The Humanities Series is our gift to the community.
 

George Frein and Charles Everett Pace portray Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and the 150th anniversary of his election to the presidency. Audiences will enjoy hearing about several of their meetings at the White House where they brought a personal history that included humble origins, powerful ambitions, great minds, strong wills, and incomparable eloquence.

Cracker cowboy storyteller and Floridian Hank Mattson uses his own words and those of turn-of-the-century punchers to tell about the life and times of the many Florida folks who for over 400 years have been workin' cattle. He has performed at cowboy gatherings from Florida to Utah. Holiday Refreshments Following

Gary Mormino, PhD, historian presents "The Florida Dream," the Emmy-winning PBS documentary based on Mormino's book about Florida History since WWII. Mormino holds the Frank E. Duckwall Professorship in Florida History at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. He is presently working on two projects, a study of Florida during World War II, and a book weaving a history of food and culture in Florida.

During Black History Month, audiences will be treated to something very special with Myron Jackson, drummer and griot (storyteller). Jackson's presentation combines the history and sound of African drumming as it changed and spread from Africa to America.

Four distinguished scientists will describe what life was like in Vero Beach during the Ice Age and tell the audience about the many artifacts that have been found here, from Vero Man to the recent epic find of a mineral-hardened bone (shown here) which is etched with the image of a mammoth or mastodon that has been extinct for at least 10,000 years. University of Florida scientists; Dr. Richard Hulbert, professor and paleontologist; Dr. Barbara Purdy, professor emerita of anthropology; and Dr. Kevin Jones, chair of the materials science department, will be joined on our stage by Dr. Thomas Stafford, President of Stafford Research Laboratories in Lafayette, CO. The program will also explain how the mineralized bone was scientifically evaluated. As an added bonus, between 5:00 - 6:30 PM, the paleontologists have invited local fossil collectors to bring in their finds for a "road show" style evaluation. (For background reading, click here for an informative article about "Vero Man.")

Audiences will join Michael Jepson, PhD, marine anthropologist, as they explore a documentary with stories of fishing families from Cortez and Cedar Key, and what is happening in their communities as a result of new regulations and development pressures. Jepson is the Program Director, Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Tampa, Florida and currently serves as Social Scientist with the Southeast Regional Office of NOAA Fisheries in St. Petersburg.

Seminole scholar Patsy West is the Director of the Seminole/Miccosukee Photo Archive. She will share history and stories of the Seminole Indian Tribe. Ms. West is a seasoned presenter with the Humanities Speakers Bureau and has published numerous pieces on the Seminoles through the University Press of Florida.