Q. This year marks 204 years since the St. Johns County clerk’s office was established. Can you tell us about the origins of the office?
A. Our history goes back to 1821, just months after Florida became a U.S. territory. Gov. Andrew Jackson established the first clerk’s office in St. Augustine, operating from the historic Governor’s House. That same year, Florida’s first property deed was recorded by our office on Sept. 13, 1821.
Q. How did record-keeping evolve over the years?
A. Records were originally copied by hand, but technology slowly transformed the process. The first typed deed appeared in 1901, and by 1926, clerks were using photographic copy technology. Later came microfilm, microfiche and eventually computer systems, which make searching records much faster today. Each change was made with the goal of making records more accurate, secure and accessible to the public.
Q. Why are records so important?
A. They are integral to our way of life. Think about it: Without accurate court and official records, how would one prove they own their house? Or how would a dispute be resolved in the courts? A great historic example of records being used in everyday life is the branding books we maintain. These books contain a rancher’s unique brand, which was used to prove ownership of their livestock. We take this responsibility and the public’s trust very seriously by ensuring records are accurate, stored securely and accessible to the public.
Q. Where can residents learn more about these records and the history of your office?
A. I invite everyone to watch a special video celebrating the 204-year history of the clerk’s office, which shows how far we’ve come. You can view it at stjohnsclerk.com/history.
For questions about records or services we provide, our Customer Care Call Center is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (904) 819-3600 and by email at clerk@stjohnsclerk.com. I can also be reached directly on my cellphone at (904) 599-8688 or by email at BPatty@stjohnsclerk.com.
