‘Magna Carta’ collection in Boca Grande: Preserving the past
It all started with a phone call. “Approximately a year ago, we received a call,” began Jim Blaha of The Boca Grande Historical Society and History Center. “It was from a lady in Tennessee. She had found some books, documents, and even minutes from meetings in her attic, all dating back to 1902, and all with the name Boca Grande.”
Jim knew right away that this was a fortuitous call. “My heart started beating very rough and I tried to play it cool,” Jim said with a laugh.
That is how the “Magna Carta Collection” as it is now known, came to Boca Grande.
The collection of documents, which dated back to the early 1900s and related to the start of the commercial development of Boca Grande, was deeded to the Boca Grande History Center. “It belongs to all of the people,” said Jim. “We’re simply the stewards.”
The deeded documents were some of the first economically focused documents evidencing the foundations or plans for Boca Grande which is why they decided to label these documents as Boca Grande’s economic version of the Magna Carta.
Prominent names and signatures can be found in the papers such as Albert Gilchrist, Peter Bradley, Fouts, and even Charles Foster Dulles.
As one examines the signatures, hand-written documents, and the names of these original settlers of Boca Grande, it’s as if the past is coming back to life.
Because of the significance of the deeded collection, the Boca Grande Historical Society went to great lengths to make sure the collection was preserved with the utmost care. Private donations have made it possible to help preserve these precious documents.
“The question was, how do we display these documents? We have to be careful that the way we store them doesn’t contribute to any deterioration,” said Jim.
What was needed was a specially designed case to preserve these delicate documents. A generous donation from The Boca Grande Woman’s Club made it possible to purchase the case, which was made in Germany and transported to Boca Grande.
“These are the kind of materials that you’ll usually find in the university archives,” explained Jim. “We have to do our best to preserve the documents but allow the people of Boca Grande to see these papers for themselves.”
The Magna Carta Collection is currently on display at the Boca Grande Historical Society. For more information, contact the Boca Grande Historical Society at 964-1600.
