I was amazed when I first heard of Mickler’s Floridiana. It sounds like the coolest place on Planet Earth to hang out at. Unfortunately, like all good things…it came to an end, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be immortalized in a blog post.
At it’s peak, Mickler’s Floridiana contained more than 40,000 books and historical parchments and materials on Florida, housed in an 11 room home in Chuluota, FL.
Mickler’s Floridiana was a bookselling business started by Thomas Mickler and Georgine Mickler. Not much is known about Thomas and Georgine Mickler, as they would talk about books but not talk much about themselves.
Thomas Mickler was a native Floridian and Georgine Mickler was born in Chicago, raised by an aunt in Kentucky, and had an arduous upbringing during the Great Depression. Georgine’s father, George Rumrill, was a famous potter in the 1920s. For a time Georgine worked as a photo illustrator in NYC, which included photographs of Jacqueline Bouvier (better known as Jackie Kennedy).
Eventually, Georgine moved to Florida in 1961 and got a job working for Thomas Mickler at his camera store in Orlando. They fell in loved and got hitched.
While working at the camera store, Georgine started collecting books and put it in a small section of the store; however, the collection started to grow and grow. The couple moved to Chuluota, outside of Orlando, into a home dubbed the Florida Breeze–an 11 room house with big, Florida, pre-air-conditioning windows that was originally built for a railroad agent for Henry Flagler.
It is at the Florida Breeze that their book collection exploded. They operated a mail-order business out of the home by the name of Mickler’s Antiquarian Books for nearly 40 years. Thomas created an impressive map collection with years ranging from 1735 to 1995. They obtained a reputation for being able to find any out-of-print Florida book.
As mentioned earlier, their collection grew to over 40,000 items. However, Thomas died in 1997 and Georgine died in 1998 without any heir.
The collection was bought up by six different libraries across the state, with the majority of the collection going to the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida.
T. Allen Smith, of St. Petersburg, bought the remaining items of the collection and eventually opened his own Floridiana store; however, based on my internet detective work, his store has been closed for some time now. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to turn a profit on a niche bookstore in the age of Amazon and e-books.
It’s crazy to think that once upon a time there was a house in Florida that had a collection of over 40,000 Florida items. Maybe someday somebody else will put together another great Floridiana collection.
Well, until then, I hope you feel inspired to go and grab a Florida book or two!
I got really intrigued by this interesting story. My name is Thomas Mickler. I am a German who is spending a few days of my vacation in St. Augustine and got curious when I came across so many landmarks or references that connected to the name Mickler. I started to study the Internet and found this nice website. I am wondering whether there is any connection to the European Mickler’s. Apparently, Peter Mickler immigrated around 1700 from Germany and started this dynasty in the USA. It would be great to find our where in Germany he came from or who his parents were. There is basically one area in Europe, where until today many Micklers live, and there is a chance that his roots go back to that city.
I saw Artikels on how the name is pronounciated, and the version Mike-ler is clearly an Americanized version, but if they like it that way, everybody should speak it that way. We in Europe say Mick-ler, as Mike-Lenin German language would be spelled Meik-ler.
Let me please know, if you have any information for me,
Thomas Mickler
This is very interesting! Unfortunately, there is very little information out there on these Micklers since they really kept to themselves. You might find a few more details here: Orlando Sentinel – Mickler
Thanks for the comment and I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip to St. Pete!
I ran across your blog while doing a general search on Florida. My mother was a Florida Historican and I remember going with her to the Mickler’s when I was a kid. We lived in Titusville, and she was friends with them. I just remember that their house was an old house ( typical old florida home) and lots of book. Seems to me, my younger sister and I would be allowed to play outside and have ice tea on the porch while our mother and the Micklers would take history. When my mother died, we had lots and lots of books. Some of them went to friends and others to North Brevard Historical Museum. Enjoy learning about Florida History
I worked at Micklers Floridian in a Oviedo Florida. I remember a man named Sam Mickler who ran the store, anyone know what happened to him?
Hi! I stumbled on this page tonight while looking around at stuff about my great aunt and uncle’s collection! As above, my name is Laura, and I’m the daughter of Arnold Patrick Mickler III, the current owner of the Florida breezes home! I was raised in this house and I love it to this day. We actually still have some of the collection, I believe! I know it’s been two years since you wrote this article but it’s such a wonderful thing to see people are still out there thinking of my Great Aunt and Uncle’s collection 🙂
My husband is Lester H Mickler and is 9th generation of Mickler’s, his ancestors came from Alsace Lorraine, France – but they were definitely German to start. Then intermarried with the Minorcans. We do have lots of history on the families.