Yonge, Philip Keyes, 1850-1934

Epithet: Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, afterwards Bishop successively of Bristol and Norwich

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000574.0x000271

Lawyer, lumberman, and educator of Pensacola, Fla.

Educated in Pensacola. Received his law degree from the University of Georgia. Associated with the Muscogee Lumber Company, 1876-1889 and the Southern States Lumber Company, 1890-1903.

From the description of Papers, 1906-1933. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 30616170

Philip Keyes Yonge was born in Marianna, Florida, on May 27, 1850. He was educated in private schools and finished his education at the University of Georgia in 1872 with the degree of LL.B. He served briefly in the British consulate in Pensacola before joining the Muscogee Lumber Company in 1876. He remained in the lumber industry for the rest of this life. In 1889, Muscogee was acquired by the Southern States and Timber Company which became Southern State Lumber Company in 1898. Yonge became president and manager of the company in 1903. Yonge was active in Pensacola's civic and political affairs throughout his life. He served terms as alderman, on the Board of Public Instruction, and as president of the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1905, Yonge was appointed to the newly created Florida Board of Control, Florida's governing board for public higher education, by Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward. Members served concurrently on the State Plant Board. In 1909, Yonge became chair of both boards. He was not reappointed by Governor Sidney Catts in 1917, but returned as chair in 1921. He retained that position until he retired in 1933.

Yonge was an avid collector of Floridiana and helped revive the Florida Historical Society in 1902. He served as president of the society from 1932 until his death in 1934. His extensive collection of books and documents passed to this son, Julien C. Yonge, who further expanded the collection. Julien Yonge donated the collection to the University of Florida as the nucleus of today's P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History.

From the guide to the Philip Keyes Yonge Papers, 1905-1934, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)