Charleton W. Tebeau was an American writer and historian whose life work focused on Florida. Born in Springfield Georgia, he later moved to Miami and worked at the University of Miami for 37 years. He then helped found the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and served as editor of its paper, Tequesta. He is also known for his most famous book, A History of Florida, a comprehensive compilation of Florida's eclectic history, which he published in 1971.
His collection consists of correspondence, Tequesta writings, diaries, audio-visual materials, research files, and other documents compiled by Charleton Tebeau.
The Finlay B. Matheson collection includes more than 2,411 photographs; 112 maps, surveys, and architectural plans; and 13 books related to William John Matheson and his immediate family. Estate documents and other documents containing historical and biographical information pertaining to the Matheson family and their various business ventures can also be found within this collection, as well as drawings, postcards, and some of the first aerial view photographs of Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, the Miami River, and the Florida Keys. Florida's landscape during the early 20th century is captured throughout the various albums and scrapbooks and attests to a more leisurely lifestyle before the advent of skyscrapers and multi-lane highways. Furthermore, the collection provides an in-depth glimpse into the burgeoning social life of early inhabitants who gathered at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club.
