Janet M. Naughton

Janet Naughton is a faculty librarian, history professor, and award-winning author dedicated to uncovering Florida’s forgotten stories. A Palm Beach County resident since 1987, she has served as archivist for the Boynton Beach City Library, the Delray Beach Historical Society, and as president of the Boynton Beach Historical Society.

Specializing in Florida’s social, architectural, and environmental history, Naughton has written or co-authored over a dozen books, including Pioneering Palm Beach: The Deweys and the South Florida Frontier, Legendary Locals of West Palm Beach, and several titles in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America and Vintage Postcard series. She also co-wrote the true crime novel The Crystal Ball Chronicles.

Known for her meticulous use of primary sources, Naughton approaches research like a detective—cross-checking historic records, photographs, and firsthand accounts to separate fact from myth. Inspired since childhood by Nancy Drew’s love of clue-hunting, she thrives on tracking down elusive evidence, exploring historic landmarks, and leading popular tours such as the Moonlight Cemetery Tours of Woodlawn Cemetery. When she’s not in the archives, she’s pedaling the coast, chasing stories that drift in with the tide.