Florida Then and Now

A View from the School

This project documents change in Florida cities, towns, communities and landscapes from a student perspective. Art teacher Polly Werner, in collaboration with the Florida State Archives, conducted the pilot project with her third grade class at Dr. N. H. Jones Elementary School in Ocala, Florida.

The students researched old photographs of their communities using resources from the Florida Photographic Collection, local historical societies, or the students' own family photos. The students then revisited the locations or themes of those historic photographs and re-photographed them as they appear today. The then-and-now photographs are displayed along with short essays by the students.

Papa Bill

“My Papa said "It was peaceful back in 1945 but then they got interrupted by WWII." "Vietnam was also disturbing", my Papa said. I love my Papa.”

Lucas — Age 9

Then

1945

Now

2002