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Florida by the book

As a tribute to Jeb Bush's emphasis on reading, the Governor's Mansion has a new formal library dedicated to the state and its authors. Got any books you'd like to donate?

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published April 1, 2007

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TALLAHASSEE

The visitor to the Governor's Mansion these days is often surprised to wander into the newest addition to the historic home: a cozy library with shelves that stretch to the ceiling. The 734-square-foot formal library, and an adjoining outdoor patio of about the same size, are the first major changes to the mansion in two decades. The $500,000 project was paid for with private donations and completed a few weeks before Jeb Bush left office in January.

It was envisioned by members of the Governor's Mansion Foundation as a tribute to Bush's emphasis on reading. Foundation members raised the money, hired the architect and oversaw the work.

"They felt like literacy was the best way to acknowledge their contributions to Florida," said Carol Beck, the mansion curator.

The stately mansion library combines touches of the old and new. An 18th century secretary sits at one end, and a flat-screen TV is on the opposite wall.

The University Press of Florida donated most of the books, which focus on Florida matters and authors, and the Bushes donated some of their own, including books about Mexico, Mrs. Bush's homeland.

"For the most part, it's Florida topics, but there are a few that are not," Beck said.

Books lining the shelves range from the historic to the obscure. They include He-Coon: The Bob Sykes Story, an autobiography by the once-powerful Panhandle congressman; Hank Drane's Historic Governors, by the former political writer for the Florida Times-Union; Harriet Beecher Stowe's Palmetto Leaves, written in 1872; and Claude Pepper and Ed Ball by Tracy Danese, which chronicles how two powerful Floridians clashed repeatedly in the mid 20th century.

Some of the shelves are still naked, however.

Florida-related subjects that are noticeably absent are works about Walt Disney, the space program and the civil rights era, and the novels of Carl Hiaasen. Beck said the mansion foundation would gladly accept relevant donated books.

The last time the mansion underwent a major addition was in 1986, when the Florida room was added during the tenure of Bob Graham and his wife, Adele.

The Florida room has a much smaller library.

"For the beautiful new Florida room at the Governor's Mansion," reads a 1986 inscription in a copy of former Gov. LeRoy Collins' autobiography, Forerunners Courageous.

The mansion's new occupant, Gov. Charlie Crist, surveyed his surroundings with awe.

"It looks exceptional to me," Crist said. "To have a statement like this, about reading and the importance of Florida authors, I think, is very forward-thinking."

At recent public events at the mansion, some legislators who saw the library for the first time came away impressed.

"I was going to say, how did this get here?" asked Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach.

While touring the mansion, freshman Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, asked Beck if the mansion had its own librarian.

"Not yet," Beck said with a laugh. "You're looking at her."

Steve Bousquet can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or bousquet@sptimes.com.

IF YOU GO

Tours

Public tours of the Florida Governor's Mansion are available during the holiday season and the spring legislative session, and by appointment.

Through May 11, tours are given from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

To schedule a tour, call (850) 922-4991 or e-mail the curator at carol.beck@myflorida.com.

 

[Last modified March 31, 2007, 15:33:48]