Information about the Destruction of Rosewood, Florida in January, 1923 continues to be of interest. Published information is not abundant. The following sources are those identified by the State Library staff which are helpful in answering requests for this information.
Report to the Legislature: A Documented History of the Incident Which Occured at Rosewood, Florida in January, 1923. This report, prepared for the Legislature by five professors from FAMU, FSU and UF, was submitted to the Board of Regents in December 1993. It was not submitted to the State Documents Depository program and is no longer in print. According to OCLC, it is available at the State Library, Manatee County, Stetson University Law Library, Leon County, Rollins College, and Orange County. The State Library has a copy available for interlibrary loan.
The report is in two volumes--a 93-page report and a 461-page volume of appendicies and supporting documentation.
The State Archives has the files (reports, audio and videotapes of hearings) of the House Judiciary Committee which handled the Rosewood legislation. The public has access to these files at the State Archives in Tallahassee.
The Florida Collection at the State Library has various materials on the subject which were used by the researchers to produce the report to the Board of Regents. These materials do not circulate but are available to researchers at the State Library. Where possible, books on the subject are purchased for both the Florida Collection and circulating collection to provide a copy for interlibrary loan.
Because of ongoing interest in this subject, the State Library is interested in knowing about other sources we should add to the list of Rosewood materials.
BOOKS
- D'Orso, Michael. Like Judgment Day: The Ruin and Redemption of a town called Rosewood. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1996.
- F975.977
- D718.
BOOK ARTICLES
- Jones, Maxine D. , McCarthy, Kevin M. "The Rosewood Massacre, January 1923", in African Americans in Florida, pp.83-84.
- McCarthy, Kevin M. "Rosewood", in Black Florida, pp.254-257.
- http://www.displaysforschools.com/rosewood.html
-
Remembering Rosewood - a web site approved by Rosewood Family Members. It includes
pictures of the survivors, information about the Rosewood Scholarship, and bus tours.
INTERNET SITES
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Dye, R. Thomas. "Rosewood, Florida: The destruction of an African American community". Historian : A journal of History, Spring 1996, v58 n3 p605-622.
Finan, Eileen. "Delayed justice: The Rosewood story".
Human Rights, Spring 1995, v22 n2 p8-9.
Jerome, Richard. "A measure of justice: for survivors of
the Rosewood massacre…" People Weekly, Jan. 16, 1995
v43 n2 p46.
Riordan, Patrick. "Rosewood: FSU historians help to right
old wrongs". Florida State Magazine, Summer/Fall 1994, pp.14-.
Taylor, John. "The Rosewood massacre". Esquire, July
1994 v122 n1 pp.46-53.
"Florida Legislature to pay $2.1 million to victims of 1923
racist massacre in Rosewood". Jet, April 25, 1994 v85 n25
p12.
"State of Florida to award each Rosewood massacre survivor
$100,000 or more". Jet, Jan. 16, 1995 v87 n10 p18.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Florida House bill HR 27-B, 1993 Funding a grant to investigate destruction of Rosewood.
Florida House bill HR 813, 1993 Compensation for victims of Rosewood
massacre.
Florida House bill HR 2425, 1993 Funding a grant to investigate destruction
of Rosewood.
Florida House bill HR 5-D, 1994 Rosewood family scholarship fund.
Florida House bill HR 591, 1994 Compensation for victims of Rosewood
massacre.*
Florida House bill HR 1359, 1994 Rosewood compensation fund and appropriation
for erection of a monument.
Florida House bill HR 1923, 1993 Resolution commending Minnie Lee Langley
for her courage in escaping from the Rosewood massacre.
Florida Senate bill SB 1452, 1993 Compensation for the victims of Rosewood
massacre.
Florida Senate bill SB 2024, 1993 Funding a grant to investigate destruction
of Rosewood.
Florida Senate bill SB 1752, 1994 Rosewood compensation fund and appropriation
for erection of a monument.
Florida Senate bill SB 1774, 1994 Compensation for the victims of Rosewood
massacre.*
Florida Senate bill SB 712, 1995 Rosewood family scholarship fund.
(* Denotes bills that were passed into law)
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Booth, William. "70 years ago, a town disappeared in a blaze
fueled by racial hatred. Not everyone has forgotten". Washington Post, May 30,
1993, p.F1.
Colburn, David. "Rosewood", The Gainesville Sun,
Jan. 14, 1994.
Eddy, Kristin. "New light on old horror". Atlanta Constitution,
Jan. 2, 1997, p. A4.;
"Rosewood massacre revisited". Atlanta Constitution,
Jan. 2, 1997, p. A4.
Flowers, Charles. "Rosewood: 'Ashes 'N the hood".
The Seminole Tribune, Sept. 27, 1996, p.3.;
"Families bare secrets at Rosewood hearing". The
Seminole Tribune, Sept. 27, 1996, p.1, 24+.
Gallagher, Peter B. "The Rosewood Massacre of 1923".
The Seminole Tribune, Jan.15, 1993, p.1+.
;
"Lost in truth and time". The Seminole Tribune, Sept.
27, 1996, p.3.
Harrison, Eric. "A massacre, the movies and the obligations
of memory". Los Angeles Times, Oct. 16, 1994.
Moore, Gary. "Rosewood". The Floridian insert of St.
Petersburg Times, July 25, 1982, pp.6-19.
;
"Nothing left but to fight to be heard", The Florida
Times-Union, Jan. 3, 1993.
;
"Survivor recalls terror of day Rosewood died",The
Florida Times-Union, Jan. 3, 1993.
;
"Wiped off the map", Tropic insert of The Miami Herald,
Mar. 7, 1993 pp.14-18, 22-25.
Reed, Willaim. "Rosewood massacre survivors seek justice".
Chicago Defender, Mar. 19, 1994, p. 16.
Rohter, Larry. "Paying for racial attack divides Florida
leaders". New York Times, Mar. 14, 1994, p. A12.
Rozsa, Lori. "Massacre in a small town".Atlanta Journal
Constitution, Jan. 17, 1993.
Sharp, Deborah. "In Fla., a 71-year racial debt".
USA Today, Mar. 31, 1994, p.A3.
Voyles, Karen. "Survivors dredge up painful memories",
The Gainesville Sun, Feb. 24, 1994.
Williams, Mike. "Florida moves to right an old wrong". Atlanta Constitution, Jan. 14, 1994, p.A3.
"A deal that nearly wasn't". Tallahassee Democrat, Feb. 11, 1996.
"A living witness to a bloody past". Tallahassee Democrat,
Mar. 21, 1993.
"A new year - And memories". Washington Post, Jan.
1, 1993, p. A18.
"A skeleton in Florida's closet". Tallahassee Democrat,
Aug. 15, 1982.
"Armed Posse Hunts Negro." St. Petersburg Times, January 6, 1923.
"Bill would compensate massacre's children". Tallahassee
Democrat, Dec. 31, 1993.
"Black history" Tropic insert of The Miami Herald, Mar.
7, 1993 p.4.
"Blacks Kill Two Whites in Race Riot." St. Petersburg Times, January 5, 1923.
"Checks ready for Rosewood survivors". Gainesville
Sun, Jan. 6, 1995.
"Descendants meet to celebrate victory". Tallahassee
Democrat, July 22, 1995.
"Father, son say massacre was sparked by blacks".Tallahassee
Democrat, Mar. 11, 1994.
"Florida urged to compensate victims of racial attack in
'23". New York Times, Mar. 22, 1994, p. A17.
"Florida panel backs compensation in riots". New York
Times, Mar. 24, 1994, p. A17.
"Hearing brings graphic memories of Rosewood to light".
Tallahassee Democrat, Feb. 24, 1994.
"In 1923, a white mob attacked a black town and wiped it
off the Florida map". Tallahassee Democrat, Mar. 21, 1993.
"It's official: Rosewood families get compensation".
The Orlando Sentinel, May 5, 1994.
"Klan trying to prove massacre at Rosewood never happened".
The Miami Herald, Mar. 6, 1993.
"Last negro homes razed in Rosewood". New York Times,
Jan. 8, 1923.
"Massacre at Rosewood: A survivor speaks". The Seminole Tribune, Feb. 26, 1993, p.1+.
"Nothing left but to fight to be heard". The Florida
Times-Union, Jan. 3, 1993.
"Payments close a Rosewood chapter". Tallahassee Democrat,
May 28, 1995.
"Race riot in Levy County results in several deaths".
Tallahassee Democrat, Jan. 5, 1923.
"Recompense being sought for massacre". New York Times,
Jan. 2, 1994.
"Report relives tale of horror". Tallahassee Democrat,
Dec. 23, 1993.
"Rosewood survivors live to see 'justice'". Tallahassee
Democrat, Apr. 9, 1994.
"Rosewood witness: Deputy knew of riot, but didn't act".
Tallahassee Democrat, Mar. 12, 1994.
"Son of Rosewood speaks out: Q & A with Arnett Doctor".
The Seminole Tribune, Apr. 23, 1993, p.1+.
"State lifts Rosewood 'shade of shame'". Tallahassee
Democrat, May 5, 1994.
"Survivors of town razed in rampage seek redemption".
Tallahassee Democrat, Dec. 29, 1992.
"The Rosewood bill". The Seminole Tribune, Feb. 26,
1993, p.1+.
"Unprecedented verification process begins". Tallahassee
Democrat, May 9, 1994.
"Witness tells lynching story". The Orlando Sentinel, Mar. 27, 1994.
NEWS MEDIA
"Questions remain in 1923 massacre of blacks in Florida". From National Public Radio All things considered, Oct. 16, 1993 program n1272. For transcripts contact ASC Services."Survivors of Rosewood, Fl, massacre compensated". From ABC World News Tonight, Apr. 8, 1994, Program n4070. For transcripts contact ASC Services.
REPORT
A documented history of the incident which occurred at Rosewood, Florida, in January 1923…v1-2. Tallahassee, Fla.: Board of Regents, 1993. F975.977s R818.(Bibliography prepared by Elaine Dickinson, Librarian Specialist, Florida Room, State Library of Florida.)