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 […]
Read more "Dr. Ortiz is teaching an intro to oral history course…"
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
Read more "Historic Haile Homestead Discussion: “Emancipation Betrayed” by Paul Ortiz"
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 country. The new collection includes over six hundred oral histories with African American elders in Florida telling stories of memories of slavery, resistance to segregation, anti-black racial violence, the coming of the modern civil rights movement and narratives of Black and Latinx intersectionality among many other topics.
Read more "From Segregation to Black Lives Matter Symposium: free registration available now!"
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"
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "Check Out Our Students’ Reflections On Our Annual Mississippi Freedom Trip"
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 […]
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 was “Lets Rise, Advocate, Educate and Cooperate.” Their papers were presented during a panel presentation entitled, Recording Civil Rights History: the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) and the Mississippi Freedom Project.
Read more "SPOHP Scholars present at National Civil Rights Conference"
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 […]
Read more "Our Mississippi Freedom Project Summer 2018 Fieldwork Trip"
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 […]
Read more "Our Summer B Intro to Oral History Course Will Focus on FL Farmworker History"
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 […]
Read more "From Colored to Black: The Stories of North Central Florida"
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 […]
Read more "Tale of Two Houses: A Dialogue on Black and Latinx History at UF"
“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 […]
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 more "Laura Dixie: Remembering a ‘Mother of the Movement’"
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "Black and Latinx History of the Gator Nation: Spring 2018 Course"
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 […]
Read more "Spring 2018 Internship: The Jacob Lawrence 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 […]
Read more "SPOHP is Seeking Out Undocumented UF Students for an Oral History Project"
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 […]
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 […]
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- […]
Read more "“Surviving & Resisting: Defending DACA A Toolkit For DREAMers.”"
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "SPOHP Intern at the Defend DACA/Save TPS Rally at Orlando City Hall"
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s Summer 2017 Newsletter"
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 […]
Read more "Spring 2017 Internship Class Podcasts: Civic Engagement"
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 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 […]
Read more "Fall 2017 Internship Applications Are Now Available"
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "Chicano Poet Matt Sedillo Brown Bag and Workshop"
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "Line Wraps Around Theater in Tacoma, WA for “Love and Solidarity”"
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 […]
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 and what influences them to create those spaces on campus. We will be examining what it took to put institutes such as IBC and La Casita in place as well as the significance of Ethnic Studies programs for students of all walks of life.
In February 2012, Dr. Peter H. Wood delivered a lecture on Homer’s Emancipation-era portrait, “Near Andersonville,” to SPOHP audiences. Click to watch!
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!
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. Giovanni was interviewed by Graduate Coordinator Randi Gill-Sadler as part of the University of Florida’s 2016 MLK Day celebrations.
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."
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.
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 […]
Read more "Summer “Gator Tales” Reprise, July 16-19, at the Black Box Theatre!"
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 […]
Read more "Like a bird, like a plane…it’s SPOHP! with Tuskegee Airman Daniel Keel"
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.
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "“Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” Exhibit Text Now Available for Download"
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, […]
Read more "SPOHP and Cone Park Library Partner for Special Emancipation Day Program May 20, 2015"
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.
Digital Humanities Coordinator Deborah Hendrix photographed the “Gator Tales” performance and discussion for the UF School of Theatre and Dance show.
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”"
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 […]
Read more "“Gator Tales” Gives Successful Final Performance to Full House on Feb. 22"
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"
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 […]
Read more "Staged Reading: “Threads of Silver and Gold – Women of the Panama Canal” on Feb. 20"
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"
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"
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "UF in Selma: 50 Years Later with the Daniel Harmeling Papers"
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 […]
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.
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 […]
Read more "Civil rights icon the Rev. T.A. Wright dies at 94"
The MFH presents “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” through artifacts, videos, interactive elements, and narratives.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Read more "AAHP Research Topics and Resources: Oral History Interviews"
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"
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 […]
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” panel discussion By Emily Nyren, Intern alumni and Volunteer Event Press Release (PDF) In the News: “UF students get immersed […]
Read more "March 12, 2014, “The Florida Civil Rights Struggle: Past & Present”"
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.
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"
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”"
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 […]
Read more "African American History Project, Joel Buchanan (FAB-039)"
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)"
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)"
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 By Emily Nyren, Intern Alumni and Volunteer On January 15, 2014, SPOHP hosted renowned documentary filmmaker Tia Lessin for a film […]
Read more "January 15, 2014, “Trouble the Water” Film Screening & Symposium"
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
“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 […]
Read more "Graduate Coordinator to Teach Pan-Africanism Course in Fall 2013"
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 […]
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 […]
