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Commission issues Black History Month proclamation and presents key to the city to Dr. Larry Robinson
Summary
The commission recognized February as Black History Month with representatives from the Meek‑Eaton Black Archives Research Center and presented a ceremonial "key to the city" to Dr. Larry Robinson, former FAMU president; remarks emphasized historical preservation and the university‑city partnership.
The City Commission opened its Feb. 12 meeting with ceremonial recognitions. The mayor pro tem presented a proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month and invited representatives from the Meek‑Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum at Florida A&M University to receive it.
The proclamation recounted the archives’ founding and mission, noting the Florida Legislature’s 1971 mandate that created a repository to preserve and disseminate information about African Americans, the role of Dr. James N. Eaton in establishing the collection, and the Carnegie Library building’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. A representative from the Meek‑Eaton Center accepted the proclamation and thanked the commission for recognizing the archives’ role in preserving local and regional history.
The commission also presented a ceremonial key to the city to Dr. Larry Robinson, who served multiple times as interim president of Florida A&M University. In accepting the key, Robinson thanked the city and acknowledged the university community and his family. Mayor Pro Tem and other commissioners praised Robinson’s long service and noted FAMU’s partnership with the city — including use of Bragg Memorial Stadium for COVID testing and vaccination sites — as part of the city‑university relationship.
Why it matters: The proclamations are ceremonial recognition of local institutions and figures that emphasize cultural preservation and long‑standing university‑city collaboration. The Meek‑Eaton Black Archives collects and preserves documents and artifacts that the city said illuminate African‑American history and culture in the region.
