Voices From The Past: Time Capsule Contents Online and At The Library
- Florida Keys History Center
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
The contents from the Bicentennial time capsule at May Sands School that was uncovered on April 6, 50 years after its burial, are now on display online and in the Key West Library.
The capsule, created by fifth-graders in 1976, included pages from newspapers and magazines, information about endangered species, photographic slides and an audio cassette tape.
They can be viewed on the online collection of the Florida Keys History Center and in display cases at the Key West Library.
"Our exhibit satisfies the request of the May Sands students that the time capsule contents be put on display. Plus, I think people will be interested to see and think about these items that were underground and largely forgotten for 50 years," said Dr. Corey Malcom, lead historian at the Florida Keys History Center. "The materials from the time capsule represent historic events – the Bicentennial and the burying of the thing in the first place. They are also some of the only time capsule artifacts from Key West."
The slides did not survive 50 years in a moist underground environment and the images are severely degraded.
Surprisingly, the audiotape was in better condition and Dr. Malcom digitized the recording, which can be heard here:
The fifth-graders in 1976 delivered letters to the Monroe County School Superintendent, the principal at May Sands, the mayor of Key West and the Monroe County Public Library. Three of those letters survived, including the library's. Those instructions are now part of the display, online and at the library.
That preservation of a piece of Florida Keys history is an essential role for the library, said Kimberly Matthews, senior director of libraries.
“Our mission is to make sure the stories and experiences of Keys residents are preserved for future generations, whether they are fifth graders or famous writers,” Matthews said. “We’re happy that now we can share the contents of the time capsule with everyone, whether they’re visiting the Key West Library branch or looking at our online collection.”
