The Currie B. and Lavinia Sparkman Witt Research Center is located on the second floor of the History Center. The Research Center focuses on Florida history and features a diverse collection of books, maps, periodicals, microfilm, photographs, subject files and family histories. In addition to this collection, several computers, a copier and a scanner are available to assist visitors in meeting their research needs.
The Witt Research Center provides a comprehensive collection of regional and state subject resources including:
- historical census records
- newspapers and periodicals featuring catalogs and indexes
- private papers such as personal journals and manuscripts
- biographical resources
- Hillsborough County church and cemetery records
- subject and family files directed towards regional interest
- contemporary and rare books relating to Florida
The Research Center is the result of a partnership between the History Center and the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. The goal of this partnership is to add the collection of the Witt Research Center to the public library system's online catalog and to encourage visitation to the Center.
The Witt Research Center's hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., with Saturdays by appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact librarian David Parsons at 813.675.8969 or email at dparsons@tampabayhistorycenter.org.
Donations:
Most of the holdings in the collection have been donated by individuals and organizations. If you have a photograph, postcard, or other photographic image that depicts any facet of this region's history, please contact our Saunders Foundation Curator of History, Rodney Kite-Powell, at rkp@tampabayhistorycenter.org.