BRADENTON, Fla. – The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller hosted a celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 24 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Bradenton Carnegie Library, which was constructed in 1918 and served as Bradenton’s main library for 60 years.
During the event, Angel Colonneso, Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, provided a short historical overview of the Carnegie Library, which has housed the Manatee County Historical Records Library since 1978. R.B. “Chips” Shore, a former Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, established the archive. It marks the first archive operated by a Clerk of Circuit Court in Florida.
“We are so fortunate to have a community and a local government that supports our history because it’s so important to preserve this,” said Colonneso. “The Manatee County Historical Records Library continues to serve our community. It houses documents, such as marriage licenses, deed books, probate files, tax records, historic maps and county commission minute books.”
Visitors can browse Manatee County’s early governmental records, dating back to the county’s formation in 1855. The library also houses the Steve Belack collection of Powel Crosley memorabilia and the Herb Loomis historic postcard collection. Today, mostly environment researchers, family historians, homeowners and those just interested in learning about the community use it.
Located at 1405 4th Ave. W. in Bradenton, the library was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in April 1987.
Built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation, a philanthropic organization established by industrialist Andrew Carnegie in the late nineteenth century. In 1917, the Carnegie foundation agreed to donate $10,000 for the library in Bradenton and the land was donated by the city of Bradenton.
About the Manatee County Clerk of the Court
The Florida Constitution established the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller as a public trustee, independently elected to protect public funds and public records while executing the functions of Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Comptroller, Treasurer and Auditor, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners and County Recorder. The Clerk oversees a staff of more than 275 people, responsible for performing nearly 1,000 constitutional or statutory functions or duties, representing the broadest and most diverse mantle of responsibility of any locally elected official. The citizens of Manatee County elect the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller to a four-year term. Currently, Angelina M. Colonneso serves as the Clerk of the Court. For more information, call 941-749-1800 or visit www.ManateeClerk.com.