Photo Archives Prepares For Next Step

By Plant City Photo Archives & History Center

After nearly two years spent in organizing, initiating new software programs for inventory control, collection management, display upgrades, and the implementation of state-of-the-art archives technology, Samantha Poirier, Executive Director of the Plant City Photo Archives & History Center is moving on in her career development. She will be relocating to Massachusetts in August.

Archives President Ed Verner has praised Poirier for her dedication and excellent work and has organized a search committee to recruit a successor. Archives Board member Bill Thomas heads the search committee which includes Verner, Robert Trinkle, Jim Shump, Marion Smith, Felix Haynes, Faychone Durant Newby, and John Haney.

Emphasizing the importance of leadership skills in the next step in the development of the Archives and its role in the community, Thomas said the nationwide search focuses on experience, education, vision, and leadership abilities. Former Executive Director Gil Gott will facilitate the search and will be the contact for all applicants and interested individuals. Gott can be reached at his email address gvgott@gmail.com.

The Archives has rearranged its schedule for May and June, changing its daily hours to 10:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and closing on four Thursdays from May 25 through June 15.

A Little Bit of History

Incorporated as Plant City Photo Archives, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization in 2000, the Photo Archives emphasized its history orientation and began doing business as Plant City Photo Archives & History Center in 2010. Collaborating with a major donor, retired pediatrician Dr. S. C. Huang, the history center was named the Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center in 2020.

Over the past twenty years the Photo Archives has become known for its community participation including working closely with the Bing House African American Museum, Arts Council of Plant City, Florida Strawberry Festival, City of Plant City, and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, the Archives has collaborated with Wilson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, Plant City High School, Bruton Memorial Library, South Florida Hospital, Florida Southern College, Hillsborough Community College, Plant City Observer, FOCUS Magazine, Florida Humanities, WUSF, University of South Florida, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s History Center, and many civic and community organizations.

Among the outstanding events brought to the community is the first Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street Exhibition which was on display at the Archives from May to July 2012. The Archives also brought the J. Seward Johnson sculptures to Plant City with its first exhibit running for three months in the summer of 2012 and continues annually, now under the leadership of the Arts Council.

Initiating the Jr. Archivist program, the Archives was hailed nationally, by the American Society of Archivists, as a leader in the field of youth development. The Archives has published over 120 articles in publications including FOCUS Magazine, The Courier, Plant City Observer, Society of Florida Archivists Newsletter, and contributed to the WUSF TV award winning video production Plant City Goes To War.

Plant City Photo Archives & History Center now seeks its third Executive Director in over 20 years and invites interested community history-oriented individuals to contact the search committee. Please send inquiries or resumes to gvgott@gmail.com.