Manatee County Historical Digital Collections

Central Library houses a local history archive, called the Eaton Florida History Room, as well as an online digital archive. This library was built on the former site of the Stanton family home located on the Manatee River. Samuel Stanton built the steamership Manatee to bring visitors and goods to Bradenton in the late 1800s to early 1900s; it docked where Pier 22 Restaurant is now. His son, marine artist S. Ward Stanton, died on the Titanic in 1912 while returning from an art excursion in Europe. The historical marker, located at the riverside entrance, at Central Library notes this incredible story.

The digital archive also features Manatee County Neighborhood Histories, which highlights the history of many of the oldest and largest local communities. It is a great starting point for residents old and new, as well as visitors, to learn about their neighborhood!

For help getting started, view our Historical Research LibGuide.

• City directories of Manatee County dating back to 1897. Please note, some years are missing.
• Yearbooks from local high schools and private schools, some dating back to 1916. Please note, some years are missing. We do not have yearbooks from elementary or middle schools. 
• Federal census records of Florida on microfilm dating back to 1830
• Historical local newspapers on microfilm. Manatee River Journal articles can be accessed online from University of Florida's Florida Digital Newspaper Archive. We thank UF Libraries for their partnership. 
• Historical maps and aerial photos (historical aerials also available from Manatee Property Appraiser)
• Loose files containing news clippings, event programs, commemorations, and other ephemera
• Transcribed oral interviews and speeches
• Books about local, regional, and Florida history
• Bound journals and magazines such as The Florida Historical Quarterly, Sarasota Magazine, Florida Monthly, Florida Trend, and more.
• Historical State of Florida and Manatee County Government documents and reports
• Historical Florida Statistical Abstracts
• Historical Florida Handbook

The Eaton Room collections and services are funded by a trust provision in the will of Elizabeth M. Eaton, a local philanthropist who passed in 1973. This trust funded the original Eaton Room when Central Library first opened in 1978 and continues to present day.