Unsealed

April is the month in which we celebrate Earth Day, so we thought we would take a look at the life of a woman who became one of the most important voices to emerge from the dawning of environmental consciousness in 20th Century America, and who is today remembered as "the woman who saved the Everglades."   Marjory Stoneman Douglas  

March is Women's History Month, so let's take a look at the life and work of Florida author and member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, Marjorie Kennan Rawlings. While not a native Floridian, Marjorie Kennan Rawlings has become strongly identified with Florida through her writings, which told stories of life in rural Florida. 

March is Archaeology month. And archaeologist is one of those professions that, for better or worse, have some well-known fictional characters that have presented the profession as an adventurous action-filled thrill ride. But, when it comes down to it, archaeologists are scientists who study the human past using material remains left behind by past civilizations. Sometimes this is done through digging and excavation, but increasingly this work is accomplished via technology. Here at the Department of State, archeology comes into play as part of the Division of Historical Resources' Bureau of Archaeological Research, which is a part of the Department entrusted with the maintenance, preservation, and protection of over 12,000 years of Florida heritage. So, in honor of archaeology month, we sat down with some of these archaeologists to find out a little bit about what they do they do here in the Department and about some of the technology they use to do their work.  

In our inaugural episode of Unsealed Profiles and in honor of Black History Month, let's learn a bit about a group of Florida artists known as the Highwaymen. This group of young Black American painters from the Ft. Pierce, Florida area began painting and selling their work out of their cars along Florida's highways in the 1950s, earning them the group's nickname and eventually ending up in the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.

February is Black History Month, so to commemorate the occasion we sat down with Museum of Florida History Senior Curator Kimberlyn Elliot to chat about some of the artifacts in the collection that shine light on the role Black Floridians have played in a variety of aspects of the state's history.    

Florida prides itself on being a business friendly state, and the Department of State intersects with the world of business on a couple of fronts. One is through the aforementioned Division of Corporations, which is the State's central location for filing business entities; serves as an informational resource for statewide business activities, registrations and certificates; and provides sole proprietors and companies with the legal right to do business in the state of Florida. As of October 2025, there were over three and a half million businesses registered with the Division of Corporations. The Department also houses the Florida Main Street Program, which is a technical assistance program with the goal of revitalizing historic downtowns and encouraging economic development within the context of historic preservation.   In this episode, we chat with Katherine Beck, the Director of Florida Main Street, about how that program benefits small businesses. We also sat down with Division of Corporations Director Sean Toner to find out what is involved in keeping up with Florida's millions of businesses. 

While November might be most associated with Thanksgiving, Veterans day also falls with in the month.  This federal holiday is observed every November 11th and honors military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. At the Florida Department of State, the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans' History Program collects, preserves, and shares the stories of Florida's veterans and the State of Florida's military contributions. By documenting veterans' personal narratives, the program ensures their firsthand experiences remain accessible to the public and future generations. In this episode, we chat with program administrator Julian Duncan about the work of the program and we hear some excerpts from interviews he has conducted with veterans in the course of his work. 

Indigenous people have lived in Florida for more than 14,000 years, long before the European explorers and the settlers who journeyed to Florida arrived. Today, Florida is home to two federally recognized tribes the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and Seminole Tribe of Florida. But throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, there were many tribes and other groups who lived throughout the state. But over the years, many of these more ancient tribes either merged and combined with other tribes, no longer exist due to conflict and exposure to disease, or moved or were removed from the area and now live in other parts of the country. In this episode, we'll take a look at two of Florida's native tribes and explore a little bit about their history and culture and how the Department works with Florida's tribes today.  

It been said that during its long history Florida has flown the flags of five nations. One of those nations was Spain, and it's flag actually flew over Florida twice. The first Spanish period (1565-1763) and the Second Spanish Period (1783-1821). The two Spanish periods were broken up by a brief 20 year span when Florida was under British rule while Florida's neighbors, the 13 original colonies, were declaring their independence from the King.  In this episode, we will take a look at what was happening in Florida during it's time as a Spanish territory, and how Spain's claim to the sunshine state eventually came to an end. 

Florida is a land surrounded by water. Water has played a key role in the development of Florida throughout it's history and the artifacts and structures left in and around waterways help tell the story of the history of Florida. In this episode we talk to a number of historians and archaeologist about the things we can learn about Florida's past buy exploring it's many waterways.   To learn more: Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail Underwater Archaeology Collections and Conservation

As America approaches a significant birthday, all 50 states are planning events and activities to commemorate the semiquincentennial.  In this episode, we take a look at some of the past, present, and future aspects of Florida's role in the creation and celebration of America over the last 250 years.  You can view images of some of the artifacts from the Centennial and Bicentennial celebrations here.  https://dos.fl.gov/unsealed-podcast/unsealed-podcast/season-two/americas-250/artifacts/  

In this special episode celebrating Tallahassee's Bicentennial, we will explore some Florida history, as well as hear from some Department of State employees who helped to recreate a piece of the past. First up, Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Assistant Director of the Division of Historical Resources, John Grandage, discuss Florida's Territorial Period and some of the events leading up statehood and the establishment of Tallahassee as the state capital. Then host Elizabeth Johnson chats with Museum of Florida History Artisan Conrad Brayman and Museum Educator Brennan Jammer about the creation of a model of Florida's first log cabin capitol building.

Join us as Maria Matthews, Director of the Division of Elections, shares insights into how the Division provides administrative support to the Secretary of State, Florida's Chief Election Officer, to ensure that Florida has fair and accurate elections. 

Join us as Photographic Archivist Adam Watson tells us a bit about the the Florida Photographic Collection housed within the State Archives of Florida.   The Photographic Collection visually documents the people, places and events that have contributed to the Florida's history and development from the mid-15th century to the present. Comprised of approximately 1.5 million still images and over 7,000 movies and video tapes, it's the largest and most comprehensive collection of Florida-related images in existence.

In this episode, Alissa Lotane, Director of the Division of Historical Resources and Florida's State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) joins us to discuss how the Department of State helps to direct historic preservation efforts throughout the state.  In cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments, private organizations, and individuals, the Division of Historical Resources  protects and promotes Florida's historical and archaeological resources, helps to preserve and maintain Florida's historic buildings and archaeological sites, and coordinates outreach programs such as the State Historical Markers program and the Florida Main Street program.

In this episode we're joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd, and Amy Johnson, Florida's State Librarian. We'll discuss the various parts of the Division of Library and Information Services, focusing on the roles they play, the records they keep, and the resources they offer.

In this episode we're joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd, and Ryan Duggins, State Underwater Archaeologist and Underwater Archaeology Supervisor. We will discuss the unique challenges faced by archeologists in Florida as they try to explore the historical record of a state on a peninsula, surrounded by saltwater, and filled with lakes, rivers, springs.

In this episode Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Archives Historian Matthew Storey join us to discuss the Department's role as the state's record keeper and various ways that these records are both preserved for and made available to the people of the state of Florida.

In this episode, Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Division of Corporations Director Sean Toner explore how the department keeps the wheels of Florida's businesses running smoothly.

In this episode we're joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd, and Sam Wilford, Archaeology Collections and Conservation Supervisor for the Department's Bureau of Archeological Research. We will be discussing the millions of artifacts that populate the State's archaeological collection and how the department saves, stewards, and shares these fascinating historical items.

In this episode we're joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Dominick Tartaglia, who is the Sate Folklorist for the state of Florida. We'll be discussing the Florida Folklife Program and the ways in which it documents, presents, and preserves the living traditions, folk arts, and cultural knowledge that are a vital part Florida's vibrant folklife and traditional culture.

In this episode we're joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd, and Kathryn Miyar, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Archeological Research and State Archeologist for the state of Florida. We will discuss the Department's role in preserving Florida's past while working with the various stakeholders that have an interest in protecting historical items it for future generations.

In this episode Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Archives Historian Matthew Story join us to discuss one of the roles of the Department of State as the state's record keeper and various ways that these records are both preserved for and made available to the people of the state of Florida.