Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.
State Archives of Florida
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- State Archives Online Catalog
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- ArchivesFlorida.com
State Library of Florida
Related Sites
Listen: The Gospel ProgramPhoto Exhibits
Photo exhibits spotlight various topics in Florida history, and are accompanied by brief text intended to place selected materials in historical context.
Gridiron Culture in the Sunshine State
Beyond the Game
Stadiums, Mascots, Bands and the Culture Surrounding Big Time College Football in Florida
From humble beginnings in the early 1900s, college football venues in Florida have changed as much as the game itself. The first college football game in Florida attracted just 2,000 fans, who paid 50 cents each to watch Stetson play FAC at the Jacksonville fairgrounds in November 1901. Today, both Doak Campbell and Ben Hill Griffin stadiums host more than 80,000 fans for home games. In-game entertainment, such as mascots, bands and half-time shows, have become integral to the culture and spectacle of college football in Florida. Colorful fans and entertainers contribute to the lively atmosphere at big time college football games in the Sunshine State.
Football stadium under construction at the University of Miami: Coral Gables, Florida (1925)
Image Number: RC08875
Fans at a University of Miami football game: Miami, Florida (ca. 1920s)
Image Number: PHF011
Football stadium at the University of Florida: Gainesville, Florida (1948)
Image Number: RC10950
University of Florida: Gainesville, Florida (1949)
Image Number: C011796
Site for the Doak Campbell Stadium: Tallahassee, Florida (1948)
Image Number: N039557
General Note: The new stadium will be part of Florida State University.
Aerial view of Doak Campbell Stadium during the dedication game: Tallahassee, Florida (1950)
Image Number: C014203
Municipal stadium filled for Stetson University's homecoming game: DeLand, Florida (ca. 1950s)
Image Number: PR13374
Aerial view of the Gator Bowl Stadium during show at the 1954 game between Auburn University and Baylor University: Jacksonville, Florida (1954)
Image Number: RF00191
General Note: Auburn won the game 33-13.
"Fighting Gators," logo of the University of Florida: Gainesville, Florida (ca. 1960s – 70s)
Image Number: N045209
FAMU "Marching 100" perform for the crowd: Tallahassee, Florida (1984)
Image Number: FFL2454A
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida: Gainesville, Florida (1992)
Image Number: K894251
General Note: Popularly known as "The Swamp," it was formerly called "Florida Field" (1930-1989).
Related Resources
Features
Territorial Legislative Council Records, 1822-1845
Documenting Florida's legislature prior to statehood
State and County Officer Directories, 1868-1969
Lists of Florida's state and county officials either elected or appointed between 1868 and 1969.
Guide to Military Records and the Wartime Experience
A guide to government records and manuscript collections relating to service members and the wartime experience.
Dust Tracks
21 tracks from Hurston's time documenting African American culture for the WPA in 1930s Florida.
History Day 2025
Resources for Florida History Day from the State Library and Archives of Florida.