & L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives Center at Florida Southern College. We are located on the northwest part of campus next to Roux Library. Our reading room is located on the second floor of the archives building, and offers exceptional views of some of the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Most of the Archives’ collections are open for research to the FSC community and general public. We are available to answer any research questions you may have.
Come visit us!
Hours:
Weekdays, 8am-5pm
Please contact us for an appointment at (863) 616-6487 / (863) 680-4994 or via email at archives@flsouthern.edu
See Florida Southern College's academic calendar for any holiday closures
Explore the Archives
We have organized our finding aids into three separate repositories: Manuscript Collections, College Archives, and the Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives. Please click on the appropriate link to view the collections within each corresponding repository.
Manuscript Collections are unpublished papers of an individual or entity. Our archives include papers from alumni, faculty, public servants, and organizations significant to the history of FSC, Lakeland, and Central Florida.
The College Archives contain the organizational records of Florida Southern College. Within the archives are the stories of each department and organization that has made FSC what it is today. Materials in this collection date back to the earliest days of the college, from its founding in Orlando, through subsequent moves to Sutherland (current-day Palm Harbor), Clearwater, and finally Lakeland.
Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives
The Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives include papers, research, business records, and ephemera related to the Florida Citrus Industry. These are the stories of the people and organizations who made citrus one of the most successful agricultural operations in the country and a significant part of Florida's history.
The archival materials related to citrus have grown slowly but steadily over the years at Florida Southern College. Faculty and students moved to Lakeland in 1922, to the site of a citrus grove. Florida Southern College's Citrus Institute was founded in 1947 and offered the first classes in grove management for the state of Florida. Professor Thomas B. Mack began teaching at the college in 1951 and brought his interest in all things citrus, as well as his burgeoning collection of which he continue to grow after his retirement in 1999. While he passed away in 2004, the collections he started continued to grow.
The Florida Citrus Archives are housed in the Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives Center. Materials accepted for donation include business papers related to grove management as well as documents and photographs related to individuals involved in the industry. Materials are preserved for the future and are made available to researchers and the public. The time frame represented in the current collection covers from the 1920s to the present. We are actively looking for the records of defunct groves.
View our Digital Collections
Florida Southern College History
Learn about the history of FSC's history and traditions, including our championship athletic programs, past presidents, and so much more!
Florida Southern College Digital Collections
View digitized scans of Frank Lloyd Wright's correspondence with Dr. Ludd Spivey, The Child of the Sun Photo Collection, the work of Shirley Jackson Case, and various publications including the FSC student newspaper and yearbooks.
Thomas B. Mack Citrus Archives Digital Collections
Florida Southern College maintains one of the largest known collections of the unique and historic citrus crate and can labels. We also have digitized photographs and beautifully designed postcards that tell the story of the citrus industry.
The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame
The McKay Archives is the home of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Fellowship Program was created in 2008 to help describe, preserve, and digitize citrus documents while creating an engaged learning environment for students.
Visit our Digital Exhibits Created by our Dedicated Work-Study Students, Volunteers, and Staff Members
Explore the history of Florida Citrus Crate Labels, remember the hard-working men and women of the citrus groves, and learn about the tragic fire at the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1944. Exhibits include static image and short form video. Be sure to check back often, as exhibits are added all the time.
Watch the Story of Frank Lloyd Wright's Vision for the College
Frank Lloyd Wright: Child of the Sun
Did you know that Florida Southern College is home to the single largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings in the world? The designer of such famous works as the Guggenheim Museum, the Imperial Hotel, and Fallingwater left his mark on our small campus. This mini-documentary created by WEDU-PBS tells the story of Frank Lloyd Wright's vision for the "Child of the Sun" campus which was, notably, largely built by the students. (note: external link)
Photocopy and Image Services
Please follow this link to learn more about our services and policies.
Please also view our copyright guidelines.
Questions? Please Contact Us
