Ralph Middleton Munroe (1851-1933) settled in Florida in 1891, drawn by its lush tropical landscapes and beautiful seashores. An avid yachtsman and photographer, the Commodore traveled the South Florida coast capturing images of its pristine wilderness and the early inhabitants. Munroe’s photographs provide a unique visual record of South Florida history before its rapid urbanization. The Ralph M. Munroe Family Papers contain a rich assortment of photographs, albums, postcards, correspondence, clippings and manuscripts that document the frontier life in Coconut Grove.
The contents of the most recent donation in spring of 2025 (Boxes 73-76) can be found in the attached pdf document.
The collection documents the civic and social activities of the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove - formerly called the Housekeepers' Club. The records include minutes, committee and financial reports as well as membership files, scrapbooks, narratives, publications, photographs and architectural plans. The topical files contain information about the history and development of Coconut Grove depicted with maps, event flyers, local organization by-laws, newspaper clippings and local publications.
The Latin American and Caribbean photograph collection brings together various photographic materials owned by the University of Miami that depict these two regions. Currently, the collection holds a 1929 photograph album of the Bahamas made by Dr. and Adelande Dolley; a 1913 photograph album of Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica; a two-volume photograph album set of the Roxana Petroleum Corporation's activities in Mexico, dated 1920-1923; a set of 88 photographs of various parts of the Dominican Republic; and a collection of 739 photographs (most of which are in two photograph albums) from 1925 to the 1940s documenting the family and social life of Mr. & Mrs. E. W. Monroe and their three children while living in suburban Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1925 to 1929, and subsequently back at the family homestead in Monticello, Indiana.
The Bob Simms collection documents the life and activities of Robert H. Simms in the black communities in Coconut Grove and Miami and reflects his work with the Community Relations Board and the Defense Race Relations Institute. The collection also contains campaign materials from Leah Simms, the first African American female judge in the state of Florida, and the "Glory in the Grove" photographs of people and events at the George Washington Carver elementary and high schools in Coconut Grove before desegregation. A final component of the collection includes photographs, correspondence and clippings of General "Chappie" James and his family. General James was the first four star African American General and married Dorothy Watkins.
Research material from noted author and historian, Arva Moore Parks McCabe (1939-2020). Born in Miami, Florida, Arva had written countless books on Florida's eclectic history, including The Forgotten Frontier: Florida through the Lens of Ralph Middleton Munroe, Miami, the Magic City, and George Merrick, Son of the South Wind: Visionary Creator of Coral Gables. She also served as chief curator, interim director, and chair of the Coral Gables Museum.
This collection focuses heavily on George E. Merrick, Coral Gables, and other research topics used in her writings. It also features a large assortment of archival material: booklets, books, magazines, posters, photographs, negatives, pamphlets, postcards, maps, ephemera, newspapers, and guides about Miami and other notable cities and famous people related to South Florida.
This collection contains scrapbooks, postcards, brochures, travel itineraries, and other promotional materials related to the cruising industry operating out of Miami, Florida as collected and compiled by Russell F. Nansen, a travel executive and consultant who worked for Royal Caribbean Cruises for 21 years.
This collection contains periodicals, memorabilia, correspondence, ephemera, promotional materials, event programs, booklets, reports, photographs, scrapbooks, music sheets, realia, vinyl records, and other materials documenting South Florida history. Most of the materials pertain in particular to Miami Beach and notable figures to its history, such as Hy Gardner, Paul M. Bruun, Albert Pick, and former Miami Beach mayors Kenneth Oka and Herbert Frink. The collection also features photographs and materials from past beauty pageants held in Miami Beach.
Gareth and Janet Dunleavy were historians of Irish literature and culture. The Gareth and Janet Dunleavy Collection was donated by Gareth and Janet Dunleavy in memory of Bernard Benstock, a colleague who served the University of Miami in many capacities.
The collection contains typescripts and articles by Gareth and Janet Dunleavy, as well as research materials for projects by both authors. Prominently featured are research materials on Mary Lavin, an Irish short story and novella writer who died in 1996. Of special interest among these research materials are copies of Lavin's working manuscripts, obtained by Professor Janet Dunleavy in the 1970s with the permission of Mary Lavin. Janet Dunleavy had planned a critical study of Lavin's work based on these materials, but had abandoned the idea. The collection also contains notes, letters, and other documents assembled during Gareth and Janet Dunleavy's preparation of their Douglas Hyde: A Maker of Modern Ireland (1991) and O'Connor Papers (1977).
Architectural blueprints, floorplans, drawings, and renderings of Henry Melich's residential and commercial projects in the Bahamas in 35mm slides and negative slide cards
The Papers consist primarily of typescripts, correspondence, photographs, diaries, scrapbooks, clippings and other primary source materials documenting the life and career of Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
This collection features an array of scrapbooks, many of which are homemade, from the 19th and 20th centuries. Subjects covered in these scrapbooks include fashion, advertising, history, Robert Louis Stevenson, Pat Cannon's congressional run, garden clubs, cruises, and more. These scrapbooks are comprised of portraits, photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, programs, brochures, maps, drawings, telegrams, and more. Some of the creators are unknowns or names without renown, but these scrapbooks highlight their personal tastes and interests, offering some unique insight into their lives.
This collection contains annual reports, memorabilia, news articles, reports, certificates, meeting minutes, photographs, legislative documents, signs, and materials from the Undergraduate Student Body Government (USBG), which had been collected and maintained by the former Vice President for Student Affairs of University of Miami, William R. Butler. This collection also contains the series of interviews, captured on VHS and U-matic, that he conducted while working at University of Miami.
The Band of the Hour collection contains photograph albums, photographs, programs, certificates, sheet music, cards, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, plaque, posters, and other ephemera pertaining to University of Miami Frost School of Music's Band of the Hour.
The Lincoln Díaz-Balart Papers document the professional and personal activities of Lincoln Díaz-Balart in his capacity as U.S. Representative for Florida's 21st congressional district and as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. Materials in the collection include personal and legislative correspondence on issues such as education, the environment, federal and state budgets, human rights in Cuba, and immigration; and official documents on issues of immigration, international trade, Latin America and Cuba. The collection also contains press releases, audiovisual materials, photographs and clippings collected by Díaz-Balart.
Original order was retained, with papers arranged in two series: Florida House and Senate and United States Congress.
The bulk of this collection consists of photographs taken and developed by W.R. Peters between 1942 and 1955 while working for Pan Am. It also includes: a Miami and Latin American Division pilot and cabin service personnel directory, a pilot seniority list, a grievance conciliation and agreement list, and some photographs that were not taken by Mr. Peters that were acquired at antique stores.
The collection candidly depicts the working lives of Pan Am flight attendants and pilots, including excellent images of insignia, aircraft, and architecture. Photographs not by Peters include images taken during the 747SP “New Horizons” speed record breaking around the world flight in 1977, the Orange Bowl Parade, and flight attendant class photos from the 36th Street flight academy.
This collection includes documents, photographs, correspondence, clippings and other materials related to Toomey's employment with the New York, Rio and Buenos Aires Airline, Panair do Brasil, and Pan American World Airways from 1929-1961.
This collection consists of the papers of Althea “Gerry” Lister from 1935 to 1997. It contains: biographical information pertaining to Lister’s 45 year career at Pan American World Airways; “Along Air Avenues,” an unpublished manuscript that provides a detailed account of Pan Am’s maintenance and safety operations; a list of survey and inaugural flights created by Lister; a list of McCoy print purchasers and prices created by Lister; and a chronology of Pan Am’s aircraft fleet created by Lister. The papers include certificates, correspondence, photographs, and press clippings.
