Governance
The Division of Historical Resources is under the Office of the Secretary of State.
The Office of the Secretary of State was created by the 1838 constitution to begin functioning in 1845 with statehood. At that time, the Secretary of State was given the duty to serve as the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Florida and as the official custodian of the Laws of Florida. Today, in addition to retaining the original vestiges of the office as custodian of the Great Seal of the State of Florida, the State flag and all original acts passed by the Legislature, the Secretary of State also serves as the State's Chief Elections Officer, Chief Cultural Officer and custodian of the laws of the state and books, papers, journals and documents of the Legislature. Presently, the Department of State includes, in addition to the Division of Historical Resources, the Division of Administrative Services, the Division of Arts and Culture, the Division of Corporations, the Division of Elections and the Division of Library and Information Services. Finally, the Secretary of State is appointed by the Governor of Florida and the Department is an Executive Agency.