LAC>>Rare Books and Manuscripts
Outside of the Latin American Collection, the Department of Special Collections contains a number of rare books and manuscripts related to Latin America. The Special Collections are accessed through the Special Collections Research Room on the second floor of Smathers Library. Because these materials do not circulate, patrons must use them in the Research Room. Patrons are encouraged to call, write, or e-mail in advance of their visit.
The P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History contains over 2.5 million pages of Spanish Florida archival materials, gathered from years of microfilming in Spain's Archivo General de Indias. The archival calendars of the Spanish Borderlands Collection are available online.
The Manuscript Collection curates the Rochambeau and Jeremie papers on colonial Haiti, and the Braga Brothers Sugar Collection, one of the premier archival sources on the development of the Cuban sugar industry, comprising over 1.2 million business and social history documents from the late 19th century and the 20th century.
The Rare Books Collection holds many unique and scarce Latin American imprints, with notable Cuban holdings.
Documents relating to the history of Latin American Studies at UF are kept in the University Archives. These include the papers of distinguished faculty members, such as those of the late Dr. Charles Wagley, as well as institutional documents.
Outside the Department of Special Collections, the Libraries' Map Collection includes historic maps of Latin America, a sampling of which may be viewed online. Also, the Florida Museum of Natural History has extensive holdings of Pre-Columbian and early colonial artifacts from circum-Caribbean archaeological sites. Some of those holdings may also be viewed online.
