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Record Group Number: 900000
Series/Collection Number: M86- 11
Creator: Florida Education Association.
Title, Dates: Florida Education Association records, 1886-1986, bulk 1940s-1970s.
Amount: 102.25 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement: Organized into the following sub-series:
A) Executive Secretary
B) Board of Directors
C) Departments and Sections
D) Assistant Executive Secretary
E) Communications Division
F) Administrative Office
H) Meetings
I) Committees and Councils
J) Presidents
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:     The Florida Education Association (FEA) organized in 1886 as the Florida State Teachers Association (FSTA). In 1904, the FSTA was renamed the Florida Education Association and the Black teachers' association became the Florida State Teachers Association. The organizational structure included departments, which consisted of groups of members with mutual professional interests, and sections devoted to more specific interests.

    In 1966, Florida Education Association merged with the Florida State Teachers Association in the interests of integration. Perhaps the best-known activity of FEA was its leadership role in the teachers' walkout of 1967-1968, organized after the Florida Governor and Legislature allegedly failed to provide enough money for school funding.

    In 1975, the FEA merged with the Florida chapter of the American Federation of Teachers to create FEA/United, which has diverged from the original intent of FEA. The new body is a union, while the former organization was a professional association. After complex struggles with the National Education Association over this change, the Florida Education Association became independent from the national organization.

Summary:     This collection documents the activities and operations of the Florida Education Association during a century of its existence. The records reflect both the organizational units and the functions of the FEA, as well as the administrative activities and functions of the various units. The earliest records of Florida Education Association are contained in the Board of Directors Minutes. There is a gap in the records from 1904 to 1922. The bulk of the collection dates from the 1940s to the 1970s.

    Notable within this collection are the files of FEA President Jane Arnold (1968-1969), who became president in the aftermath of Florida's divisive teacher walkout (mass resignations) of February 1968. Arnold's files include an autographed photograph of Governor Claude Kirk meeting with four FEA officers. The collection also contains video materials, including a 1968 film titled "You Are Not Alone," a speech by FEA Executive Secretary Phil Constans offering encouragement to teachers during the conflict.

Finding Aids: Folder listing available. 0
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Associated Materials: For more materials related to the Florida State Teachers Association, see the "Leedell Neyland and Gilbert Porter - Florida State Teachers Association Collection" at the Meek Eaton Black Archives, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields: Florida State Teachers Association.
Education Florida
Education Finance Florida
Education--Florida--Teachers
Labor disputes.
School budgets Florida
Schools Florida
Teachers Florida
Teachers' unions.
Minutes. aat
Photographs. aat
Speeches. aat
Clippings. aat
Motion pictures. aat
Video recordings. aat
Added Entries