Thomas LeRoy Collins Papers

The Thomas LeRoy Collins Papers, 1903-1991, largely document this prominent Florida statesman's post-Gubernatorial career (1961-1991). While these materials are predominantly from this period, there are also files from his earlier years as Florida Representative, Florida Senator, and Florida Governor.

The collection includes campaign materials, correspondence, newsclippings, records from organizations in which he served, speeches, and press releases. In addition, there are articles written by Collins, books, personal memorabilia, photographs, and sound and video recordings. Miscellaneous items include articles about Collins and personal reference (information) files.

The three largest groups of materials in the collection are LeRoy Collins' post-gubernatorial correspondence, organization files, and speeches. His correspondence documents his work with such groups as the Leon County (Florida) Research and Development Authority, the "Five for Florida's Future" campaign, and the Southern Legal Council in the 1970s and 1980s; his "V.I.P." files include correspondence from such prominent individuals as President Lyndon Baines Johnson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Eleanor Roosevelt, and economist John Kenneth Galbraith.

The post-gubernatorial speeches contain addresses and interviews given by LeRoy Collins to various groups and individuals. The largest volume of speeches are those he gave as President of the National Association of Broadcasters.

His post-gubernatorial organization papers include background information, correspondence, meeting files, proposals, and reports from those groups in which he participated during the 1970s and 1980s. These files include the Collins Center for Public Policy, Commission on the Future of the South, Community Relations Service, Florida Commission on Ethics, Governor's Advisory Council on Productivity, and the Legislative and Executive Joint Commission on Postsecondary Education.

His post-gubernatorial organization papers include background information, correspondence, meeting files, proposals, and reports from those groups in which he participated during the 1970s and 1980s. These files include the Collins Center for Public Policy, Commission on the Future of the South, Community Relations Service, Florida Commission on Ethics, Governor's Advisory Council on Productivity, and the Legislative and Executive Joint Commission on Postsecondary Education.

Select materials from the Thomas LeRoy Collins Papers have been digitized and are available through the FSU Digital Library.