Drawings, plans, photographs, writing

This collection contains correspondence from the Barnott family, primarily letters to and from Mary A. Barnott, the wife of Edward Barnott. The two of them were early settlers of the Biscayne Bay area in the 1870s, and the family's letters document much of the day-to-day affairs of life in Miami at the turn of the 20th century. They were also close friends with William H. Gleason, the founder of the Biscayne community, and his family, all of whose correspondence with the Barnotts can be found in this collection. Furthermore, the collection contains other archival materials, such as clippings, notes, old checks, and advertisements.

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.