Own a piece of civil rights history.

Thomas LeRoy Collins was a member of the Florida House and then the Florida Senate before he was elected governor.  He served from 1955-1961.  He is known for being the first southern governor to support integration. President Johnson appointed him the first Director of the Community Relations Service under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.  This background info is from Wikipedia.

This is the Official Program of the 1955 Inauguration of Collins as Governor of Florida.  The cover is a glossy card stock.  The inner pages include both color and black and white graphics and photographs of Collins, his wife, and family; the Governor’s Mansion; and the State Cabinet and Supreme Court. It includes the schedule of events starting with an 8:30am prayer service and ending with three Inaugural Balls scheduled to end at 1:30am. There are some additional pages with more info. This copy is in good condition with minimal discolorations and no rips or tears. It is about 9.25 x 6”.

This copy also includes a separate folded piece of printed paper which has the schedule printed on one side and a map of downtown Tallahassee with the parade route, detour points,and position of the Review Stand indicated.

I believe that my father participated in the parade either as a member of the Stetson University marching band or with the Florida National Guard.  He had this as a personal souvenir.