Dr. Margaret Jane Smith, an aeronautical engineer and psychological statistician, began volunteering with UWF after her retirement and led UWF archaeology into the computer age through advising in the application of computer assisted drafting.

The building program for this new facility, built in part with the gift bequeathed from Margaret Jane Smith and matching funds from Tallahassee, called for space for archaeology research, public exhibition area, and reception/office space.

The site chosen was just east of the south entrance. The land available was limited, but it was the intent at the time that any further development would be located just west of the main entrance. The architects made a visual asset of the retention pond, retaining the natural look out front of the structure.

The architect chosen for this high-visibility project was Sam Marshall Architects. Sam Marshall's son, Michael, was on the board and the firm gave UWF a "big bang for the buck."

Now known as The Archaeology Institute, the building was occupied in 1998. The exhibit area displays many of the most spectacular artifacts from all time periods - Prehistoric Native American, Colonial, Early American and Victorian.

The Next Larger Picture by John E. Jarvis, Jr. Published by the University of West Florida Foundation, Inc., 2008.