The Florida Historical Quarterly facts for kids

The Florida Historical Quarterly is a special magazine about history. It comes out four times a year. The Florida Historical Society publishes it. This magazine is like a record book for Florida's history. Its main office is at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.

The Story of the Florida Historical Quarterly

The Florida Historical Society started on November 26, 1902. It was officially recognized three years later. This society took over from an older group formed in 1856. The society had two main goals. First, they wanted to gather and keep all materials about Florida's history. Second, they aimed to write and publish articles, stories, and books about Florida.

To achieve their second goal, the society began publishing Publications of the Florida Historical Society. This first magazine came out in April 1908. It was the very first version of what we now call The Florida Historical Quarterly.

Back then, the society needed money to keep going. Members paid five dollars each year. But it was sometimes hard to collect these dues. In 1908, President F.P. Fleming asked members to pay on time. He said it would help those who worked for the society without pay.

About the Florida Historical Society

The Florida Historical Society has grown a lot since its early days. It started in a room at the Jacksonville Public Library. Now, it is in a renovated U.S. Post Office in Cocoa, Florida. The society's goals have also grown. Today, it works to save Florida's past. It does this by collecting old items and keeping them safe. It also supports research and publishes historical works. The society helps teach the public about history and works with young people.

How the Quarterly Magazine Has Changed

The Florida Historical Quarterly has changed over time too. Professor Samuel Proctor edited the magazine for almost 30 years. He worked from his office at the University of Florida. He was the editor from 1964 to 1993. Then, Professor George E. Pozzetta took over at the University of South Florida. But Professor Pozzetta sadly passed away less than two years later. So, Professor Proctor came back as editor for a short time.

In late 1995, Professor Jerrell Schofner became the temporary editor. He helped the Florida Historical Society and the University of Central Florida work together. The next year, Professor Kari Fredrickson became the editor for four years. She was interested in social history. This helped the magazine cover more kinds of history. It made the journal even stronger.

In 2000, Craig Thompson Friend became the editor. He added a new section called the "Florida Room." Many Floridians have enclosed patios called Florida Rooms. They use these rooms to relax and talk with friends. The magazine's "Florida Room" section is similar. It has informal essays to help readers connect with new things happening in the region.

Since 2005, Connie L. Lester has been the editor. She is an Associate Professor in History. In 2011, Daniel Murphree joined as an assistant editor. He is also an Associate Professor in History.

The magazine comes out four times each year. It helps people learn about Florida's past. It covers the people, places, and many different parts of Florida's history. Experts review the articles before they are published. This makes sure the information is correct.

The magazine has also moved into the digital world. It has a podcast for each issue. The podcast features interviews with the authors. The website will also show images and interactive research. You can find old issues of the journal online. They are available through JSTOR and the Publication of Archival, Library & Museum Materials (PALMM). The magazine also has a digital editor. This person helps use the journal itself to understand new ways of studying history.

Throughout its history, the Florida Historical Quarterly has been very important. It helps the Florida Historical Society share historical research. Dr. John B. Boles, who edits the Journal of Southern History, has praised the Florida Historical Quarterly many times. He called it "one of the three best state journals published in the South." He also said it was "one of the very best of its kind published in the nation." He noted that the articles are "well-chosen, skillfully edited, [and] reflect the highest academic standards."