Here is a list of online resources available for historical research:
Developed by the Orange County Library System, Orlando Memory is a community based digital archive designed to capture and preserve the stories, images and memories of our Orlando community. Orlando Memory is the story of Orlando, FL told by its people. Local adventures and moments in time are captured here with photos, video clips, audio recordings, and other memorabilia.
Orange County Library System – West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center
The Orange County Library System’s genealogy collection is located at the West Oaks Branch & Genealogy Center (1821 E Silver Star Rd, Ocoee FL 34761). It includes an extensive collection of genealogy reference books organized by state as well as a sizable collection of donated family histories organized by surname. The core collection began as a gift from avid genealogist Captain Charles Albertson in 1923. Then in 1929 the Library became the official repository of the Florida State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The collection now contains close to 40,000 books.
Historical Society of Central Florida
The nonprofit Historical Society of Central Florida supports the Orange County Regional History Center’s mission and programs through an agreement with the Board of County Commissioners. The History Center’s historical collection houses thousands of items documenting Central Florida’s rich heritage. From objects to archives and photographs to born digital media, the collection spans more than 14,000 years of history across seven counties including Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia. While we welcome you to visit the museum or our research center in-person, we encourage you to explore and enjoy our online access to the collection from anywhere.
RICHES™ is an interdisciplinary digital project that partners with multiple academic units at the University of Central Florida, six other Florida universities, and commercial and nonprofit sectors of the community. The project has two goals: 1) to serve as a model for documenting regional history, especially “hidden” history and culture, through an interactive database that draws from multiple repositories and personal collections, and 2) to develop new digital tools for historians.
Florida Memory is a digital outreach program providing free online access to select archival records from collections housed in the State Library and Archives of Florida. Florida Memory digitizes materials that illuminate the state’s history and culture.
Central Florida Memory is a cooperative project begun in 2002 by three institutions: The University of Central Florida Library, The Orange County Regional History Center, and The Orange County Library System. UCF has been the primary technology support and host institution for Central Florida Memory since its inception. Starting in 2002, UCF has been the project lead to secure grants and digitize materials from our own collection as well as selections from partner institutions.
Publication of Archival, Library, & Museum Materials (PALMM) is a cooperative initiative of the public universities and colleges of Florida to provide digital access to important source materials for research and scholarship. PALMM collections may involve a single Florida university/college or may be collaborative efforts between Florida universities, colleges, and partners. A PALMM collection must involve at least one Florida public post-secondary institution and agree to follow guidelines for the quality of digital content and website design. The Digital Initiatives Standing Committee (DISC) is the system-wide group most closely involved with general PALMM issues and will approve collection for inclusion within PALMM. PALMM projects create high-quality virtual collections relevant to the students, research community and general citizenry of Florida.
Published four times a year by the Florida Historical Society, with editorial offices at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the FHQ is the leading scholarly publication and journal of record in Florida history.
Established in 1856, the Florida Historical Society is dedicated to preserving Florida’s past through the collection and archival maintenance of historical documents and photographs, the publication of scholarly research on Florida history, and educating the public about Florida history through a variety of public history projects and programs.
Orange County Florida Genealogy Trails
Our goal is to help you track your ancestors through time by transcribing genealogical and historical data and placing it online for the free use of all researchers.
Historical articles
Historical articles posted on the website of the Orange County Regional History Center.
Historical articles published in the Community Paper.