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April 2026 Focus: National Poetry Month Woman holding a small cigar while striking a dance pose: Tampa, Fla. PA 9141 |
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FEATURED BOOKS FROM THE FLORIDA COLLECTION: |
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by Jane Anderson Jones and Maurice O’Sullivan Long before John Smith set foot in Virginia, Spanish and French poets were writing about the landscape and inhabitants of Florida. This is the first comprehensive anthology of Florida poetry, from some of the earliest European encounters with the peninsula to the experiences of contemporary poets. It is a history of the imagination of Florida's past, present, and future. This is a cross-section of voices enchanted by, complaining about, wondering at, bemused by, and disgusted with Florida's environment and character--includes poems by Bartolome de Flores, Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill, Edmund Skellings, May Swenson, Richard Wilbur, Donald Justice, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Enid Shomer, and Ricardo Paul Iosa, among many others.
In this book you will read Walt Whitman's eulogy of Seminole Chief Osceola, share a few samples of Zora Neale Hurston's and Langston Hughes's pioneering collections of the folk poetry of Florida, see St. Augustine through Ralph Waldo Emerson's convalescent eyes, and share poet A. R. Ammons's vision of a Florida landfill. This is a delightful blend of old and modern poetry that will be appreciated by poets and students alike. |
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by Jorge Cantera An anthology of the writings of 33 of the most important Cuban men and women of letters, such as Felix Varela, Jose Marti, Juana Borrero, Jose Yglesias, and Ricardo Pau-Llosa. An enlightening and comprehensive introduction examines the historical importance of the Cuban contribution to Florida's heritage. The works are presented in English, most translated here for the first time. |
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Rancher… Artist… Poet… Writer… Attorney… Any and all of these words combine to describe Brad Phares and are the reasons he’s something beyond your typical cattleman. Brad Phares is an 8th generation American rancher (7th generation in Florida) living in Okeechobee, Florida with his wife, Sam, and children Jacqueline and Jared where he channels his multi-faceted background into his oil paintings and writings to provide a perspective on ranch life unlike any other. Brad grew up working on his family’s ranch with all that time and experience becoming the source of inspiration for his early drawings, paintings and poetry. Upon graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture (animal sciences) and then from St. Thomas University School of Law with a Juris Doctor, rather than pursuing a career as an attorney, he chose instead to focus on his art and hopes that his representations of contemporary Florida ranch life, along with his writings, will serve to enlighten others as to the invaluable benefits that Florida ranches provide to the state’s ecosystem and economy. |
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A lyric mix of journalism, science, family lore, and lived experience reveals the complex realities of Florida and a redemption that's wondrously messy and surprising. |
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by Gianna Russo In this collection of poems inspired by Burgert Brothers photographs--pictures taken of Tampa, Florida and surroundings in the early times of photography--readers will find a treasure trove of Florida reflection and inspiration. |
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by James Valentine Many years in the making, Florida Magnificent Wilderness is a special visual journey through some of the most precious wild areas in the state, presenting the breathtaking beauty preserved in state lands, parks, and natural areas. World-famous nature photographer James Valentine has used his camera to record environmental art images of the state's remote wilderness places, spectacular sites too often missed by Florida's visitors and residents. Valentine also offers his poetic interpretations of the meaning of his images. Dr. D. Bruce Means, founder and president of the Coastal Plains Institute and Land Conservancy, has written the main text, "Florida's Rich Biodiversity." The book is divided into six sections, covering the wildlife and natural ecosystems of Florida, with the introduction to each written by a highly respected Florida writer and conservationist, including Al Burt, Manley Fuller, Steve Gatewood, D. Bruce Means, Victoria Tschinkel, and Bernie Yokel. |
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by Laurence Donovan The title poem of this book records a sojourn to a small island off the Florida Panhandle. Reachable only by boat, Dog Island provides a quiet respite where Miami poet-artist Laurence Donovan contemplates the sea, sand, and sky and transforms them into words and etchings. Donald Justice, in his foreword, calls Donovan "doubly gifted" in both his poetry and his art. This volume presents both, the latter in fifteen of his etchings. He was also known for his linocuts, represented here by the small scorpion at the end of the book. |
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Florida Poemsby Campbell McGrath Part fable, part diatribe, part elegy, part love song, this extraordinary fifth collection by Campbell McGrath makes poetry of the most unlikely of materials -- his native state of Florida. While at times poignantly personal, McGrath also returns for the first time to the characteristically comic and visionary public voice displayed in the renowned "Bob Hope Poem." Moving effortlessly from prehistory to the space age, he catalogs Florida's natural wonders and historical figureheads, from Ponce de Leon to Walt Disney, from William Bartram to Chuck E. Cheese -- "the bewhiskered Mephistopheles of ring toss, /the diabolical vampire of our transcendent ideals." in the brilliant sociohistorical monologue of "The Florida Poem," McGrath employs the Fountain of Youth as a mythic symbol for both the tragic consequences of a society built on greed and cultural erasure and the diverse human potential "which must become the fountain/for any communal future we might dare imagine. “Place-bound and tightly focused, Campbell McGrath's message is nonetheless universal, as his penetrating vision of Florida is also a vision of America -- its history and hopes, failings and fulfillments, and the eternal force that transcends it all.
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by Steven Earl A one-of-a-kind visual document of the crown jewel of Florida's spring system. The Ichetucknee River--a first-magnitude spring system located in north central Florida--is the premier tubing destination in the United States with more than 200,000 visitors annually. But it is increasingly threatened by pollution. Steven Earl has chronicled the Ichetucknee through his writing, paintings, and photography for over twenty years. In this book he has created a visual record of the river's inspirational beauty. He and other celebrated environmental writers also provide a description of the unique geology and hydrology of the region, the challenges threatening the Ichetucknee today, and methods to promote watchful stewardship of the river so that its beauty will be preserved for generations to come. Poems celebrating the river are interspersed among the paintings and photographs. |
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The Florida State Poets Association maintains three objectives; one is to increase public recognition of poetry; two is to invigorate a finer appreciation towards poetry; and lastly, they want to provide more opportunities for poetry lovers to study and practice writing and reading poetry. They host two events for community members to workshop their poetry works and to share their poetry with others. The Association also sponsors two competitions, one for the youth category and another for the adult category. Of Poets and Poetry is also their bi-monthly newsletter that they publish with an annual printed anthology of poems by Association members. |
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South Florida Poetry Journal started in 2016 when Lenny DellaRocca asked his friends about starting a poetry journal. Now the Journal invites all poets to share their works, that will fill readers with a variety of emotions and maybe challenge readers to question the assumptions they have made. |
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LIBRARY AND TAMPA BAY AREA EVENTS: |
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Thursday, April 2, 3:00pm - 4:00pm Bruton Memorial Library Interested in learning more about yourself through learning about your family? Get to know library genealogy and history resources to help you find out more about your family’s past.
Bringing your own device (laptop, smart phone, tablet, etc) is encouraged but the library can provide laptops for in-house use upon request.
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The Burgert Brothers Photographic CollectionWednesday, April 29, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library
Learn about and explore this extraordinary photo archive.
Recommended for adults. Registration recommended.
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SouthShore Regional Library Many people wish they had made a recording of a parent or grandparent while they were still living, to hear their voice and hear them describe shared ancestry.
Learn techniques and resources for gathering these shared moments.
Recommended for adults. Registration recommended. |
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by Andrew T. Huse Since its early days as a boomtown on the Florida frontier, Tampa has had a lively history rich with commerce, cuisine, and working-class communities. In From Saloons to Steak Houses, Andrew Huse takes readers on a journey into historic bars, theaters, gambling halls, soup kitchens, clubs, and restaurants, telling the story of Tampa's past through these fascinating social spaces|́|many of which can't be found in official histories. Beginning with the founding of modern Tampa in 1887 and spanning a century, Huse delves into the culture of the city and traces the struggles that have played out in public spaces. He describes temperance advocates who crusaded against saloons and breweries, cigar workers on strike who depended on soup houses for survival, and civil rights activists who staged sit-ins at lunch counters. These stories are set amid themes such as the emergence of Tampa's criminal underworld, the rise of anti-German fear during World War I, and the heady power of prosperity and tourism in the 1950s. |
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Robert Mugge's second book-Saloon Man: A German Immigrant Battles the Limits of Liberty, 1870 to 1915-focuses on his great-grandfather, the "original" Robert Mugge who came to America at the age of seventeen; made his way to Tampa, Florida while it was still a settlement; and became a hugely successful businessman. Because his core businesses were alcohol-related at a time of oncoming temperance-and because he hired, partnered with, and supported African Americans during Jim Crow segregation-the "saloon magnate of Tampa" was also controversial. |
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ON DISPLAY IN THE FLORIDA HISTORY & GENEALOGY LIBRARY, 4TH FLOOR OF THE JOHN F. GERMANY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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 Hillsborough State Bank |
Florida Banking Records Collection The Florida Banking Records give insight and context to the history of Florida's economy. They date from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The records come from several banks of historical significance and include Hillsboro State Bank, Bank of Dunedin, First Savings and Trust Co., and SunBank. The records were stored for several years in a warehouse and were scheduled to be destroyed. In 2014, a SunTrust bank employee asked the Florida History & Genealogy Library if they would accept the donation. In 2021 the library started an in-house preservation project. This includes cleaning, repairing, and cataloging the records.
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