Florida Memory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Florida Memory

Type of site	Digital library
Headquarters	Tallahassee, Florida
Owner	Florida Department of State
Launched	1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Current status	Active

Florida Memory is a cool online program that lets you explore Florida's past! It's like a giant digital scrapbook filled with old photos, videos, sounds, and documents. You can find all sorts of amazing historical stuff here for free.

This program is part of the State Library and Archives of Florida. It helps people learn about Florida's history through fun educational materials, lesson plans for teachers, a blog, and online exhibits. It's a great way to discover how Florida used to be!

How Florida Memory Started

Florida Memory began because people wanted to share Florida's history with everyone. Here's a quick look at how it grew:

• 1994: The State Archives of Florida got a special grant. This money helped them start digitizing (making digital copies of) old photos from the Florida Photographic Collection. They wanted to put these photos online for everyone to see. This first project was called the Florida Photographic Digital Imaging Project.
• 1996: The first website launched! It was called the Florida State Archives Florida Photographic Collection.
• 2000: The website got a new name, the Florida Memory Project. It also started adding more educational resources, especially for teachers.
• 2003: A new project began, focusing on Florida's traditional music and stories. They even produced music CDs!
• 2011: The program changed its name again to the Florida Memory Program. The website got a big update, making it easier to use. They also added lots of videos and audio recordings.
• 2015: Florida Memory launched an online radio station where you could listen to historical recordings. This innovative idea won an award!

What You Can Find on Florida Memory

Florida Memory is packed with amazing historical items from all over Florida. It's like a treasure chest of the past!

• Photos: There are over 200,000 digital photos! These pictures show what Florida looked like long ago. They are free for anyone to use.
• Audio Recordings: You can listen to hundreds of old sound recordings. These include interviews, field recordings, and performances from the Florida Folk Festival. Some go all the way back to 1954!
• Videos: There are hundreds of digitized videos. These clips show life in Florida from 1916 through the 1980s.
• Historical Documents: You can explore over 300,000 historical documents. These include old government records, family letters, maps, diaries, and land records. They tell stories about people's lives and important events in Florida.