To manage the transfer of public lands to state ownership upon Florida becoming a state, the General Assembly of 1850 created the Internal Improvement Board. In 1854, Chapter Law 610 created the Internal Improvement Fund and the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. They were created to control the funds already accumulated and any future funds resulting from sales. The Trustees were given the power to transfer and sell lands; to collect revenues from railroad companies; to approve the building of railroads, bridges, and canals; and to invest surplus monies in United States stocks, stocks of other states, or internal improvement bonds.
The Trustees took control of the State Land Office from the Commissioner of Agriculture with the passage of Chapter Law 1963-294. The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund became the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund with the passage of Chapter Law 1969-106. In 1975, the powers and duties of the Board concerning state lands were transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and its Division of State Lands with the passage of Chapter Law 1975-22 and Chapter Law 1979-255, respectively.
The series in the Board of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund record group are divided into Meeting Files, Correspondence, and State Land Use and Control Commission Files. Within the sections, the series are arranged alphabetically.
The Trustees took control of the State Land Office from the Commissioner of Agriculture with the passage of Chapter Law 1963-294. The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund became the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund with the passage of Chapter Law 1969-106. In 1975, the powers and duties of the Board concerning state lands were transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and its Division of State Lands with the passage of Chapter Law 1975-22 and Chapter Law 1979-255, respectively.
The series in the Board of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund record group are divided into Meeting Files, Correspondence, and State Land Use and Control Commission Files. Within the sections, the series are arranged alphabetically.
Meeting Files
Cabinet Agenda, 1969-1981, 1983-1989 (Series S1395)
The series contains the meeting agendas of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and its predecessor agency, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. The series also includes some copies of minutes and background materials.
Extent: 39 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Box listing
Cabinet Meeting Official Records (Series S184)
The series contains the official copy of cabinet meeting records. The records were filed in with the Secretary of State when the office was a cabinet position. As a Constitutional amendment removed the Secretary of State from the cabinet in 2002, the records were filed with the Executive Office of the Governor. The series documents the history of Cabinet action as it related to various state agencies, boards, and commissions. The series contains transcripts of the Cabinet meetings, agenda, and supporting material.
The Archives did not receive records for the period from January through the end of November 2003. All Cabinet meetings were recorded and transcribed except from January 1983 to June 1986, when the meetings were recorded but not transcribed. For transcriptions of the Department of Natural Resources during this time, see Series S1503, Department of Natural Resources, Cabinet Transcripts, 1983-1988. The audio recordings of the Cabinet meetings are located in Series S1394, Cabinet Meeting Audio Recordings, 1966-2002.
Extent: 360.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Folder listing
Minutes, 1855-1973 (Series S194)
The series contains the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund and its predecessor, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. The series documents the topics of discussions, the decisions made, and the actions taken by the Trustees.
Extent: 35 volumes
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Volume listing
The series contains the meeting agendas of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and its predecessor agency, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. The series also includes some copies of minutes and background materials.
Extent: 39 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Box listing
Cabinet Meeting Official Records (Series S184)
The series contains the official copy of cabinet meeting records. The records were filed in with the Secretary of State when the office was a cabinet position. As a Constitutional amendment removed the Secretary of State from the cabinet in 2002, the records were filed with the Executive Office of the Governor. The series documents the history of Cabinet action as it related to various state agencies, boards, and commissions. The series contains transcripts of the Cabinet meetings, agenda, and supporting material.
The Archives did not receive records for the period from January through the end of November 2003. All Cabinet meetings were recorded and transcribed except from January 1983 to June 1986, when the meetings were recorded but not transcribed. For transcriptions of the Department of Natural Resources during this time, see Series S1503, Department of Natural Resources, Cabinet Transcripts, 1983-1988. The audio recordings of the Cabinet meetings are located in Series S1394, Cabinet Meeting Audio Recordings, 1966-2002.
Extent: 360.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Folder listing
Minutes, 1855-1973 (Series S194)
The series contains the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund and its predecessor, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. The series documents the topics of discussions, the decisions made, and the actions taken by the Trustees.
Extent: 35 volumes
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Volume listing
Correspondence
Incoming Correspondence, 1847-1905 (Series S665)
The series contains the incoming correspondence of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund from 1847 to 1905. The correspondence documents the mismanagement of land sales, the operation of drainage companies, disputed land titles and conveyances, railroad companies, the United States General Land Office, and hearings before the Trustees. The series includes several letters, pre-dating the formation of the Internal Improvement Fund, but these letters deal with the management of federal lands.
Extent: 1 cubic foot
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Box listing
Secretaries Correspondence, 1842-1910 (Series S914)
The series contains the correspondence maintained by the Secretaries of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund from 1842 to 1910. The series includes correspondence between the Register of Public Lands and state agents who surveyed the land and reported to the Trustees the various land improvements made by settlers. The correspondence documents several railroad companies' claims to land, the annual reports of some railroads, applications for preemption, land claim applications, abstracts of land sales, abstracts of school lands, and school land reports. Although some of the correspondence precedes the date of the creation of the Trustees, it pertains to the acquisition and disposition of land.
Extent: 67.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Box listing
The series contains the incoming correspondence of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund from 1847 to 1905. The correspondence documents the mismanagement of land sales, the operation of drainage companies, disputed land titles and conveyances, railroad companies, the United States General Land Office, and hearings before the Trustees. The series includes several letters, pre-dating the formation of the Internal Improvement Fund, but these letters deal with the management of federal lands.
Extent: 1 cubic foot
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Box listing
Secretaries Correspondence, 1842-1910 (Series S914)
The series contains the correspondence maintained by the Secretaries of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund from 1842 to 1910. The series includes correspondence between the Register of Public Lands and state agents who surveyed the land and reported to the Trustees the various land improvements made by settlers. The correspondence documents several railroad companies' claims to land, the annual reports of some railroads, applications for preemption, land claim applications, abstracts of land sales, abstracts of school lands, and school land reports. Although some of the correspondence precedes the date of the creation of the Trustees, it pertains to the acquisition and disposition of land.
Extent: 67.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological
Finding Aid: Box listing
State Land Use and Control Commission Files
State Land Use and Control Commission Administrative Files, 1956-1958 (Series S2664)
Established by an Executive Order on March 28, 1956, the State Land Use and Control Commission recommended policies and legislation for the management of state lands in the public interest. Governor LeRoy Collins, authorized by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, appointed a five-member citizen commission, which met for the first time on April 24, 1956, in Tallahassee.
The Commission inventoried all state-owned land. It recommended plans and policies for the sale or withholding from sale of state-owned lands and for the development of future state parks and other public facilities. The Commission worked with state departments and agencies and reported their activities, progress, and recommendations to the Trustees. Due to lack of staff and budgetary support, the Commission met for the final time on January 23, 1958.
The series documents the operations and activities of the Commission and contains correspondence, budgetary information, agendas, minutes, resolutions, reports, reference materials, legal documents, newspaper clippings, and project files. The correspondence is between Commission members, concerned citizens, and government officials regarding proposed projects and activities.
Extent: 1.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: Arranged by topic or record type
Finding Aid: Box Listing
State Land Use and Control Commission Project Files, 1956-1958 (Series S2665)
The series documents projects conducted by the Commission relating to the dredging and filling of or near public lands. The series contains transcripts of public hearings, correspondences, reports and data, maps, summary of protests, subject files, and resolutions on the dredging and filling applications. The files document the Green Walden Fill, or Tierra Verde; Naval Live Oak Reservation, in Santa Rosa County; Furen Fill; and Paradise Island.
Extent: 0.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: Arranged by project
Finding Aid: None
Established by an Executive Order on March 28, 1956, the State Land Use and Control Commission recommended policies and legislation for the management of state lands in the public interest. Governor LeRoy Collins, authorized by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, appointed a five-member citizen commission, which met for the first time on April 24, 1956, in Tallahassee.
The Commission inventoried all state-owned land. It recommended plans and policies for the sale or withholding from sale of state-owned lands and for the development of future state parks and other public facilities. The Commission worked with state departments and agencies and reported their activities, progress, and recommendations to the Trustees. Due to lack of staff and budgetary support, the Commission met for the final time on January 23, 1958.
The series documents the operations and activities of the Commission and contains correspondence, budgetary information, agendas, minutes, resolutions, reports, reference materials, legal documents, newspaper clippings, and project files. The correspondence is between Commission members, concerned citizens, and government officials regarding proposed projects and activities.
Extent: 1.25 cubic feet
Arrangement: Arranged by topic or record type
Finding Aid: Box Listing
State Land Use and Control Commission Project Files, 1956-1958 (Series S2665)
The series documents projects conducted by the Commission relating to the dredging and filling of or near public lands. The series contains transcripts of public hearings, correspondences, reports and data, maps, summary of protests, subject files, and resolutions on the dredging and filling applications. The files document the Green Walden Fill, or Tierra Verde; Naval Live Oak Reservation, in Santa Rosa County; Furen Fill; and Paradise Island.
Extent: 0.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: Arranged by project
Finding Aid: None