GUIDE TO THE

R.M. BURT PAPERS

1901 – 1953

MSS 2003

.25 CUBIC FEET

Processed By Mimi Klug, September 2003

Biographical Note

R.M. (Reynold Marvin) Burt was the son of Judge James Burt, an early pioneer of Palatka, Florida. R.M. was employed on the staff of the Palatka Times-Herald. He compiled a history of Palatka which was printed in that newspaper over a nine month in 1901. He pasted these articles and others in an old ledger, which was inscribed inside the front cover with the name "James Burt" and the date "1882." He collected other newspaper clippings all of which were related to the history of Palatka, Florida. R.M. Burt eventually moved to Miami, Florida and some of his letters to the Palatka Times-Herald in 1953 were clipped and saved.

Scope and Content

The R.M. Burt Papers consist of newspaper clippings about the history of Palatka, Florida. The articles were printed in the Palatka Times-Herald over a period of Years form 1901 to 1953. The stories cover the Seminole Indians and Billy Bowlegs, The Civil War and J.J. Dickison, steam boating on the St. John’s River, early school Days, Benjamin Putnam, and Ravine Gardens, among others.

The collection also includes a paper that Burt wrote, titled "Florida Settlement", about the Spanish and French in Florida in the 16th century.

Organization

The collection is divided into seven folders.

Restrictions

There are no access restrictions. The scrapbook is very fragile and so preservation photocopies have been make and are to be used instead of the original.

Subject Headings

Burt, R. M. (Reynold Marvin) – Archives

Putnam, Benjamin

Bowlegs, Billy

Seminole Indian War (3rd)

Florida – 16th Century – History

FOLDER 1

All items in this folder have been photocopied from the scrapbook.

"History of Palatka" compiled by R.M. Burt. 16 pages." Annotated.

"History of Palatka and Putnam County." Articles by Burt and W.A. Pratt

A biography of Benjamin Alexander Putnam.

Miscellaneous newspaper articles.

FOLDER 2

Two typewritten articles by Burt.

"Historical Points In Palatka and Putman County".

Putnam County".

FOLDER 3

Newspaper clippings from the 1920’s and 1930’s on historical matters in Palatka.

Map of Putnam County.

A program date 1924 for the unveiling of Confederate War Monument.

Three obituaries.

FOLDER 4

Ravine Gardens. Newspaper clippings from 1935.

FOLDER 5

Palatka Centennial 1953/

"Authentic History of Palatka by Robert B. Dowda.

"Founding of the Palatka Women’s Club in 1897".

Letters to the editor from Burt.

FOLDER 6

"Florida Settlement" 1518-1567. Handwritten pages. Unsigned but probably written by Burt. Recounted the efforts of the Spanish and the French to establish a colony in Florida.

FOLDER 7

The scrapbook. Originally a ledger.