FYI regarding the governor's proposal to do way with the state archives and museum. This was passed on to me by a colleague at another museum.  -Paul

>> >-----------------------------------------------------------

> >Date:    Tue, 28 Jan 2003 14:40:22 -0500
> >From:    "David F. Herr, St. Andrews Presbyterian College"
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Florida Politics and History

> >Subject: Florida Politics and History
> >From: Dr. James V. Holton

> >Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Scholars:

> >A recent and drastic turn of events  threatens to undermine decades of historical collections as well as the future of history in the state of Florida.

> >This past November, Florida voters approved Amendment Nine, the so-called "Class-Size Amendment" mandating smaller classes in Florida public schools. Incumbent Governor Jeb Bush opposed the amendment. At one point during the election campaign, Gov. Bush was recorded telling Republican supporters he had "devious plans" to circumvent the Amendment if approved. Gov. Bush has been working to decimate the state's social programs even while he reduces taxes.

> >Earlier this week, Gov. Bush proposed a budget that would dismantle the State Library, Archives, and Museum and disperse the collections to other bureaus of the state. This move would set back five decades or organized historical collection in this state. Some people have called Florida the "state without history," and Gov. Bush is working to make that happen.

> >Anyone who does historical research in Florida would be affected--preservationists, amateur and professional historians, museums, schools and county governments. Historical collections would be dispersed and decentralized to either the  Department of Environmental  Protection, or to the Department of  Management Services. Such a move would cripple public access since none of these agencies have the necessary archival or library experience to handle such collections.  More than 1 million documents and 250,000 historical artifacts are at stake. Over 200 librarians and archivists would be out of work, the state robbed of their collective knowledge.

> >State newspapers are condemning this proposed wasting of the state's historical patrimony. Florida State University, a proposed recipient for the State Library, has already voiced its opposition to the plan.  Within the historical profession, opposition to Gov. Bush's proposal is coalescing fast. Florida's history predates any of the traditionally regarded American colonies. The State Library, Archives and Museum have been at the forefront of preserving this vital link to our past. Floridians' sense of collective identity is threatened by Gov. Bush's move.

> >Anyone interested in defending historical research and enlightenment in Florida is urged to participate in order to stop Bush's political vindictiveness For more information, see:

http://www.libraryplanet.com/edit/mt/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=2041

> >Information about reaching Florida's legislators can be obtained through links at:

www.leg.state.fl.us/welcome/index.cfm

...Dr. James V. Holton
Assistant Professor of History
Warner Southern College
Lake Wales, Florida
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Paul Ramey
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
SW 34th Street and Hull Road
PO Box 112710
Gainesville, FL  32611-2710

(352) 846-2000, ext. 218
fax: (352) 846-0253
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www.flmnh.ufl.edu



Department of Anthropology
Florida State University
1847 W. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32304


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