Florida Archives and Manuscripts Repositories

30 historical, environmental, and archaeological acres at this irreplaceable outdoor complex museum with many layers and facets. Museums's mission is to connect people of today with 5,000 years of human history in southwest coastal Florida by preserving and interpreting objects and traditions significant to our region's past. Includes an archeological exhibit of a prehistoric shell mound known as a midden, a turn-of-the-century pioneer homestead historic house museum, a citrus packing house, a chapel, boatyard, gardens and nature trails. Materials beginning in 1867 document this site and there are also field notes of archeological finds and modern records documenting former owner Bertha Potter Palmer.

Located in the Circus Museum, Tibbals Learning Center. Holds institutional records, the existing papers of John Ringling and documents all aspects of American circus history. Collections document all aspects of The Ringling, collecting records of circus performers and workers, small family circuses, and all types of circus memorabilia. It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. It is home to a Museum of Art, the historic Ca' d'Zan Mansion, Bayfront Gardens, an Art Library, the Circus Museums and the Historic Asolo Theater.

This library specializes in operatic and vocal repertory: scores, recordings (audio and video), sheet music, as well as reference books and periodicals. The library also holds the papers of Helen Jepson Dellera, American soprano who starred at the Metropolitan Opera House (1935-1944). The collection includes photographs and recordings of her work. Also an institutional archive.

The Arthur Vining Davis Library and Archives has been providing resources, reference, and research for more than thirty-five years at Mote Marine Laboratory. Its collections are maintained for the support of marine and environmental research and education. In addition to print and archival collections, the Library maintains two searchable online, open-access institutional repositories (DSpace and Omeka) of Mote staff publications, institutional papers, and items from historical collections. New resources are continually added.  Library internships are available throughout the year.

Documenting all aspects of Sarasota County history including county public records, local newspapers and photographs. Personal papers, publications written by local authors and organizational and business records complementing county history, books on archaeology, architectural history, archives management, and historic preservation.

Historical Exhibits & Education Center Has a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits, photographs and artifacts detailing the history and pre-history of Sarasota on display. Located in the historic Chidsey Library Building built in 1941 and at one time was the only city library it has a small Florida Studies materials collection.

Collects and preserves historical and archeological material relating to Venice and the communities of Nokomis, Laurel and Osprey, whose histories have all been interwoven from 1867 to the present time. Includes manuscripts of residents and organizations, oral histories, city records and photographs. Permanent displays iinclude exhibits regarding the life of Dr. Fred Albee and local fossils collected by Roy and Helen Burgess. Has as Online Collections Database.