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Record Group Number: 000150
Series/Collection Number: .S 2388
Creator: Florida. Dept. of State.
Title, Dates: Declaration of Intention Between the State of Florida and the Republic of France on the Shipwrecks of Jean Ribault's Fleet, 2018.
Amount: .25 cubic ft.
0.17 megabytes
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Biographical/Historical:       The Republic of France and the State of Florida, represented by Consul General of France in Miami Clement Leclerc and Secretary of State Ken Detzner, signed a Declaration of Intention outlining a historic partnership to research, protect and preserve the Trinite shipwreck located off the coast of Cape Canaveral in Florida. La Trinite was the flagship of French Explorer Captain Jean Ribault's fleet during his expedition to Florida in 1565.

      France established its first settlement in 1562, which failed, and its second settlement, Fort Caroline, in 1564. King Philip II of Spain sent Pedro Menendez de Aviles to Florida to establish Spain's presence and put an end to France's presence in Florida. Menendez arrived in 1565 and formally founded St. Augustine. Soon after, a conflict with Ribault ensued which ended in the wreck of Ribault's ship La Trinite during a storm and the overtaking of the French Fort Caroline by Menendez. This marked the end of French presence in Florida and solidified Spanish rule in Florida for almost 200 years.

      Under a federal court order and pursuant to the Sunken Military Craft Act, La Trinite is the property of the Republic of France, and they are the only entity able to authorize any recovery operations or activity associated with the site. The site is protected under Florida law and it is illegal to excavate and/or remove any material from the site.

      The Department of State was created in 1969 (Ch. 69-106, Laws). The Secretary of State is the head of the Department of State.  The Secretary of State keeps records of all official acts of the Legislature and the Executive Department.  The Secretary and the Department administer elections, public records, the Great Seal, and the Administrative Code; issue charters to corporations; and manage the state's library services, archives, cultural affairs, museum, and historic resources.  The Secretary is the Chief Cultural Officer and the Chief Protocol Officer of the State.

      The Division of Historical Resources was created in 1986 (Ch. 86-163, Laws), assuming some of the functions of the Division of Archives, History, and Records Management.  The Division is mandated to preserve and protect Florida's history.  The Division includes the Bureau of Historic Preservation, the Bureau of Archaeological Research, the Museum of Florida History, and the Florida Folklife programs.  The Bureaus of Historic Preservation and Archaeological Research assist in protecting and documenting the state's historic buildings, properties, and archaeological sites.  The Museum of Florida History preserves, exhibits, and interprets artifacts, while  Florida Folklife is preserved by various programs throughout the state.

Summary:       This series contains an English and a French version of the Declaration of Intention Between the State of Florida and the Republic of France on the Shipwrecks of Jean Ribault's Fleet, signed by Consul General of France in Miami Clement Leclerc and Secretary of State Ken Detzner, on December 13, 2018. The Declaration of Intention outlines Florida and France's agreement to protect and document the archaeological site. The agreement emphasizes public education about the shipwreck, including the public display or sharing of any cultural material recovered, and the role that Jean Ribault played in Florida's history. It also outlines the creation of a steering committee that will guide France and Florida's efforts in the study and recovery of the shipwreck.

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Ownership/Custodial History: Electronic files were transferred to the Archives via email from Deputy Secretary Christie Fitz-Patrick on December 14, 2018.
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Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields: Detzner, Ken.
Ribaut, Jean, ca. 1520-1565.
Florida. Dept. of State.
Shipwrecks Florida.
Archaeology Florida.
Underwater archaeology Florida.
Electronic records (digital records). aat
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