Hubbard L. Hart Papers

Collection

Identifier: PKY Misc. 01,245

Scope and Content

This small group of papers relates to Hubbard L. Hart's steamship lines based in Palatka, Florida. Items include steamship tickets, photographs, receipts, and letters. Most are incoming business correspondence to Hart, with the bulk in June and July of 1859, and between 1882 and 1893. The papers are in chronological order and undated materials are placed at the end. Some documents of interest include tickets for passage on Hart's steamship line and photographs of his offices in Palatka, a landing station at Silver Springs, and Hubbard L. Hart.

Dates

Creation: 1855-1919
Creation: Majority of material found in 1859, 1880-1889

Creator

Hart Steamship Lines. (Organization)

Access

The collection is open for research.

Biographical/Historical Note

Hubbard L. Hart was born on May 4, 1827 in Guildford, Vermont. He started a stagecoach line through Georgia in 1852 and another in Florida in 1855 from Palatka to Tampa. In 1860 Hart purchased steamboats and subsequently began carrying supplies for the Confederacy. Following the Civil War he expanded his steamship business to transport passengers and materials from Palatka to Silver Springs. Hart's business flourished in the late 1800s as he dominated trade on the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers. He passed away on December 1895 in Atlanta, Georgia, when he fell from a trolley car. His company continued operation of steamships into the 1920s.

Sources: Mueller, Edward A. Images of America: Along the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers. Arcadia Publishing, 1999. Also, "Steamboat Company Documents, 1885, 1887." Florida Memory (The State Archives of Florida).

Extent

0.02 Linear feet (4 Folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Small set of business papers and photographs relating to Hubbard L. Hart and his steamship and stagecoach lines in Florida.

Physical Location

University of Florida Smathers Library Building

Acquisition Information

Donated to the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History by Steve Hale in 2012.

Related Material

There are examples of materials online from the Hubbard L. Hart Papers, Archives of the State of Florida, Manuscript No. M81-7 (see also Manuscript No. M86- 4 Hubbard L. Hart; 1 reel of microfilm). There is related material on Hart at the Hargrett Library, University of Georgia.