BIO

Hello! My name is Anna and I am a sophomore studying biological science and Chinese language and culture here at Florida State. I am an out-of-state student from Madison, Wisconsin.

Exploring Human Exploitation of Nature in Florida Through 20th Century Postcards

Abstract

Postcards present a unique opportunity to explore human exploitation of nature in Florida. Although the effects of human exploitation have been studied in individual areas, there have not been notable efforts to analyze commonalities spanning multiple Floridian locations through the use of postcards, which act as a way to visually chronicle these issues. The Florida State University Card Archive was utilized to create categories of investigation based on general themes observed in postcards. Further examination was carried out on specific cards within each category through the use of a coding system on Excel. Secondary research was also conducted to gather additional details about the locations featured in each card. The majority of these cards fell into one or both of two main areas: tourism and agriculture. Evidence of these two types of exploitation could be seen across cards showcasing locations such as Wakulla Springs, the Everglades, Disney World, Silver Springs, Tarpon Springs, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. An exploration of Floridian postcards depicting exploitation of nature lends noteworthy insight on how areas in Florida have been impacted by human encroachment, and thus highlight many relevant environmental issues that are yet to be resolved.

Keywords: postcards, nature, tourism, Florida