Governor’s House Library

Governor’s House Library is managed jointly by UF Historic St. Augustine, Inc., and the UF George A. Smathers Libraries with the mission of preserving and providing access to the historical resources that enhance our understanding and appreciation of St. Augustine’s built heritage. Primarily created by a defunct state agency, the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board, the collections in the Governor’s House Library document the city’s built environment and provide invaluable historical information about the city and its inhabitants through time.

Temporary Exhibit | May 2024 – today

Pics: Photographs from UFHSA Governor’s House Library

Please join us for our newest exhibit “Pics: Photographs from UFHSA Governor’s House Library” at Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum! Staff members volunteered to select from our collection of nearly 28,000 print photographs, negatives, and slides. Each accompanying their picks with a written statement explaining their connections to ideas and places in the images. “Pics” opens in conjunction with the St. Augustine History Festival (May 8-12, 2024).

An exhibit poster for "PICS: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM UFHSA LIBRARY" at Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum.

Source: The Magazine of the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries

Zora Neale Hurston in St. Augustine: A Collaboration Between Libraries, Museums, and Theatre

Celebrated Black writer, anthropologist, and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston visited St. Augustine, Florida, several times over the course of her life, most memorably in 1927 and 1942. This article highlights the cross-institutional and cross-community effort to tell the story of this lesser-known part of Hurston’s life and career that emerged between St. Augustine and Gainesville.

A black and white photograph of Zora Neale Hurston wearing a hat and a beaded necklace.