History of Jacksonville, FL: Books and eBooks

Almost Hollywood by Blair Miller (PRINT) Blair Miller tells the story of the motion picture industry as it developed in Jacksonville after the turn of the twentieth century. Almost Hollywood reveals the meteoric rise of Jacksonville in early silent films. Home to over thirty studios employing actors, directors, and stagehands, Jacksonville became touted as the "winter film capital of the world" by 1915. A myriad of factors contributed to Jacksonville's rise and then fall by the mid 1920s. What were the reasons why Jacksonville missed out as the next mecca for filmmaking? Blair Miller tells the story through primary sources from that remarkable period.

Historic Homes of Florida's First Coast by Mary Atwood; William Weeks; Wayne W. Wood (Foreword by) (PRINT) Some of the earliest European settlers colonized Northeast Florida when it was little more than a wilderness. Today, the area is rich in multicultural heritage and historic significance, and its historic homes stand as a testament to its intriguing past. Step inside a Second Spanish Period structure that was home to European royalty and visited by iconic film star Greta Garbo. Visit the places that inspired works such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's Pulitzer prize-winning novel The Yearling" and British composer Frederick Delius's masterpiece, "Florida Suite." Author and award-winning photographer Mary Atwood explores the homes of early colonial settlers, wealthy plantation owners, illustrious Florida artists and those responsible for shaping Florida's First Coast."

Historic Photos of Jacksonville by Carolyn Williams (PRINT) Historic Photos of Jacksonville captures the historical growth of this city in still photography from the top archives in the area. Stunning black and white pictures with most of the photographs never published before in this beautiful coffee table book. The book follows life, government, events and people important to Jacksonville history and the building of this unique late blooming city. Spanning over two centuries and two hundred photographs, this is a must have for any long-time resident or history lover of Jacksonville!

It Was Never about a Hotdog and a Coke by Rodney L. Hurst PRINT: On August 27, 1960, more than 200 whites with ax handles and baseball bats attacked members of the Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP in downtown Jacksonville who were sitting in at white lunch counters protesting racism and segregation. Referred to as Ax Handle Saturday, "It was never about a hot dog and a Coke" chronicles the racial and political climate of Jacksonville, Florida in the late fifties, the events leading up to that infamous day, and the aftermath.

Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage by Jacksonville Historical Landmarks Commission Staff (PRINT)

Legendary Locals of Jacksonville by Laura Jo Brunson; Kendall Brunson (PRINT) Since Europeans first settled along Jacksonville's riverbanks in the 16th century, the area has been a diverse community that thrives not only on commerce, music, and the arts but also on the advantages of a subtropical climate and waterside lifestyle. The city grew up around a crossing point for cattle in the St. Johns River and first became known as Cowford. The Great Fire of 1901 left 10,000 people homeless but not defeated. The ashes gave birth to a new era with strong architecture and a new resolve. Considered a friendly town for African Americans, Jacksonville was home to Harlem Renaissance artists as well as civil rights leaders. A bit laid back, the city has still managed to be on the cutting edge--it was the home of the Navy's Blue Angels as well as Southern rock and one of the country's first skateboard parks.

Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville by Dorothy K. Fletcher (PRINT) The city of Jacksonville has long enjoyed a wondrous array of restaurants with fine cuisine and unique atmospheres. Some of the greatest of those now exist only in memory. Le Chateau, with its elegant patio and seascapes, was a beacon of fine dining. The Rainbow Room at the George Washington Hotel offered a crowded dance floor with its dinner experience. The Green Derby was the hub of passion for fans of Florida and Georgia during one of the fiercest rivalries in college football. Join author Dorothy K. Fletcher as she recalls the history of the city's lost restaurants and reflects on a more gracious time in Jacksonville living.

The Mad Atlas of Virginia King by Tim Gilmore (PRINT) Virginia King wrote an 8,448 page book about her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, with a title nearly as long. She said her brother was dead. He said he'd never heard of her. She called the wealthiest people in the city "my little friends." THE MAD ATLAS OF VIRGINIA KING, which explores the life and psychology of this strange writer, is illustrated by her own photography, with meaningful musings by Hurley Winkler, and hand-drawn maps by Kiley Secrest.

Almost Hollywood by Blair Miller Blair Miller tells the story of the motion picture industry as it developed in Jacksonville after the turn of the twentieth century. Almost Hollywood reveals the meteoric rise of Jacksonville in early silent films. Home to over thirty studios employing actors, directors, and stagehands, Jacksonville became touted as the "winter film capital of the world" by 1915. A myriad of factors contributed to Jacksonville's rise and then fall by the mid 1920s. What were the reasons why Jacksonville missed out as the next mecca for filmmaking? Blair Miller tells the story through primary sources from that remarkable period.

Legendary Locals of Jacksonville by Laura Jo Brunson; Kendall Brunson Since Europeans first settled along Jacksonville's riverbanks in the 16th century, the area has been a diverse community that thrives not only on commerce, music, and the arts but also on the advantages of a subtropical climate and waterside lifestyle. The city grew up around a crossing point for cattle in the St. Johns River and first became known as Cowford. The Great Fire of 1901 left 10,000 people homeless but not defeated. The ashes gave birth to a new era with strong architecture and a new resolve. Considered a friendly town for African Americans, Jacksonville was home to Harlem Renaissance artists as well as civil rights leaders. A bit laid back, the city has still managed to be on the cutting edge--it was the home of the Navy's Blue Angels as well as Southern rock and one of the country's first skateboard parks.

Reclaiming Jacksonville by Ennis Davis; Robert Mann; Nomeus (Photographer); Daniel Herbin (Photographer); Gloria Devall (Foreword by) The city of Jacksonville has hundreds of buildings that have withstood the test of time. Yet these lasting landmarks tell only a portion of Jacksonville's history. Dozens of other buildings have been abandoned and left to wither, turning into shadows of their former grandeur. Each place has a rich and storied history that belies modern appearances, like the Annie Lytle Elementary School, now known as the most haunted landmark in the city, and the Jacksonville Brewing Company, which had to come up with a creative way to stay afloat (think ice cream) when Prohibition hit. Join local writers Ennis Davis and Robert Mann as they go behind the scenes of fourteen crumbling but ethereally beautiful structures to reveal their true pasts. Enhanced with stunning color photography, Reclaiming Jacksonville is a must-have for every resident of the River City.

Remembering Jacksonville by Dorothy K. Fletcher As longtime residents and newcomers alike can agree, Jacksonville holds within its city limits wonderful places to grow, play and contemplate the beauty of north Florida. This entertaining collection of Dorothy Fletcher's "By the Wayside"? columns will help you remember what it was like to see the world and Jacksonville with a sense of wonder and enthusiasm. From Marineland to the Soul Searchers to Peterson's 5 & 10, Remembering Jacksonville captures this coastal community's glory days, including fond recollections from local citizens who responded to the original columns.

Streetcars of Florida's First Coast by Robert W. Mann; Glorious J. Johnson (Foreword by) In the late 1800s, a new method to power streetcars ushered Florida's First Coast cities into the modern era. Earlier travelers moved around town on hay burners, but after the very first electric-powered trolley cruised up Jacksonville's Main Street in 1893, railways cropped up throughout the region. When the new railroad terminal opened in 1919, it handled millions of passengers, becoming the hub of the streetcar system and the largest railroad station in the South. With almost sixty miles of track, the Jacksonville Traction Company was the largest streetcar system in Florida. Award-winning author and historian Robert W. Mann chronicles the story behind Florida's bygone streetcar epoch and the dramatic history of city builders, financiers, organized labor, civil rights, fire, fever, nabobs and railway men.

To Render Invisible by Robert Cassanello Winner of the Florida Historical Society Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Award "Covering a compelling local history, deeply imbricated with state and national events, To Render Invisible brings together dramatic stories of continuity and change, of gender and race, and of respectability and resistance in a brisk narrative lucidly informed by social theory."--David Roediger, author of The Wages of Whiteness "Carefully develops an original argument drawing from several theoretical perspectives to make the claim that African Americans in Jacksonville were able to continue to struggle for justice and 'public space' even after a wave of white supremacy engulfed the city as well as the state."--Paul Ortiz, author of Emancipation Betrayed "Well written, clearly and logically organized, and built upon a foundation of deep research in primary sources, including newspapers, Freemen's bureau records, official documents and personal papers."--Louis Kyriakoudes, author of The Social Origins of the Urban South What defines a city's public space? Who designates such areas, who determines their uses, and who gets to use them? Robert Cassanello uses rough-and-tumble nineteenth-century Jacksonville as both backdrop and springboard to explore social transformation in Florida and the South. When free black men in the city were first given the right to vote, conservative lawmakers made concerted efforts to drive them out of white public spaces. They attempted to make the public sphere a white domain by rendering blacks voiceless--invisible--in the public square. In response, a black counterpublic developed, flourishing clandestinely at times and openly challenging racism in the public sphere at others. Fortified by the theories of Henri Lefebvre, David Harvey, and Jürgen Habermas, To Render Invisible is the first book to focus on the tumultuous emergence of African American public life in Jacksonville between Reconstruction and the 1920s. Robert Cassanello brings to light many of the reasons Jacksonville, like Birmingham, Alabama, and other cities throughout the South, continues to struggle with its contentious racial past.