We are actively working on bringing this project to life, soon we will launch an online digital resource tool, a tool that will continue to expand in photos and items as we continue to add to our collections.
The Heritage Collections
Step into a world frozen in time. Witness the evolution of our city through a vast array of historical photographs. Each image tells a story, a whisper from the past waiting to be heard. Prepare to be amazed by the sheer volume of memories we preserve.
Exhibit Gallery
Bill Friend and Gladys Jeffcoat, local legends that made history by dedication and a love of photography.
Local Legends
A space for researchers to explore the history of Plant City through various documents, papers, and photographs. The collection includes city directories, business records, and personal papers from community members. The center is open to the public for research and reference, and appointments can be booked in advance for a more productive visit.
The Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center
Fresh perspectives on history, presented throughout the year. Couples, High School, Veterans, Strawberry Festival.
Rotating Exhibits
**Exhibit Showcases**
Our rotating exhibits bring fresh perspectives and hidden gems to light. Don't miss out on these limited-time spectacles! Our archives contain thousands of photos that capture the history and culture of our community. We display different exhibits throughout the year to showcase these photos and tell their stories. One of our exhibits is the Strawberry Festival, which celebrates the local strawberry industry and its impact on our town. You can learn more about the history of the festival and see photos of past events at our museum. You are welcome to visit us and browse our albums, or watch slide shows of our photos on our large screen tv's.
**Digital Future**
The past is going digital! Soon you can access our photo archive and historical documents from anywhere. The future of history is at your fingertips.
Bill Friend & Gladys Jeffcoat Collections
Visit us today to view items from these masterpiece collections.
William John “Bill” Friend (1927-1999) was one of Plant City’s leading photographers for over 40 years. Friend grew up in Lakeland and developed his interest in photography while in high school. After enlisting with the Marines Corps in 1948, Friend returned from duty abroad in 1952. He followed his brother George – who worked as a station manager at WPLA – to Plant City, where he purchased photographer Ray Kramer’s Studio in 1953. Originally located on Reynolds St., Bill Friend’s Studio eventually moved to Palmer St. in the 1970s and remained operational until Friend’s passing in 1999.
Along with fellow photographer Gladys Jeffcoat, Friend became an official photographer for the Strawberry Festival, provided photos for The Courier, and photographed local school and organizational events. In 1962, he notably documented a shipment of strawberries from the farms at Parkesdale Farms to their loading onto an Eastern Air Lines plane. Passengers had the chance to enjoy some of the berries during the flight to Pennsylvania. Friend then continued to capture the journey of the crates onto trucks for delivery at an Eat ‘n Park coffee shop where the berries were prepared and served as delicious strawberry pies.
Gladys Marie Prevatt Jeffcoat (1925-2012) began her photographic career back in the 1940s. Born and raised in Plant City, Jeffcoat’s fascination with photography started as a teenager. She convinced Myrtle Young, who ran the Hollywood Studio on Reynolds St., to hire her for $1.00 a week and quickly progressed in her education of the photography business. By 1945, Jeffcoat decided to open her own studio, purchasing Kramer Photo Services from Ray Kramer. In 1946, Gladys passed her exam and became one of the few female photographers accepted into the Florida Photographers Association (formed in 1933). New license in hand, Gladys went on to make Arcade Studio a success, becoming the first camera shop and Eastman-Kodak dealership in Plant City. While raising a family, Jeffcoat continued to work intermittently over the following decades.
Jeffcoat served as an official photographer for the Florida Strawberry Festival and The Courier, captured numerous weddings and social events, and photographed the school annuals for Plant City High School, Turkey Creek High School, and Pinecrest High School. She retired in 1990 and left the business to her son Harry Jeffcoat. In 2008, Gladys worked out a contract with the Photo Archives to donate her photographic material and camera collection.
The History Center and its library were set up in 2010 through the generous support of Dr. Scotty and Hsiu Huang, Plant City residents of nearly 50 years. Familiar to many, Dr. Huang served as pediatrician to Plant Citians beginning in the mid-1970s. Through the Huang family’s sponsorship, the Photo Archives has been able to provide a space for researchers, students, and inquisitive minds to explore Plant City’s history.
The History Center contains valuable documents and papers from the community, such as first-person primary source materials (letters, diaries, maps, and regional business records). Included in the collection are Polk City Directories of various years between 1955 to 2000, the papers of Mary Frances Morgan (Panky Glamsch/Panky Snow), the papers of the Plant City Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the papers of D. E. Bailey, several cemetery directories, multiple news articles and clippings, and more. The collection is available to researchers for personal, educational, and commercial projects.
The History Center library is open to the public for reading, reference, and research during regular hours.
Thank you for your interest in our archives. We are happy to assist you with your research needs. To make your visit more productive, we kindly ask you to book an appointment in advance so that we can prepare the materials for you. Please note that appointments are subject to availability and some research fees may apply. To schedule, contact the Photo Archives at 813-754-1578 or email us at [email protected]
Our operational hours are subject to change for special events and holidays. If you are unable to reach us please leave a voicemail or contact us though email and we will follow up with your request as soon as possible.
In Person Research Request - For those interested in utilizing resources at the History Center for personal research, please fill out the form below or call the office at 813-754-1578.
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