Lakeland History Room

Hours: 

Mon - Thurs. - 9 am - 7 pm
Fri - Sat: 9 am - 5 pm
Sun: 1:30 pm - 5 pm

Lakeland History Room Librarian Supervisor: LuAnn Mims
Ph: 863.834.4269
Email: luann.mims@lakelandgov.net

Image from the Greetings from Lakeland postcard collection

• Using the Lakeland History Room

  Services: 

  • Research assistance with local history 
  • House/property records research 
  • Family Genealogy, Newspapers and Obituaries — please contact LuAnn Mims at 863.834.4269 or email LuAnn.Mims@lakelandgov.net
  • DIY Digitize Lab — guided assistance by appointment only to reformat analog materials to digital formats (excluding film). Please contact Rebecca Whalon to schedule an appointment in the DIY workspace at 863.834.4212 or email Rebecca.Whalon@lakelandgov.net

   

• Digital Collections

  The Lakeland History Room collection features a variety of materials—documents, photographs, maps, building plans, audio/visual media, and scrapbooks with specialty items like citrus crate labels, artwork, yearbooks, posters, and postcards. There are also 8000+ images viewable online via our Digital Collection on CONTENTdm.

  Click on the icons below to explore digital collections, photo albums, and story maps of Lakeland history:

                      

                        

   

• In-Person Classes and Self-Paced Learning

  In-Person Classes 

  Genealogy:

  • Generators – meets the first Monday of each month @6pm- is an ad hoc group that discusses genealogical topics of interest
  • Beginning Genealogy – offered twice a year – basic introduction to researching your family history
  • Get Started with Ancestry.com – offered twice a year – guided tour through the premier genealogical database
  • Focus on Family Search – offered twice a year – step by step look at this FREE family history resources

  Archival:

  • Photograph Preservation instruction offered in person twice a year to introduce reformatting from analog to digital concepts

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  Self-Paced Learning: Organizing and Preserving Your Materials

  Trying to get your personal memorabilia better organized?  Start with the Personal Archiving at Home video series. These short videos give detailed instruction on how to take care of your treasured memorabilia – photographs, slides, negatives, papers, audio and video tapes and more. Topics include preservation, storage, digitization, standard formatting, organization tips and adding to your family archives.

  Part I: Historic Preservation
  Part II: Organization & Maintenance
  Part III: Digitization

   

• Lakeland History and Culture Center Lecture Series

  JBT Marel: Global Innovation, Local Impact in Lakeland
  with Ryan Crawford
  Lakeland Public Library Meeting Room 
  September 11th at 5:30 PM 

  Join us at the Lakeland Public Library on Thursday, September 11th at 5:30 PM as Ryan Crawford, Continuous Improvement Manager at JBT Corporation, presents "JBT Marel: Global Innovation, Local Impact in Lakeland."

  In this presentation, Ryan Crawford will provide a closer look at how global food technology leader JBT Marel is making a meaningful impact right here in Lakeland, Florida. Born from the merger of U.S.-based JBT (John Bean Technologies) and Icelandic innovator Marel in 2025, JBT Marel now operates in over 30 countries with more than 11,700 employees. At the heart of this global network is Lakeland’s Research and Technology Center, a hub for citrus processing, aseptic systems, and food blending technologies. With cutting-edge labs, training programs, and a commitment to sustainability, the Lakeland facility not only drives innovation but also strengthens the local economy and community. As JBT Marel continues to grow, Lakeland remains a vital part of its global strategy—where innovation meets tradition, and local roots support a worldwide mission to improve food safety, reduce waste, and enhance supply chain efficiency.

  Find out more information about "JBT Marel: Global Innovation, Local Impact in Lakeland"  No registration is required.

   

   

• History Tours

  Lakeland History Room Staff host historical walking tours for the public featuring Lakeland history, as well as providing curated exhibit tours of the Lakeland History and Culture Center.

  • Stories and Stones – Saturdays (check dates/registration) monthly walk and talk biographical tours of Lakeland’s oldest cemeteries – Roselawn, Tigers Flowers and Lake View
  • Green Hat and White Gloves – Second Tuesdays monthly (check dates and registration) walking tour of Lake Mirror with “Serena Bailey” Lakeland’s first librarian (1929-1959)
  • From the Groves — Lakeland's Citrus Story – curated exhibit tour available by appointment

   

  For more information contact, LuAnn Mims: 863.834.4269, LuAnn.Mims@lakelandgov.net 

• Lakeland History & Culture Center

  Opened on September 8, 2022, the Lakeland History and Culture Center features a 1400 square foot exhibit space dedicated to telling the many stories of our community.

  The inaugural exhibit, Ties That Bind: 1880-1925, Lakeland's Formative Years, showcased the early days of Lakeland's founding and the role of the railroads in helping to develop the area.

  Explore the current exhibit, From the Groves — Lakeland’s Citrus Story, to discover how the citrus industry impacted Lakeland’s economy, why Lakeland was formerly called the “World Citrus Center,” the location of early groves, who helped to market the products, and what defines the local citrus industry today, as well as hear reflections through oral histories from people historically connected to citrus.

  This free, self-guided, interactive exhibit is open:

  Monday-Thursday  9am-7pm
  Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm
  Sunday 1:30pm-5pm

  For information about curated tours, call LuAnn Mims at 863.834.4269

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  Learn more about the Lakeland History & Culture Center.

Popular at the Lakeland History Room

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  Ancestry.com

  Start your family history search here at the library! Ancestry.com offers free access to all library patrons. (In library only)

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  Digital Photo Collection Feature: Lakeland Postcard Collection

  Explore Lakeland’s History through Photos! 

  Postcards have been in use in this country for more than 100 years. Picture postcards were published in Europe as early as the 1870s, and illustrated advertising postcards appeared in the U.S. at about the same time. However, these were known as "souvenir" or "correspondence" cards, as only the government was allowed to use the word "postcard" on the back of the postcard. Private publishers were not permitted to use the word "postcard" on the back of the postcard until the end of 1901. Only the address could appear on the back of the postcard, and any messages had to appear on the front of the postcard. It was not until March 1, 1907 that postcards with divided backs were permitted. The address was written on the right side of the postcard and any message would be written on the left.

  One of the largest and most significant collections in Special Collections unit of the Lakeland Public Library is the Lakeland Postcard Collection. It includes more than 900 postcards (including duplicates) documenting the history and development of the city from the early 1900s to the present. Postcards often are the only source for determining what a building or area of the city looked like 50, 75 or even 100 years ago. This collection includes postcards depicting a wide variety of subject matter, ranging from public buildings, to churches, to streetscapes and more.  The earliest postcards date to the beginning of the twentieth century.  Many were used and later donated to the library and include interesting and/or amusing comments from the sender.

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  Institutes of Learning

  Our story begins with you...what better way to tell the many stories of Lakeland and its history, than visually by showcasing highlights from our Digital Collection through Flickr.   

  Check out our featured album:

  Institutes of Learning

  "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -- Benjamin Franklin

  Enjoy this photographic album of our area's current and former schools and campuses.

   

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  Lakeland Stories Feature: Blinky, the Alligator!

  Discover more about Lakeland’s History through Stories! 

  Dating back to the 1930s, the Lakeland newspaper noted a one-eyed alligator dubbed “One-Eyed Joe” in and around Lake Mirror. By the 1970s, this gator, or possibly another one-eyed alligator – approximately 11- foot long, 400 pounds, would be known as Blinky. He became a legend in the downtown as he frequently walked Main Street and along the promenade. He became a tourist attraction with people clamoring to have their photograph taken with him. If he got too far out of his environment, police or citizens would herd him back towards the water.

  Blinky served as the town’s unofficial mascot due to his somewhat friendly demeanor. He allowed humans to pet his head, and rub his back, much like you would a puppy. Children and adults would flock to feed him anything from popcorn, to marshmallows, to table scraps even though it was against the law to feed alligators. Some people even dared to let Blinky give them a kiss. One such photograph appeared in the local newspaper lead to his downfall.

   

   

  Standing at the entry archway of Lakeland’s downtown city park we know as Munn Park is a large metal and brick entry way was constructed in 1990 as part of a revitalization effort. This park, in the core of Lakeland’s business district, was established in 1884 and shares over 100 years of our local history. Through those years many changes have occurred to bring us this community space of today.

As a convenience and for informational purposes only, the City of Lakeland provides external hyperlinks on its website, directing website users towards certain outside sites; links to these websites do not constitute the City of Lakeland’s endorsement or approval of linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. All links the City of Lakeland Provides are consistent with the mission of its website. However, the City of Lakeland exercises no editorial control over the information website users may find on external websites. The City of Lakeland also cannot attest to the accuracy or appropriateness of information provided by external websites and organizations.