SCHS launches effort to secure former justices' chamber papers.

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Former Supreme Court Justice Ben Overton has donated his "chamber papers" to the Supreme Court Library as part of an effort by the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society to collect archival records from all the former justices.

Overton--who served on the court from 1974 to 1999--encourages others who have served on the court to donate their personal and official papers to the Supreme Court Library, which has been continuously in existence since 1845.

"We believe that these historically important papers are scattered about in memorabilia boxes held by the former justices or their heirs or in law firm file rooms throughout Florida," said Bill Davis of Tallahassee, who is heading up the FSCHS' effort to safeguard the court's history. "It is our mission to secure the return of as many of those as possible, so that the legacy of these justices, and their important work, is fully preserved."

Davis said the real value of the papers will be realized in future years, as the papers are catalogued and entered into the collection and utilized by historians.

"But now is the time to try to retrieve them before they become dissipated or lost," Davis said, adding that any documents donated to the court may be given, if necessary, with date or event restrictions insofar as when they may be made public.

"These papers will help historians build the story of the court during their time in office," said Davis, adding that among the items the...