Beginning with Governor
Francis Fleming in the 1890s, every chief executive of Florida has had
an official portrait painted and hung in the state capitol building. Over
the years, an interesting variety of artistic styles has accumulated. In
the mid-1950s, the state legislature commissioned Tallahassee artist Clarabel
Jett (1908–96) to create oil-enhanced photographs of all Florida governors
whose portraits were not yet in the state collection. In 1986, the legislature
transferred custody of the portrait collection to the Museum of Florida
History.
Beginning in August 2002 all of the Governor's portraits will be represented at the Florida Center of Political History and Governance at the Old Capitol. The more recent governors’ portraits appear in the first-floor
hallway of the new Capitol, beginning with LeRoy Collins (1954–60) and continuing
up to the most recent portrait, that of Governor Buddy MacKay (December 1998-January 1999).
In keeping with the tradition of official governors’ portraits, our current
governor, Jeb Bush, will not commission his portrait until the end
of his term.
These are colorful portraits of colorful people, all of
whom have been Florida history makers.
Click on the governor's name to see the portrait
and biography.
