Samuel Proctor Oral History Program

The African American History Project (AAHP) is an archive of over 600+ oral history interviews conducted with African Americans throughout Alachua County, wider Florida, and the American South. 

The collection includes memories of many facets of Black life in Florida, and is the one of the largest public African American history collections anywhere. 

Archival Collections

• Oral history interviews for the African American History Project are currently undergoing processing but 500 transcripts will be on UF Digital Collections by the end of 2018. Interview audio is available to access through the UFDC, and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program offices. Please contact us for more information.
• Digital media resources, including podcasts, educational booklets, and other materials, are now online!

Ongoing Research

The African American History Project is committed to collecting and archiving narratives of the African American life and history in Florida, developing meaningful relationships with community partners, stimulating ongoing discussions on the value of history as revealed through narrative storytelling.

Research topics include life under Jim Crow, highlighting institution building, alternative educational techniques, food security, community-­based healthcare, support and service organizations, displacement and dispossession, labor, armed self-­defense, and tactics of resistance; Civil Rights activism, voter registration, the Tallahassee Bus Boycott movement, the 1964 St. Augustine movement, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and more.

Link to information about Sitiki, an enslaved man known as Jack Smith, who left the only known first-person slave narrative from Florida. 

African American History Project Events and Research News

• Dr. Ortiz is teaching an intro to oral history course…
  SPOHP Director Dr. Paul Ortiz is teaching a course this spring on oral history! This interdisciplinary seminar is an intensive introduction to the theory and practice of oral history. Students will have access to the resources of the award-winning Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. We will learn the craft of oral history interviewing and digital production. We will study the ...
• Civil Rights Attorney John Due Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters
  Today is a great day in the state of Florida! I’m writing to inform you that the University of Florida Academic Senate has just voted unanimously to award Attorney John Due the Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. Read more "Civil Rights Attorney John Due Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters"
• Historic Haile Homestead Discussion: “Emancipation Betrayed” by Paul Ortiz
  Historic Haile Homestead Discussion: “Emancipation Betrayed” by Paul Ortiz Read more "Historic Haile Homestead Discussion: “Emancipation Betrayed” by Paul Ortiz"
• From Segregation to Black Lives Matter Symposium: free registration available now!
  2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the African American History Project at the University of Florida. Funded by the UF Office of the Provost, this research initiative has resulted in over twenty-five public history programs, university seminars on African American studies, conference presentations and scores of community-based oral history and Black History workshops across the ...
• New Course Offered: A Black and Latinx History of the Gator Nation
  For the Spring Semester 2019, SPOHP and African American Studies will be offering a course titled “A Black and Latinx History of the Gator Nation Read more "New Course Offered: A Black and Latinx History of the Gator Nation"
• Video of Dr. Ortiz Book Talk
  Click this link for a videotaped version (87 min.) of the 8/28 book talk presented at Smathers Library East by Dr. Paul Ortiz, Director of SPOHP, on his recent book: An African and Latinx History of the United States. It was kindly co-sponsored and hosted by the Smathers Libraries’ Latin American and Caribbean Collection. YouTube ...
• SPOHP Contributes Travel Support for OHA Conference Attendees from Hurricane-Affected Areas
  The OHA’s Day of Giving last year raised money for scholarships to fund travel to the Annual OHA Conference for those in hurricane-affected areas. With matching funds provided by the Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida, the OHA was able to ...
• Check Out Our Students’ Reflections On Our Annual Mississippi Freedom Trip
  Check out these reflections our students wrote just after their successful and exciting trips doing oral history fieldwork in the Mississippi Delta as part of our Mississippi Freedom Project! The Mississippi Freedom Project (MFP) is an award-winning archive of 200+ oral history interviews conducted with veterans of the civil rights movement and notable residents of ...
• Commemorating Black and Brown Wednesday
  As we work diligently on our documentary project on the history of Institute of Black Culture and Institute of Hispanic and Latino Affairs, today we commemorate the one-year anniversary of Black and Brown Wednesday, a historical moment at the University of Florida. On July 12, 2017, No La IBCita and their supporters, protested the proposal made ...
• SPOHP Scholars present at National Civil Rights Conference
  SPOHP Undergraduate Research Coordinator Oliver Tesluma and undergraduate Political Science major, as well as SPOHP alums Assistant Professor Jessica Taylor of Virginia Tech and George Washington University doctoral student Candice Ellis, presented papers at the 8th National Civil Rights Conference, which took place on June 17-20, 2018 in Meridian and Philadelphia, Mississippi. This year’s conference theme ...
• Our Mississippi Freedom Project Summer 2018 Fieldwork Trip
  We will be continuing our Mississippi Freedom Project this Summer to travel to the Mississippi Delta for our annual fieldwork trip July 15th – 22nd. The Mississippi Freedom Project (MFP) is an award-winning archive of 200+ oral history interviews conducted with veterans of the civil rights movement and notable residents of the Mississippi Delta. The collection centers ...
• Our Summer B Intro to Oral History Course Will Focus on FL Farmworker History
  Summer B 2018, July 2 – August 10 AMH 3593: Introduction to Oral History Course Overview This course will introduce students to the theories and methods of oral history. Oral history is an important methodological approach to documenting the past which allows historians to engage directly with narrators who share their life experiences touching on any number of ...
• From Colored to Black: The Stories of North Central Florida
  We will be sharing nine dramatic vignettes created by our students and performed by members of the local theatre community with our performance, “From Colored to Black: The Stories of North Central Florida,” at the Harn Museum of Art‘s Museum Nights this Thursday night! The performance, a partnership with Actors’ Warehouse, Inc., will take place 6:00-7:00PM in ...
• Tale of Two Houses: A Dialogue on Black and Latinx History at UF
  Event: Tale of Two Houses: A Dialogue on Black and Latinx History at UF Date: Friday, March 30, 2018 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Location: Pugh Hall – Ocora Join us for a discussion on the histories of the Institute of Black Culture (IBC) and the Institute of Hispanic/Latino Cultures (La Casita), including their founding and their entwined legacies. ...
• Now on UFDC: “Keep Your Trash” (1971) First Documentary on Memphis Sanitation Worker’s Strike
  “Keep Your Trash” 1971 Documentary on Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike Newly Released for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrations on UF Digital Collections Gainesville, FL—Award-winning PBS documentarian Churchill Roberts was a doctoral student at the University of Iowa in 1971 when he produced the first documentary film recounting events of the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers ...
• Laura Dixie: Remembering a ‘Mother of the Movement’
  Laura Mae Dixie, known as “the Mother of the Movement in Tallahassee, Florida,” passed away last month at the age of 92. Her life is a testament to the oft-forgotten role of African-American working-class people — especially women — in the making of the modern civil rights movement in the South. (Photo by Deborah Hendrix.) Read ...
• Our Year-End Journal is Available Now
  Dear Friends of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, As you will read in this exciting end-of- year progress report, SPOHP has reached more students, scholars, and members of the general public than ever. We have conducted community-based oral history workshops with churches, businesses, university classes, veteran’s groups, African American history museums, Native American nations and ...
• Black and Latinx History of the Gator Nation: Spring 2018 Course
  AFA 4931: A BLACK AND LATINXHISTORY OF THE GATOR NATION This upcoming Spring, the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program is offering a oral history methods course course called Black and Latinx History of the Gator Nation. Students enrolled in this course in Spring 2018 (MWF 5th) will create new archives on Black and Latinx history at UF, ...
• Spring 2018 Internship: The Jacob Lawrence Project
  This semester-long academic internship is available to graduate and undergraduate students for credit. In partnership with the Harn Museum, SPOHP, and The Actors’ Warehouse Community Theater, interns will develop an original site-specific performance by exploring connections between archived oral history interviews with Black residents of North Central Florida and iconic artwork by Jacob Lawrence (harn.ufl.edu/jacoblawrence). Once ...
• SPOHP is Seeking Out Undocumented UF Students for an Oral History Project
  SPOHP is looking for undocumented UF students to be interviewed for an oral history project. Please share with anyone who might be interested in participating. For more information direct message us or email: Mariana Castro or Dr. Ryan Morini or Visit SPOHP on the 2nd Floor of Pugh Hall. Read more "SPOHP is Seeking Out Undocumented UF Students for an Oral History ...
• Farmworkers Irma Relief
  Gainesville residents and UF community: there are ways to help the Immokalee community by dropping off goods at multiple on-campus locations. Items will be transported to Immokalee first on September 23, and then again in two weeks. #HurricaneIrmaRelief A list of items includes: Charcoal Lighters Diapers Baby wipes Bug spray Underwear Socks Tarps Non-perishable or canned foods Feminine hygiene products Drop-off locations and times include: UF Graduate Assistants United Office ...
• Mississippi Freedom Fieldwork Panel Sept. 27
  Mississippi Freedom Fieldwork Panel Presentation Ustler Hall Wednesday, Sept. 27th 3:00 PM On Wednesday the 27th the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program will host a panel of students to discuss their experience interviewing in Mississippi. This panel celebrates SPOHP’s 10th year of sending students out to the Mississippi Delta region to interview those involved in the Black freedom ...
• “Surviving & Resisting: Defending DACA A Toolkit For DREAMers.”
  We wanted to share a sheet that the directors of the IC-Race (Immigration, Critical Race and Cultural Equity) Lab at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Drs. Nayeli Y. Chavez- Dueñas and Hector Y. Adames developed, “Surviving & Resisting: Defending DACA A Toolkit For DREAMers.” Please share widely with anyone who may benefit from this toolkit; the ...
• SPOHP Open House Scheduled for Sept. 29
  September 29th from noon to 2 PM, SPOHP is hosting an Open House in the SPOHP office to welcome students and faculty alike to get acquainted with our program, staff and dozens of exciting on going projects. Visitors can expect to enjoy refreshments as they learn about SPOHP’s fieldwork, internships, and volunteer opportunities as well as our many upcoming public ...
• SPOHP Intern at the Defend DACA/Save TPS Rally at Orlando City Hall
  SPOHP intern Chelsey Hendry Simmons attended the Defend DACA/Save TPS Rally at Orlando City Hall. The rally was held just one hour after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration would be rescinding DACA, the Obama-era executive order protecting over 800,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children from deportation. The ...
• MCDA’s Anti-Racism Education Week
  MCDA is proud to present: Anti-Racism Education Week. Come join us as we engage in an event series on anti-racism education, self-care, and education on the first amendment. This is a great opportunity to interact with faculty, staff, and peers on how to challenge racism and bigotry on our campus and in our community. TUESDAY 9/5: “Café ...
• SPOHP-ed Written by Mississippi Freedom Trip Researchers Published in the Gainesville Sun
  Marcela Murillo and Chad Chavira participated in our 10th Annual Mississippi Freedom Project trip last month. Check out their op-ed, “Effects of Till’s Murder Still Felt Today,” through which they reflect on their experiences in the Mississippi Delta. Co-writing credits to UF students Nicole Yapp and Toni-Lee Maitland: Marcela Murillo and Chad Chavira: Effects of Till’s ...
• SPOHP Sponsoring the Jacob Lawrence Workshop
  SPOHP is sponsoring a Jacob Lawrence workshop at the Harn Museum June 24th at 12:30PM, featuring a discussion of Jacob Lawrence’s life and work, and upcoming exhibition, “History, Labor, Life: The Prints of Jacob Lawrence.” This exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of influential American artist Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000). Lawrence was primarily concerned with the narration of African ...
• The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s Summer 2017 Newsletter
  50 Years of Collaboration “From participating in interviews, to engaging with the collection, to attending SPOHP’s events, the public is the lifeforce behind SPOHP’s past, present, and future.” -Dr. Paul Ortiz This jubilee year, SPOHP wants to reflect, say thank you and plan for the future. Thanks to our supporters, SPOHP has had one of its most productive years yet. We want ...
• Spring 2017 Internship Class Podcasts: Civic Engagement
  With the help of coordinators Raja Rahim and Ryan Thompson, the Spring 2017 interns produced podcasts about Civic Engagement at the University of Florida. University of Florida Digital Collections Archive To date, 90+ oral history podcast pieces are available on the University of Florida’s Digital Collections website, including final projects for internship classes, as well as the original ...
• Safe Spaces: Episode 2 – “Friends with Weapons”
  http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/48/49/00001/Safe%20Spaces%20OHFC.mp3   This episode of the Safe Spaces series focuses on an African American armed defense organization that protected Civil Rights Movement demonstrators in Ocala, Florida in the 1960s. Challenging the misconception that the Civil Rights Movement was based entirely on non-violence, the story of the Ocala Hunting and Fishing Club illustrates the diversity of the Movement ...
• Fall 2017 Internship Applications Are Now Available
  The Fall 2017 Internship Application is now open!  SPOHP’s semester-long academic internship is available to graduate and undergraduate students for credit as an introduction to the field of oral history. The Fall 2017 Social Justice Initiatives internship offers a space for students to pursue their own interests in social justice research through training and mentoring in oral ...
• Big News: We’re On the Air!
  Beginning Thursday, March 16th, the SPOHP Radio Hour hits the airwaves DAILY at 8:00 a.m. on WUBA 88.1 FM. Drawing from the 7,500+ interviews in the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program archive at the University of Florida, the SPOHP Radio Hour will air daily at 8 am on WUBA 88.1 FM with fascinating stories on people from all walks of ...
• Chicano Poet Matt Sedillo Brown Bag and Workshop
  We are excited to announce that SPOHP will be hosting the visit of Chicano slam poet Matt Sedillo during which he will be hosting two public programs on Tuesday March 28th. The first event will be a brown bag lunch with Matt Sedillo in Pugh 210 from 11:30AM to 1:00PM. The second event will be a poetry workshop held on the ...
• Michael T. Barry Jr.: Nation needs more debates
  SPOHP’s Michael Barry was featured in the Gainesville Sun in his Op-ed, on the heels of the Sanders-Cruz debate, about the need for more broadcasted Senate debates to enhance public knowledge about the political discourse occurring through out a presidential term rather than merely during an election season. Read Michael T. Barry Jr.: Nation needs more ...
• Line Wraps Around Theater in Tacoma, WA for “Love and Solidarity”
  Filmmaker Michael Honey raves about a successful turn out at a screening of Love and Solidarity at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma, Washington.   Friends, In Tacoma last night, the Grand Cinema theater was packed with about 120 people  and 20 or more lined up outside and unable to get a seat. “Love and Solidarity” looks great on a ...
• Public Screening of “Gator Tales”
  The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program in conjunction with Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency will host a free film screening (PDF) of “Gator Tales,” the award-winning theatrical performance which highlights the experiences of the first generation of African American students at the University of Florida. The screening will be Friday, February 17, 2017 at Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville. Live ...
• Safe Spaces: Episode 1 – No Place Like Home
  This first episode of the Safe Spaces series spring-boards off of the controversial acceptance letter sent out this year to incoming students of the University of Chicago, and it follows a racially charged and abnormally divisive presidential election. It explores what a safe space means to different students and faculty at the University of Florida ...
• SPOHP in St. Augustine: An oral history collaboration with the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in the historic Lincolnville community in St. Augustine, Florida
  Read more "SPOHP in St. Augustine: An oral history collaboration with the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in the historic Lincolnville community in St. Augustine, Florida"
• “Near Andersonville” Retrospective: Honoring the 150th Anniversary of Artist Winslow Homer’s Birthday
  In February 2012, Dr. Peter H. Wood delivered a lecture on Homer’s Emancipation-era portrait, “Near Andersonville,” to SPOHP audiences. Click to watch! Read more "“Near Andersonville” Retrospective: Honoring the 150th Anniversary of Artist Winslow Homer’s Birthday"
• AAHP Collaboration “C.L.R. James: An Unpublished Lecture” Now Available in Winter 2016 New Politics
  AAHP coordinators worked to digitize and transcribe a unique and valuable lecture by C.L.R. James–previously unpublished! Congratulations to the entire team for all the hard work that went into this discovery! Read more "AAHP Collaboration “C.L.R. James: An Unpublished Lecture” Now Available in Winter 2016 New Politics"
• Tuskegee Airman Daniel Keel Featured in North Florida’s Senior Times, Feb. 2016
  Keel, interviewed for the African American History Project and Veterans History Project last summer about his World War II service, is featured in February’s edition of Senior Times magazine. Read more "Tuskegee Airman Daniel Keel Featured in North Florida’s Senior Times, Feb. 2016"
• Dr. Nikki Giovanni Interviewed for SPOHP African American History Project on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  Dr. Giovanni was interviewed by Graduate Coordinator Randi Gill-Sadler as part of the University of Florida’s 2016 MLK Day celebrations. Read more "Dr. Nikki Giovanni Interviewed for SPOHP African American History Project on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day"
• Nov. 18, Reflections from 2015 SNCC Legacy Conference at Duke University, 11 a.m.
  Coordinators of the African American History Project will discuss the recent “One Person, One Vote” SNCC Legacy Conference this Wednesday, Nov. 18. Meeting at Pugh Hall in Rm. 210! Read more "Nov. 18, Reflections from 2015 SNCC Legacy Conference at Duke University, 11 a.m."
• UF School of Theatre and Dance to Stage Encore Performance of “Gator Tales” at 2015 Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Tampa
  On Thursday, October 15, 2015, an encore performance of “Gator Tales” will be performed at the Oral History Association Annual Meeting at the Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa, Florida. Read more "UF School of Theatre and Dance to Stage Encore Performance of “Gator Tales” at 2015 Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Tampa"
• Summer “Gator Tales” Reprise, July 16-19, at the Black Box Theatre!
  Join SPOHP and the UF School of Theatre + Dance for a summer remount of “Gator Tales,” an original play centered around oral history interviews from the Alachua County African American History Project. Read more "Summer “Gator Tales” Reprise, July 16-19, at the Black Box Theatre!"
• Like a bird, like a plane…it’s SPOHP! with Tuskegee Airman Daniel Keel
  The Veterans History Project (VHP) and Alachua County African-American History Project (AAHP) were high up in the sky this week with Mr. Daniel Keel, who served as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II! Check out photos of the interview and 1942 Vultee BT-13 Valiant flight, piloted by Chris Hoefli, a B-52 pilot and Iraq War veteran. Reflection ...
• “Students explore civil rights history” with the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture
  Read about coverage in the Natchez Democrat of SPOHP’s recent Mississippi Freedom Project trip, including the “Unfinished Business, Race, Democracy, and the Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights” panel with AAHP graduate coordinators. Read more "“Students explore civil rights history” with the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture"
• “Stetson Kennedy’s America,” lecture by Dr. Paul Ortiz at the Civic Media Center, Now Available Online
  The Civic Media Center in Gainesville, Florida, is the repository for many of the late Stetson Kennedy’s books. Dr. Paul Ortiz discusses Stetson Kennedy’s life and legacy, and is joined by Sandra Parks Kennedy, wife of Stetson Kennedy, as she remembers her husband’s life. Read more "“Stetson Kennedy’s America,” lecture by Dr. Paul Ortiz at the Civic ...
• “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” Exhibit Text Now Available for Download
  The Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee presented the exhibit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Click to view panel text! Photos forthcoming in Summer 2015. Read more "“Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” Exhibit Text Now Available for Download"
• SPOHP and Cone Park Library Partner for Special Emancipation Day Program May 20, 2015
  Gainesville, FL—The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) in conjunction with the Cone Park Library will be hosting a special Emancipation Day program at the Cone Park Library on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 2:30-4:00 pm.  The program is designed for children ages K-6 but is open to all. During the program, attendees will learn the ...
• February 27, 2015, A Tale of Three, Female Activists: Women in the Civil Rights Movement Panel at the Museum of Florida History
  On February 27, 2015, as Black History Month was coming to a close and the eve of International Women’s History Month was approaching, Dr. Ortiz, several SPHOP coordinators and SPOHP’s official event photographer, Mr. Clayton, visited the “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” Exhibit at the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. Read more "February 27, ...
• “Gator Tales” Performance Gallery Now Online
  Digital Humanities Coordinator Deborah Hendrix photographed the “Gator Tales” performance and discussion for the UF School of Theatre and Dance show. Read more "“Gator Tales” Performance Gallery Now Online"
• Southern Foodways Alliance, “‘Gator Tales’ Brings Oral Histories to the Stage”
  Anna Hamilton of the Southern Foodways Alliance highlighted “Gator Tales” in the organization’s blog. Read more "Southern Foodways Alliance, “‘Gator Tales’ Brings Oral Histories to the Stage”"
• “Gator Tales” Gives Successful Final Performance to Full House on Feb. 22
  Congratulations to the cast and crew of “Gator Tales” with UF’s School of Theatre and Dance! The show was sold out for each performance last weekend. Click to read a recent review from The Gainesville Guardian. Read more "“Gator Tales” Gives Successful Final Performance to Full House on Feb. 22"
• UF College of Theatre and Dance Releases “Gator Tales” Behind-The-Scenes Look
  The promotional video features actors, professors, director Kevin Marshall, and SPOHP graduate coordinator Randi Gill-Sadler with the African American History Project. Read more "UF College of Theatre and Dance Releases “Gator Tales” Behind-The-Scenes Look"
• Staged Reading: “Threads of Silver and Gold – Women of the Panama Canal” on Feb. 20
  Playwright and director Deborah B. Dickey has created a play in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal. Threads of Silver and Gold: Women of the Panama Canal looks at the role of women who arrived from the West Indies, England and the United States during the construction period of the canal. The performance ...
• Gainesville Sun Guardian highlights UF College of Theatre and Dance Production with AAHP
  The Gainesville Sun’s Guardian covered the “Gator Tales” production in “Student experiences come alive in ‘Gator Tales,’” by Cleveland Tinker. Read more "Gainesville Sun Guardian highlights UF College of Theatre and Dance Production with AAHP"
• Gainesville Sun Scene: ‘Gator Tales’ examines past struggles of black UF students
  The Gainesville Sun Scene section highlights “Gator Tales” with Dr. Paul Ortiz, director Kevin Marshall, and actress Chelsi Stancil. By Brittany Valencic. Read more "Gainesville Sun Scene: ‘Gator Tales’ examines past struggles of black UF students"
• UF School of Theatre and Dance Presents “Gator Tales” in February 2015 with Alachua County African American History Project
  From February 13 to 22, the UF School of Theatre and Dance will perform a new drama entitled Gator Tales, an original play devised and directed by Professor Kevin Marshall in conjunction with the UF Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP). This is the first time that interviews from the SPOHP collection have been adapted ...
• UF in Selma: 50 Years Later with the Daniel Harmeling Papers
  by Justin Dunnavant, AAHP Graduate Coordinator This year marks the 50th anniversary of the infamous march in Selma, Alabama and with the recent release of the movie “Selma,” we thought it would be appropriate to compile a digital exhibit highlighting the connections between UF and the Selma march. The following articles and images from the Alligator ...
• Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: “Keep Your Trash” on the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968, Now on UFDC
  Award-winning PBS documentarian Churchill Roberts was a doctoral student at the University of Iowa in 1971 when he produced the first documentary film recounting events of the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers strike and assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Four decades after its original release, “Keep Your Trash” is now newly digitized and ...
• December 2014, Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Awards
  The event with Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church recognized outstanding citizens who exhibit some of the qualities of Mrs. Rosa Parks and support civil rights or social justice. Read more "December 2014, Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Awards"
• Civil rights icon the Rev. T.A. Wright dies at 94
  Local civil rights leader Reverend Thomas A. Wright died Tuesday. He was 94. Reverend Wright was the pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Gainesville. Read more from The Gainesville Sun, article by . Read more "Civil rights icon the Rev. T.A. Wright dies at 94"
• “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” Exhibit at the Museum of Florida History to Run Nov. 7 – Apr. 5
  The MFH presents “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” through artifacts, videos, interactive elements, and narratives. Read more "“Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” Exhibit at the Museum of Florida History to Run Nov. 7 – Apr. 5"
• Annual Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Awards Ceremony to Honor Gainesville Citizens, December 7
  The Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, with Rev. Milford Griner, will remember  Rosa Parks and honor local leaders with the Quiet Courage Awards on Sunday, December 7 at 3:30 p.m. Past honorees have included Andrew Mickle, Rev. Dr. T.A. Wright, Sr., and Sherry Dupree, among many others. RSVP on  Facebook Photo by Brad McClenny, The Gainesville Sun, December 1, 2013. Read more "Annual ...
• Florida Voices: African American History In the Sunshine State To The Civil Rights Era, Volume 1 (2012)
  Professor Paul Ortiz (Director, Samuel Proctor Oral History Program University of Florida) Marna Weston (AAHP Coordinator) By Ryan Morini, Jessica Lancia, and Marna Weston The guide has been loosely organized around three basic themes. The first, “Racial Discrimination and Violence: Jim Crow and its Legacy in Florida,” includes clips that discuss clear instances of racial discrimination in various parts of north Florida. ...
• Florida Voices: African American History In the Sunshine State To The Civil Rights Era, Volume 2 (2014)
  Professor Paul Ortiz (Director, Samuel Proctor Oral History Program University of Florida) By Ryan Morini, Justin Hosbey, Anna Jimenez, and Toni-Lee Maitland This guide is organized around three themes. The first theme, “Education,” includes clips that discuss the educational experiences of African American children from North Central Florida during the Jim Crow era. Narratives discuss the ways that children ...
• AAHP Research Topics and Resources: Oral History Interviews
  The African American History Project currently lists 300+ oral history interviews online. Audio and interview transcripts can be accessed in the SPOHP offices. Supporters can donate to the Share A Story Campaign to contribute to processing this collection. AAHP001             Rosa B Williams AAHP002             GWER PANEL AAHP003             Joe S. Dell AAHP004A          Issac Chandler, Jr. AAHP007            Anna Skinner AAHP008       ...
• May 17, Oral History Training Workshop at Macedonia Baptist Church in Melbourne, FL
  On May 17, SPOHP will facilitate an oral history training workshop on family and church history at Macedonia Baptist Church in Melbourne, FL.       Read more "May 17, Oral History Training Workshop at Macedonia Baptist Church in Melbourne, FL"
• 4/17, Brown Bag Lunch with Liz Coursen, “Shade in the Sunshine State”
  Join us for a conversation based on the book “Shade in the Sunshine State: Reflections on Segregation in Florida” with Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen on 4/17 in Keene-Flint 105. Image from FloridaMemory.com. Read more "4/17, Brown Bag Lunch with Liz Coursen, “Shade in the Sunshine State”"
• March 12, 2014, “The Florida Civil Rights Struggle: Past & Present”
  March 12, 2014, “The Florida Civil Rights Struggle: Past & Present” panel discussion By Emily Nyren, Intern alumni and Volunteer Event Press Release (PDF) In the News: “UF students get immersed in the history of civil rights,” The Gainesville Sun, by Jeff Schweers, March 10, 2014, and “Several give stark accounts of segregation-era racism,” The Gainesville Sun, by Jeff Schweers, March 12, ...
• Spotlight On: The Cotton Club Museum
  Get to know the Cotton Club Museum with Vivian Filer to prepare for next week’s big event, “Florida Civil Rights Struggle: Past & Present” on March 12. From NCNCF.org. Read more "Spotlight On: The Cotton Club Museum"
• Spotlight On: The Tallahassee-Leon County Civil Rights Heritage Walk
  Excited for March 12? Check out The Walk in Tallahassee, illustrating the stories of the lunch counter sit-ins of the 1960s and the 1956 Tallahassee bus to honor 50+ footsoldiers!  Read more "Spotlight On: The Tallahassee-Leon County Civil Rights Heritage Walk"
• Dr. Irvin Winsboro: “February time to recognize Fla.’s freedom struggle”
  Read Dr. Irvin Winsboro’s piece in the Fort Myers News-Press on the Florida freedom struggle for civil rights, published Feb. 16. Read more "Dr. Irvin Winsboro: “February time to recognize Fla.’s freedom struggle”"
• African American History Project, Joel Buchanan (FAB-039)
  Joel Buchanan, a longtime Gainesville resident and noted local historian, reflects on the circumstances and experiences of his high school education, when he participated in public school desegregation by being among one of the first students to integrate Gainesville High School. He graduated from GHS with honors and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UF, ...
• Farmworker Association of Florida, Carol Johnson (FAF-005)
  For more information about farmworker awareness, the Farmworker Association of Florida, and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, visit Oral History Program. http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/01/99/67/00001/FAF%20005%20Carol%20Johnson%20Podcast.mp3 Read more "Farmworker Association of Florida, Carol Johnson (FAF-005)"
• Farmworker Association of Florida, Marie Francois (FAF-015)
  For 30 years, Haitian immigrant Marie Francois committed her life’s work on HIV/AIDS and community health in Florida to answering the question, “How can we combat ignorance with education?” http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/01/99/69/00001/FAF%20015%20Marie%20Francois%20Podcast.mp3 Read more "Farmworker Association of Florida, Marie Francois (FAF-015)"
• “Trouble the Water” Film Screening & Symposium New in SPOHP’s Public Programs Archive
  Intern alumni and volunteer Emily Nyren covered the Jan. 15 “Trouble the Water” public event. Read more "“Trouble the Water” Film Screening & Symposium New in SPOHP’s Public Programs Archive"
• January 15, 2014, “Trouble the Water” Film Screening & Symposium
  January 15, 2014, “Trouble the Water” Film Screening & Symposium By Emily Nyren, Intern Alumni and Volunteer  On January 15, 2014, SPOHP hosted renowned documentary filmmaker Tia Lessin for a film screening and symposium related to her award-winning film, “Trouble the Water.”  In the afternoon, the UF Center for Women’s Studies held a symposium discussion, and SPOHP held ...
• Now on UFDC: “Keep Your Trash” (1971) First Documentary on Memphis Sanitation Worker’s Strike
  “Keep Your Trash” 1971 Documentary on Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike Newly Released for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrations on UF Digital Collections Gainesville, FL—Award-winning PBS documentarian Churchill Roberts was a doctoral student at the University of Iowa in 1971 when he produced the first documentary film recounting events of the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers ...
• Recap: Reflections from the Oral History Association 47th Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK
  From October 9-13, the Oral History Association hosted its 47th annual conference in Oklahoma City, OK. The conference featured presentations from researchers from around the world, including members of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, Dr. Paul Ortiz, Joanna Joseph, and Graduate Coordinators Jessica Taylor, Justin Dunnavant,  and Ryan Morini. Justin Dunnavant The Oral History conference gave me great ...
• Recap: Reflections from the 98th Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in Jacksonville, FL
  During the first week of October, the African American History Project (AAHP) presented at the 98th Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in Jacksonville. The panel, entitled “Teach Them How to Sing: Harry T. Moore and Patricia Due, Florida’s Activist Educators” featured presentations from Attorney John ...
• “Making Emancipation: From a Black Reconstruction to a Black President” by Dr. Paul Ortiz at ASALH
  On October 5, 2013, SPOHP Director Dr. Paul Ortiz gave the following plenary address at the annual Association for the Study of the African American Life and History conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Ortiz moderated the SPOHP panel, “Teach Them How to Sing: Harry T. Moore and Patricia Due, Florida’s Activist Educators,” featuring presentations from ...
• “Dr. King’s Legacy During the Age of Obama: A Call for an Authentic Multiracial Democracy” by Dr. Carlos Muñoz
  On January 24, 2013, Dr. Carlos Muñoz, Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley and SPOHP Advisory Board member, gave the following speech at Kent State University. Dr. Muñoz was the keynote speaker at Kent State’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, themed “Empowering the Individual, Strengthening the ...
• 98th Annual National Conference for the Study of African American Life and History, Oct. 2-6
  October 2-6, 2013, SPOHP will be attending the 98th Annual Conference for the Study of African American Life and History in Jacksonville, Florida, “At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington.” The ASALH Annual Meeting is an occasion to explore the history and culture of Africans and people of ...
• Graduate Coordinator to Teach Pan-Africanism Course in Fall 2013
  “Pan-Africanism,” Justin Dunnavant Tues 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Thurs 2:00pm AFA 4931, AFS 4935, ANT 4930 Broadly defining Pan-Africanism as a political and cultural movement as well as an ideology, this course will trace the intellectual genealogy of Pan-African thought into the 20th century. Geographically, we will focus heavily on Pan-Africanism in the United States, England, Africa, and the ...
• Remembering Local Educator Susie Mae White
  Susie Mae White, a retired Alachua County educator, author, businesswoman and dedicated church mother, died March 30, 2013 of natural causes at Woodland Care Center in southwest Gainesville. Mrs. White was born in Madison County Florida to the late Rev. John A. Williams and Lucy Crawford Williams. Her education began at Rochelle Elementary, and graduated from ...
• An Overview of Past AAHP Workshops
  Community Oral History Workshop: Lawtey, FL (July 20,2011) The Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church of Lawtey invited SPOHP to conduct an oral history workshop, meet and interview community members who marched in St. Augustine during The Movement. Marna Weston lead a workshop with a live interview and post interview discussion. Community Oral History Workshop: Starke, FL (July 12, ...

Contact African American History Project Coordinator

African American History Project Coordinators include UF alumni and current graduate students in History, Anthropology, and English organizing interviews, scheduling research trips, and processing collections.

Funding and Research Sponsorship

The Alachua County African American History Project is funded by the UF Office of the Provost and builds on the pioneering oral history work of Joel Buchanan, who conducted original interviews with community leaders in the Fifth Avenue area of Gainesville in the 1980s.

For additional information, contact SPOHP, call the offices at (352) 392-7168, and connect with us online today. Banner images from State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory items,58, 154931, 154922, 132524.