The following collections have been selected as primary source collections that may be of interest to students who have majors related to Integrated Studies. Please note, University Archives and Special Collections offer a whole plethora of collections that can be used for research projects or assignments.
Americana CollectionThe Americana Collection contains photographs, letters, and correspondence that are associated with the culture and history of the United States. Notable figures include John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles.
American Association of University Women CollectionAmerican Association of University Women has been empowering women as individuals and as a community since 1881. The AAUW record group is a growing collection, with more branches of AAUW throughout Florida that will be added. Each collection within this record group is named after the branch it is from, with the following series detailing documents, images, and ephemera related to the series.
America in the Depression Years CollectionConsisting of 450 photo slides, the images in the collection were chosen from the Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information Collections in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Photographed between 1935 and 1943, the original educational slide set was produced in 1979. The images encompass the entirety of the continental United States with five photographs taken in Florida. Work camps, homeless populations, ghost towns, Japanese Internment Camps, and agricultural communities are only some of the subjects that are the focus of the collection.
Aquila: The FGCU Student Research JournalAquila: The FGCU Student Research Journal publishes exceptional student scholarships from all academic disciplines and levels of study at Florida Gulf Coast University. The journal is published each year and contains research from students across many different disciplines.
Doug MacGregor's Southwest Florida Cartoon CollectionDoug MacGregor has been a cartoonist for over 40 years and has created cartoons for the Fort Myers News-Press from 1988 - 2011. The collection contains sketches spanning MacGregor's career with the Fort Myers News-Press.
Floridiana CollectionMaterials included in the Floridiana collection include maps, postcards, and publications (1730-1970) pertaining to the development of Florida, government ordinances, and government reports relating to Florida.
An oral history interview is a type of historical research that takes place through a recorded interview between a narrator and a historian. Our oral history collections provide first-hand experience of events and life in Southwest Florida. We also have oral histories that specifically document the history of Florida Gulf Coast University.
The collection covers various racial and social justice movements that span from the late 1800s to the present related to women and gender issues, Civil Rights, LGBTQIA+, immigration, American labor, and radical movements. Please note that language is a constantly evolving construct, so keywords subject headings attributed to materials may be considered unacceptable by contemporary and future standards and social norms. Our intent is to preserve the historical record which may include harmful language when viewed through a 21st-century lens. Modifying, the language would be an act of erasure of the creators’ lived experience.
The University Archives and Special Collections holds a large, permanent body of more than a thousand rare books that represent different collections within the archives from 1555 to the present.
Student Research PostersThe collection covers Undergraduate Student Research with support from professors and mentors, that range from 2016 to the present day during FGCU Research Days, STEM Undergraduate Research Symposiums, Showcase of Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE), etc. Undergraduate research has proven to be instrumental in engaging students helping to provide direct and marketable experience in the students' chosen disciplines, increasing knowledge and the desire for knowledge, and enhancing career development.
Turner 1920's Land Boom CollectionThe Land Boom in the 1920s changed the landscape of Florida, causing the population to rise and the Florida economy to boom, helping to create the Florida that is today. The Turner 1920s Florida Land Boom collection consists of publications, advertisements, photographs, and research done by Gregg M. Turner.
Turner Railroad CollectionIn the fall of 2014, scholar Gregg M. Turner gifted Florida Gulf Coast University with an extensive collection of east coast railroad history. Turner is considered one of the foremost authorities of Florida railroads. The collection consists of bonds, publications, advertisements, photographs, and administrative material dating back to 1830 that Turner used to meticulously research and illustrate four books on the history of railroads in the Sunshine State.
Uncommon Friends CollectionThe Uncommon Friends Foundation is dedicated to lifelong character building among today's youth and business leaders, and the historic preservation of the papers, photographs, and artifacts of James D. Newton, entrepreneur and author of Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel, and Charles Lindbergh. In 2012, the Uncommon Friends Foundation and Florida Gulf Coast University Library partnered to digitally preserve and provide public access to this captivating collection of materials.
The FGCU University Archives documents the history and culture of FGCU, its students, and the wider community. In the University Archives, researchers can find information on the establishment of the university and collections related to the President's Office, Athletics, Student Organizations, and departments across campus.
Upper Captiva Project CollectionThe Upper Captiva Project preserves and shares the history of the Upper Captiva community on the island of North Captiva, a bridgeless, barrier island off the coast of Southwest Florida. The collection includes materials, such as the Upper Captiva Fire & Rescue District Records, Upper Captiva Civic Association Newsletters, newspaper clippings, personal papers, and oral histories generously provided by current and former residents of Upper Captiva.
Zine CollectionZines, derived from magazines, are alternative publications constructed using inexpensive, easily accessible materials. Zines, as a genre, have historically been used by political, social, and counterculture movements to easily and inexpensively proliferate information. The collection has a strong focus on sexual assault, women's studies, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Note that language is a constantly evolving construct and therefore the tags, keywords, and subject headings attributed to the zines may be considered unacceptable by contemporary and future standards as well as social norms. The archives intent is to preserve the historical record which may include harmful language when viewed through a 21st century lens. To modify the language would be an act of erasure of the lived experience of the creator.
Sanibel Island Collection