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Record Group Number: 000402
Series/Collection Number: .S 253
Creator: Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education.
Title, Dates: Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian correspondence and reference files, 1968-1970.
Amount: 13 cubic ft.
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Organization/Arrangement: Arranged by record type and then alphabetical by subject.
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Biographical/Historical:     The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction was created by the 1868 Constitution. In the 1885 Constitution, the Superintendent became an elected official. The Superintendent headed the Department of Public Instruction (1869-1938) and its successor the State Department of Education (1939-1968). Under the 1968 Constitution, the office name changed to Commissioner of Education and the position became one of the elected Cabinet posts. The Commissioner heads the Department of Education and serves as chief state school officer for Florida.

    Floyd Thomas Christian (1914-1998) was born in Bessemer, Alabama, and moved to Florida with his family in 1927. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1933, received an A.B. degree from the University of Florida in 1937, and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Florida in 1950. In 1948, he won the election for Superintendent of Public Instruction for Pinellas County. He remained in that position until his appointment as State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1965. With the Governmental Reorganization Act in 1969, Christian became the first Commissioner of Education and served in that capacity until 1974, when he resigned amid controversy.
Summary:     This series contains records documenting the various divisions, programs, operations, and activities of the Department of Education as administered by Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian. The records are divided into correspondence and reference files, although there is correspondence throughout the series. The types of records include correspondence with educators throughout Florida, members of the public, and members of the State Legislature; meeting minutes of departmental committees and advisory councils; inter-departmental communications; reports and proposals for state-wide educational programs and standards; and more.
Finding Aids: Folder listing available. 0
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Subject Access Fields: Education Administration. Florida
Education Standards Florida
Educational law and legislation Florida
School management and organization Florida
Schools Florida
Added Entries Florida. State Dept. of Education.