The Online Catalog allows searching and browsing of information about the Florida State Archives’ holdings of over 48,000 cubic feet of state and local government records and historical manuscripts. The catalog provides descriptions of over 3,400 collections and lists the contents of containers and folders in many of those collections. For assistance with accessing and using State Archives collections, call our Reference Staff at 850.245.6719 or email us at archives@dos.myflorida.com.
Florida. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Title, Dates:
Commissioner of Agriculture Doyle Conner photographic files, 1960-1989.
Amount:
2.25 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
Arranged by subject.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
Born in Starke, Florida on 17 December 1928, Doyle Conner's service in Florida government began in 1950 when he was elected to Florida's House of Representatives. At that time, Conner was a sophomore at the University of Florida working towards his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. Before completion of his degree, Conner was re-elected for a second term to the House of Representatives. In 1956, Conner was named Speaker of the House, the youngest person to ever serve in that capacity. He was first elected Commissioner of Agriculture in 1960, and was re-elected commissioner for the next seven elections. Conner retired from that office in 1990. The Office of Commissioner of Agriculture began with the 1868 state constitution, which created the governor-appointed Commissioner of Immigration, charged with -- among other duties -- overseeing Florida's agriculture. The 1885 state constitution replaced that office with the Commissioner of Agriculture, and made it an elected cabinet post. In 1923, Nathan Mayo became Commissioner, and served for 37 years, becoming Florida's longest-serving office holder. Mayo died in office on 14 April 1960. At the next election, Conner was elected Commissioner, and served for thirty years. During that time, the Agricultural Department became Florida's largest department. Beginning in 1960, several state governmental boards, such as the State Plant Board and the State Livestock Board, were abolished and their duties transferred to the Dept. of Agriculture. With the 1969 Executive Re-organization Act, the Division of Consumer Services was transferred to the department, which was now known as the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The duties of the Commissioner Agriculture between 1960 and 1989, as mandated by the State Constitution in Article IV, Section 4 and Florida Statute 570, included supervision of eleven divisions: Plant Industry, Animal Industry, Administration, Dairy Industry, Chemistry, Inspection, Citrus and Vegetable Inspection, Standards, Forestry, Consumer Services and Marketing. In addition, the Commissioner was the liaison on agricultural matters between Florida and other states, the Federal government, and foreign nations. The Commissioner also sat on the Executive Cabinet.
Summary:
This series consists of photographs maintained by Commissioner of Agriculture Doyle Conner that document a few of the public events that Doyle Conner attended, including the US Trade Fair in Japan, NASDA Task Force Meeting in San Marcos de Apalachee State Park, St. Lucie County Fair, Florida Citrus Mutual, Withlacoochee State Forest, FFA meetings, and various dedications and dinners. There are also photographs from Conner's 1961 inauguration. Other subjects include First Lady Rosalyn Carter, Governor George Wallace, entertainer Jerry Clower, and various publicty shots of Conner. There are also photographs from a Forestry Service gathering from 1961 in Live Oak featuring Governor Farris Bryant and Senator Spessard Holland.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available.
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Conner, Doyle, 1928- Holland, Spessard L. 1892-1971 (Spessard Lindsey), Bryant, Farris, 1914-
Agriculture Florida Fairs.
Photographs. aat Slides. aat
Live Oak (Fla.) St. Marks (Fla.) Tallahassee (Fla.) Withlacoochee River (Fla.)
for detailed listing.