Archives and Collections
Whether you want to learn about your home, research a topic for a book, explore information on the City's founders, or just spend some time immersed in St. Pete History, our archival library is the place for you!
As the chief repository for the City of St. Petersburg, our archival library has an extensive collection of photographs, maps, historical documents, and ephemera highlighting St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and Florida history. Our archives is currently open by appointment only.
- Archives Hours: Appointment only
- Archives Admission: Members: FREE, Non-members: $15, Students (w/ ID): $9
St. Petersburg Museum of History Members are admitted free to the archives. Not a Member? Click here to become a Member today!
The Museum also houses family and civic group collections including:
- John C. Blocker
- William L. Straub
- Mary Wheeler Eaton
- Lynn Freidt
- Norman E. Jones
- Scott Taylor Hartzel
- Women’s Town Improvement Association
- John Bethel
- John Williams
- The W.F. Smith Civil War Collection
- Hubert Rutland
- Kids and Kubs
- The Margaret Blocker Bartlett Papers
Archives Research:
Since 1922, the St. Petersburg Museum of History has been collecting both rare and common materials relating to life in Florida, specifically St. Petersburg and the Pinellas peninsula. Today, the Collections contain over 40,000 objects and the Archives is comprised of over 25,000 photographs, books, maps, and other ephemera. The following resources are just an example of those available to the general public:
- Historic Photo Library
- City Directories (1908-1993)
- Sanborn Insurance Maps (1918, 1923-1936,1923-1951, 1952-1957)
- Subdivision Maps (1940s-1970s)
- Family History Collections
Staff-Assisted Research
Archives admission allows entry to the Archival Library, as well as limited direction/assistance from a staff member.
Staff-Performed Research
Research can be performed by a staff member for the fee of $25/hr for non-Museum members and $10/hr for Museum members and students. These fees apply to in-person research which requires the staff member’s dedicated attention.
To make a research request, please contact Jessy Breckenridge by email at jessica@spmoh.org or by phone at (727) 894-1052 ext. 202, or completing the form by clicking the button below.
Photo Reproduction: Copies of photographic or archival materials are available. Please see our Research & Reproduction Fee List for more information.
Donate to the Museum's Collection & Archives
Collecting Interests
The Museum seeks to collect items relating the history of St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay region, and Florida. We are looking for photographs, maps, documents, objects, artifacts and family history documents.
The Museum seeks to be inclusive in its collecting practices, acquiring artifacts that represent all groups of people that have lived or worked in Florida, or had other connections to the region. Common, everyday items are collected, as well as rare, valuable items. While the Museum prefers items with a documented Florida connection, this is a guideline, not a restraint. The Museum will also consider the donation of an artifact that is typical of an item used within the state, especially if the artifact is in prime condition.
Wish List
While all historic donations are desired and valued, the Museum is currently interested in any objects, photographs, or documents relating to everyday life, important figures and organizations, significant events, oral histories, and more relating to the following subjects:
- Pre-Columbian History
- Spanish Colonial Florida
- Black History
- Women’s History
- LGBTQIA
- General St. Pete History in the 1980s – 2010s
How to Donate
Any objects, photographs, and/or documents can be accepted at the Front Desk during the Museum’s operating hours. The Museum also accepts donations through the mail and can be picked up on certain occasions.
All shipped donations should be addressed as follows:
ATTN: Jessy Breckenridge
St. Petersburg Museum of History
335 2nd Ave NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Any object donated to the Museum is evaluated by the Archives & Collections Manager based on the object’s condition and its relevance to the Museum’s mission. If it is accepted, it will be cataloged and placed in protected storage. Ideally, this object will be suitable for a future exhibit, but that is not always the case. The uses historic donations to enrich exhibits.
Should the donated object be denied or otherwise removed from the collection, it could be submitted for public sale. Any proceeds from this auction will benefit the Museum and its Archives and Collections.
In accordance with the Museum’s Code of Ethics and the Tax Reform Act of 1984, the Museum does not perform appraisals, nor can it authenticate cultural or natural history artifacts. Both of these policies are in place to prevent conflicts of interest, and to ensure that all donations are accepted for the sole purpose of enriching the cultural and historical education of St. Petersburg and Florida.
During an appointment focused on researching your historic home or property at the Archives, we will pull historic property records, locate the property on Sanborn maps, if possible, and build a timeline of ownership using our collection of City Directories. Any objects, documents, or photographs relating to your property will be made available for you to view. During your appointment, you will also have access to newspapers.com and other databases. A staff member will assist and guide you in your research. To make an appointment, please email Jessy Breckenridge at jessica@spmoh.org or call (727) 894-1052 ext. 202, or, you can fill out the form below.
While it is possible that the Archives may contain blueprints, photographs, or other documents relating to your home, it is not guaranteed. As the collection is donation-based, these kinds of documents can be rare. It is more likely that you will find photographs of people or businesses than residences. It is recommended that research into historic homes centers around past residents; photos of these residents may contain glimpses of these homes which may have been previously overlooked.
Once again, we are always looking for historic home photos, neighborhood sales pieces, maps and or any other documents that can help share the history of St. Petersburg.
