Hoomans at the State Library & Archives of Florida have compiled this heckin’ good collection of Floridians bonding with their fat bois and smol floofers throughout the last century. “Dogs in Florida help deliver mail, work for the police department, ride motorcycles and lounge on the beach,” according to the State Archives. “Service, companionship, love, furriness – dogs fulfill all of these needs. Floridians have always shared their special place in the sun with their dogs.”
Dog posing on table, taken by photographer Alvan Harper in Tallahassee between 1885 and 1910. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaWoman with rifle and dog, taken in the 1910s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaHeise’s pet shop in Tampa, Florida, taken sometime in the 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaGroup of Eastpoint people sitting on a porch, taken sometime between 1898 to 1912. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaNoriam Sretaw with his dog “Skipper” on U.S. Highway 1, taken in August 1947. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaDog barking into the telephone, taken in 1957. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaThe “Crescent City” at the oyster house dock: Eastpoint, Florida, taken around 1910. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaSaying goodby to Iowa friends in Eastpoint, taken sometime between 1898 to 1912. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA young boy fishing with his dog in Palm Beach County, Florida, taken sometime in the 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaEddie Frank at Naples’ swamp buggy races in Naples, Florida, photographed on Oct. 28, 1950. Eddie Frank’s “Tumber Bug” won second place in Naples’ Swamp Buggy Day parade. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA young boy with Sicilian donkey and dog, photographed in November 1950. An accompanying note says, “The grandson of George Garretson, owner of Palomino stables in Ocala, with Sicilian donkey.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaCaptain Will Newman sitting on the dock with dog and cat in Palatka, Florida, taken sometime in the 1920s. Credit:State Library & Archives of Florida“The Back Porch Boys” of Stuart, Florida, photographed in 1979. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA motion picture scene from 1916 with Bobbie Burns, (?), Walter Stull, Ethel Burton Palmer and Edna Reynolds(?). An accompanying note says, “This image was collected by filmmaker William “Billy” Bletcher (1894-1979) while working for the Vim Comedy Company between 1915 and 1917. The small film studio was based in Jacksonville and New York. … Ethel Burton (Palmer) was a popular comedic actress who made her debut with Vitagraph Pictures in 1915. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA motion picture scene from 1916, L-R: Pearl Shepard(?), Ethel Burton Palmer, Bobby Burns and Walter Stull. An accompanying note says, “This image was collected by filmmaker William “Billy” Bletcher (1894-1979) while working for the Vim Comedy Company between 1915 and 1917. The small film studio was based in Jacksonville and New York. The company produced hundreds of two-reel comedies (over 156 comedies in 1916 alone). Before going out of business in 1917, it employed such stars as Oliver Hardy, Ethel Burton, Walter Stull, Arvid Gillstrom, and Kate Price.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA boy, dog and woman enjoying each other’s company in Tallahassee, Florida, taken sometime in the 1910s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA dog receiving a treat at the Coral Ridge National Bank drive thru window in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, taken around 1969. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaGovernor Chiles and his dog in Tallahassee, Florida, photographed in 1998. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaSpanish-American war camp scene in Tampa, 1898. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaAurel Rosin, young entrepreneur, photographed in 1915. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaPortrait of Clara Page Ferrell in her official mail carrier uniform in Woodville (Leon County), Florida around 1917. An accompanying note says, “Clara Mae was born on March 7, 1887 as the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Nancy Susannah McDaniel Page. She married John “Robert” Ferrell on March 10, 1915. Died on January 13, 1978.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaUnidentified girls at the USDA Research Center in Miami, 1910. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaAfrican American children with dog on the beach in Apalachicola, 1985. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA dog at surveyors’ camp in 1912, possibly in Indian River County Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaSeminole Josie Billie with family and dog, photographed in the Big Cypress Swamp near Deep Lake in April 1921. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaAuthor Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings with her dog in Cross Creek, Florida, sometime in the 1940s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaEloise Morris with dog and fawn, taken around 1913. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaFlorida Secretary of State H. Clay Crawford with dog in front of the state capitol in Tallahassee, taken in the early 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaDogs of numerous breeds, photographed between 1900 and 1915. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaPeck Harris and his dog, taken in the 1940s. An accompanying note says, “Peck Harris was an early well driller.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA hunter and his dog quail hunting in De Funiak Springs, 1947. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaUnidentified woman with gun and hunting dogs in Tallahassee, 1880s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaPortrait of an unidentified girl with toy gun and dog, taken in the early 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaA man and hunting dog in Tallahassee, taken in the 1910s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaThe Phipps Plantation in 1948, with dog handler is Matthew Carter. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaChildren and dogs in a car in Tomoka River Region, photographed sometime in the 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaLassie awaiting her cue in front of camera crew, 1965. An accompanying note says: The CBS television show “Lassie,” ran from 1954 through 1974. In this episode, “Lassie the Voyager” which aired on October 16, 1966, Lassie and Ranger Corey are in Florida. Despite the fact that the character Lassie was female, all the dog actors have been male. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaLassie with actor Robert Bray, 1965. An accompanying note says: Robert Bray (1917-1983) acting in the CBS television show “Lassie”, which ran from 1954 through 1974. He played forest ranger Corey Stewart. Ranger Corey was Lassie’s owner after first Jeff and later Timmy. Bray stayed with the series for two seasons, from Fall 1964 through Spring 1967. In the last years, Lassie had no owner. In this episode, “Lassie the Voyager” which aired on October 16, 1966, Lassie and Ranger Corey are in Florida. Despite the fact that the character Lassie was female, all the dog actors have been male. Bray was a Montana native who worked with the CCC and served during World War II as a U.S. Marine. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaLassie performing in front of cameras, 1965. An accompanying note says: The CBS television show “Lassie,” ran from 1954 through 1974. In this episode, “Lassie the Voyager” which aired on October 16, 1966, Lassie and Ranger Corey are in Florida. Despite the fact that the character Lassie was female, all the dog actors have been male. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaSisters Judy and Susan Becker with their dog in Miami Beach, taken in the 1940s. A note says, “They were the daughters of Mary Bueneman and Robert Arthur Becker.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaJesse Messmore Dakin petting dog while cat sleeps by piano in the living room at the Racimo Plantation, January 1889. An accompanying note says, “Photographed in the main house at the Racimo Plantation. The plantation had 5000 orange trees and supported 40 workers.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaPortrait of Katherine McCrow with a Yorkie dog in Tallahassee, February 1967. A note says, “Richard Parks operated a portrait studio in Tallahassee from 1962 to 1974. First called Richard Parks-Evon Streetman Photography, the studio was later renamed Richard Parks Photography after Streetman moved to Gainesville about 1965.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaDog lost six years returns, photographed in 1951. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaMan bathes a dog, taken sometime in the 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaOld hermit Roy Ozmer poses with his dog on a self-made lounge chair in Gomez Point, taken on May 5, 1961. A note says, “Roy Ozmer, formerly the hermit of Pelican Key, now the hermit of Gomez Point.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaTheon Revell, Guy Revell, and Clinton Ashmore standing next to a dog and her puppies, taken sometime in the 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaBilly Belk with dog at the Leon County Clerk’s Office in Tallahassee, November 1942. An accompanying note says, “Probably 1942 (Nov.) before he left for service in WWII (joined the Navy).” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaTourist with “Brownie” the town dog in Daytona Beach, sometime in the 1950s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaLittle boy and a Boston Bulldog, taken sometime in the 1910s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaChild and dog, taken sometime in the 1920s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaMan in chair with dog in his lap, taken sometime in the 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaChildren posing with Dan the dog in Tallahassee, around 1915. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaChild and dog, sometime in the 1920s. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaGeorge S. Morikami and his dog in Delray Beach, likely taken in 1970. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaForrest Davis Jr. with a dog and puppies in Quincy, photographed in October 1950. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaLeslie Dughi and a dog play “keep away” in Tallahassee, around 1971. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaClose-up view of dog in Riviera Beach, May 1939. A note says, “The fat, lazy little dog never leaves his master’s side and consequently suffers from lack of exercise.” Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaUnidentified girl standing with a dog outside for a portrait in Mayport, 1900. Credit:State Library & Archives of FloridaBoy (Winston Pollard?) with dog in DeLand, sometime in the early 1900s. Credit:State Library & Archives of Florida
