Our Staff
Our Policies
Privacy Policy
Because we are a division of the Clay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s office, we comply with Florida’s Sunshine Law. Government records and photographs that are historically significant should remain open and accessible to the public, which is a service that the Archives provides. Please be aware that any electronic communication with the Archives staff (such as email) is also considered a record and is therefore available for inspection by the public.
Donations
We do accept donations from the public. However, our acquisition policy dictates that we are only able to accept items that are relevant to Clay County history, and, in general, we do not accept artifacts. If a donation is accepted, it must be turned over to the Archives as a permanent donation, as we do not allow loans.
Appointments
Although the Archives office and the old jail are open to the public during regular business hours, we respectfully ask that researchers who have a specific topic or collection in mind make an appointment before coming in. This ensures that the Archives staff will in the office at your desired appointment time, and it will allow them to pull materials into the reading room before you arrive.
Our Facilites
The Archives Office
The Archives office is located in what used to be the jailer’s living quarters. The Jailer and his family would live and work in this building, and his wife would cook meals for the inmates. The Archives office houses our most frequently used records, as well as all of our subject files and a reading room that contains published works on Clay County and Florida history.
The Old Jail
The old jail was built in 1894 by the Pauly Jail Company, which is still in business today. It is the second-oldest jail in the state of Florida, behind only the one in St. Augustine, and it was used until 1972. The exterior was originally red brick, but it was painted white in 1963, resulting in a pinkish hue. There are 16 jail cells of various sizes and security levels, and over the years, it has held men, women, juveniles, and the mentally ill.
The Historic Triangle
The grounds that the Archives office and the old jail sit on is known as the Historic Triangle. The property gets its name from the triangular positioning of the 1890 courthouse, the old jail, and the Clay County History Museum. The Historic Triangle is considered a county park, and it is a wonderful green space for the public to enjoy.