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The collections of MHS total approximately 3,500 items, documenting the life of small town Florida, its business, developments, families, schools, churches and activities.The archives contain approximately 39 cubic feet of manuscripts and photographs, and a collection of 90 audiotapes and 25 videotapes.Of greatest value are older records including cemetery and early City records, voter registration information and family archives. The artifact collection contains more than 80 cubic feet of catalogued and stored historical items pertaining to the history of Maitland and Central Florida. Some examples of the collection include a copper and brass black powder flask found in 1935, handmade 19th century quilts, and Citrus industry tools.
The Maitland Historical Museum's permanent exhibition area covers Maitland history in a timeline format and utilizes a variety of photos and artifacts. Changing exhibition space gives insight into Maitland's past in the greater context of Florida and US history.
The Waterhouse Residence Museum's collection includes Victorian residential items, reflecting a middle class family lifestyle of the 1800s in Central Florida. The Waterhouse Residence Museum itself is on the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of the Society's most important pieces in the collection.
The Carpentry Shop Museum includes a collection of antique
woodworking tools, as well as tools owned by Mr.Waterhouse, used to build many of Maitland early homes. The building itself is a unique and important historic resource.
The Telephone Museum collection includes telephones, equipment, and archives representing the story of the Galloway family who started telephone service in this area, and the Winter Park Telephone Company of 1913-1979.
 Maitland on the Move features varying artifacts throughout the year. Visit now to see Charles Waterhouse's Knights Templar Sword presented to him in 1870. The inscription "In Hoc Signo Vinces" is a Latin phrase used by the Knights Templar that is translated, "In this sign you will conquer."
The Society is gearing up to open an important exhibition, entitled Destination: Maitland, on the effect of the railroad on the expansion of this once small town. Some exciting artifacts from early railroad history include a November 1894 South Florida railroad receipt written to Maitland businessman Isaac Vanderpool for the shipment of 8 boxes of lemons to Philadelphia and an October 1885 South Florida Railroad pass issued by South Florida Railroad President J.R. Ingraham to William H. Waterhouse for travel between Sanford or Tampa to Gainesville or Palatka.
The public is welcome to conduct research in our archives by appointment with the Curator of Collections on Monday or Wednesday. Access to the archives is free of charge, but there is a fee schedule for photocopies and scans.
You can bring home a little piece of history! Browse through more than 100 photos and purchase your own historic photograph fine art reproduction. Click here for more details!
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