Gleason Waite Romer (1887-1971) photographed South Florida from 1925 until the early 1950’s. Upon arrival in South Florida, Mr. Romer took a job as a photojournalist for the Illustrated Daily Tab, an early Miami newspaper. Later when the Tab closed he became a commercial photographer. He also opened his own photography lab. Because of these different occupations and his wonderful eye for capturing a moment of time we have beautiful and enduring snapshots of life in early South Florida. Recognizing the significance of this one of a kind collection, Merrett Stierheim, purchased the collection for the City of Miami from Mrs. Romer. Mr. Romer wanted the collection to be placed in an institution where the public would have access to his photographs. This collection of approximately 17,000 photographs is now housed in the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Main Library Florida Collection. The Photographs document events and places. Many homes and street shots are available that are often useful for historic restoration.