This letter and accompanying notes provide by historian Jerald T. Milanich (University of Florida) concern a lecture he gave in Bradenton inn 1986 concerning his beliefs that Hernando de Soto's landing spot was at Piney Point, just south of the Hillsborough County line. These notes give important details on de Soto's first activities in what is now South Hillsborough County and Ruskin. He states that his ideas were controversial at the time, but his point of view is now accepted by the De Soto National Park's determination of De Soto's' landing site (Bradenton). His ideas are now considered main stream.

This in depth interview by A. M. "Mac" Miller with his father W. D. Miller provides significant details on the early founding of Ruskin and talks extensively about the activities of George Miller and the family in the creation and governance of Ruskin.

A relatively poor photo of the Ruskin Commongood Store. It was here where basic supplies were available to all residents of Ruskin. Payment could be made in cash or in scrip provided to residents who worked at projects authorized by the Ruskin Commongood organization.

Early photo of US Phosphoric Plant in Gibsonton Florida along the Alafia River.

Graduation picture for Admer Miller. Handwritten note on the left (which is hard to read) indicates that this graduation was from a College of Law in Chicago.

Reverse of photo identifies Georgeadda (on left), Aurora (on right) and a young Olnton in the front. The man at the top of the photo is not identified. Location is unknown

Reverse of photo says that this farm picture is of Leonard Wilder's farm near Ruskin. Taken (1912-1915). Wilder was engaged in sugar cane, cane grinding and syrup making. (Sugar cane was a popular early crop for early pioneers in South Hillsborough County.) In looking at the picture, it seems that this is the location of the grinding station (with the horse) and the cooking station (in the open hut.) The exact location of this farm is unknown, although most farms of this nature would have been south of the Little Manatee River.)

Photo of Paul Dickman in his WW1 era uniform. Paul did serve in the US Army and trained for overseas duty in South Carolina. The war ended before he was activated, however, and he did not see action overseas. He completed his army service and returned to Ruskin

Accompanying notes to the photo indicate that this was a Student Party held west of the president's home c 1914-1916 at Ruskin College. In the picture, Georgeadda is in the upper right, and her sister Aurora is immediately in front of her (looking inward towards the group.) Both were instructors at Ruskin College.

This is a picture (likely taken after the death of George McA. Miller in 1919 (based on presumed ages in the photo) of Adaline Miller and her 6 children. (She had one other child, Wendell, who was born in 18983, but he died in 1904.)

The presumed order in this photo (based on comparisons of other pictures and a genograph of the family and their birth order. From left to right Admer, Adaline, Georgeadda, Zoa, Olnton, Willard and Aurora. (If this is incorrect, please advise the librarian at HCC Ruskin campus so a change can be made.)