The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida is dedicated to providing public history support as a research center for students, faculty, and community members. Volunteers contribute several hours each week to program collections, working on individual goals to learn new skills in a guided and supportive environment.
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program offers workshops in oral history practice, methodology and fieldwork for community groups, academic institutions, and other organizations interested in beginning oral history projects. Introduction […]
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida offers semester-long academic internships, available to graduate and undergraduate students for 3 credit hours, which serve as an introduction to […]
We work by the motto, “One Community, Many Voices.” Our program is driven by the support of our growing community in Gainesville, as well as statewide in Florida and around the United […]
The UF History Department and SPOHP announce a new combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Program in oral history, now open to students for admittance. Open to students working in any field of […]
On a bi-yearly basis, the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program grants a researcher with the Julian Pleasants Travel Award, designed to promote cutting edge oral history research at the University […]
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program partners with sponsoring institutions to promote emerging oral history research, and supports scholarly with the Robert Zieger Scholarship Fund and bi-yearly Julian Pleasants Travel Award. […]
The University Scholars Program at the University of Florida introduces undergraduate students at the University of Florida to the exciting world of academic research. In the program, students work one-on-one […]
Dr. Robert Zieger (1938-2013), Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Florida, was one of the preeminent labor historians of the United States. Bob was a spirited […]
Read more "Robert and Gay Zieger Social Justice Scholarship Fund"
African American History at the University of Florida and Beyond The University of Florida’s African and Native American History Task Force was created by President Kent Fuchs in the wake […]
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 […]
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UF History Emeritus Professor David Chalmers, a noted historian of the Ku Klux Klan and Southern History, recently gave to SPOHP a remarkable collection of primary source documents and books […]
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 […]
Welcoming Gainesville and Alachua County and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida are holding a public event titled “Home Away from Home: Remembering Refugees in Florida” on September 20, 2018 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Pugh Hall Ocora (296 Buckman Drive Gainesville FL 32611). The event will feature the oral history of refugees in Jacksonville, Florida, collected by Seyeon Hwang, a doctoral student in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Florida, and various state-wide and national efforts in refugee advocacy, followed by a talk-back session with refugees and refugee resettlement professionals from Florida.
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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 […]
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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.
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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"
There is a registration deadline extension for our summer study abroad course in the historic and scenic Trinidad & Tobago. If interested please apply at: International Center (University of Florida International Center […]
Read more "Trinidad Study Abroad Registration Deadline Extended – March 30"
Since launching the “Voices of Dreamers” project to conduct interviews with undocumented students, our students are now fundraising to share their research at the Southwestern Oral History Conference at Cal State […]
Read more "“Voices of Dreamers” Students fundraising for SOHA Conference in LA"
In this latest episode of our podcast series Safe Spaces, Anupa Kotipoyna looks back at the creation of the India Cultural and Education Center (ICEC) in Gainesville, Florida.
Read more "Safe Spaces: Episode 3 – “Miracle On 13th Street”"
In the summer of 2017 SPOHP partnered with UF College of Medicine, to develop an oral history segment for the Geriatrics Medicine Clerkship, a required rotation for all 4th year […]
“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 […]
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 […]
Please join military veterans and their families for a special Veterans Day film screening of the play “Telling Gainesville.” Telling Gainesville is part of a nationwide initiative by the National […]
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 […]
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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"
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 […]
For the past three years, a team of student researchers has traveled with SPOHP to the Tidewater region of Virginia to gather over 150 oral histories from watermen, veterans, and […]
Read more "2017 Virginia Fieldwork Trip Applications Are Open!"
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 staff members Anupa Kotipoyina and Krystal Dixon traveled to Trinidad the last week of July to meet with local historians and educators to map out a trajectory for a […]
Read more "SPOHP Staff Visited Trinidad to Lay the Groundwork for our New Study Abroad Program"
On June 10th a group of researchers set out to document Pride weekend events in Washington, D.C. Once again in partnership with the UF Center for Gender, Sexualities, and Women Studies Research, […]
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"
“A powerful book; a tale of heroism, volunteerism, and sacrifice.”—Gary R. Mormino, author of Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida “Personal anecdotes humanize the […]
Read more "Former SPOHP Director Julian M. Pleasants Releases New Book"
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 […]
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Raja Rahim researched the coaching years of legendary basketball coach John B. McLendon for her graduate thesis at NCCU, featured here in the “Campus Echo.” Raja will co-teach the fall […]
The Summer B course will focus on the experiences of farmworkers in Florida, especially African American, Latina/o, and Haitian men and women. Click to download the class flyer for details.
Read more "AMH 3593: Summer B Oral History Seminar on Florida Agricultural History"
SPOHP and the Center for European Studies will host a reception for Mr. Jones in recognition of his Martha Ross Teaching Award from the Oral History Association last fall. The […]
Read more "Feb. 17, Award Reception for Eastside American History Teacher David Jones"
Dr. Giovanni was interviewed by Graduate Coordinator Randi Gill-Sadler as part of the University of Florida’s 2016 MLK Day celebrations.
For the past 20 years, Jones has been incorporating the practice of oral history in his International Baccalaureate American history classroom at Eastside High School, as highlighted in this feature […]
Read more "Eastside High School Teacher Wins Oral History Award, WUFT"
Former IBEW Local 1205 business manager and president Theron Hunter (IBEW-010) describes some of the benefits, economic and social, of being part of the brotherhood. He also reflects on changes […]
Read more "Theron Hunter: Big Time on the Brotherhood (IBEW-010)"
As the first woman to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in the entire state of Florida, Judy Davis (IBEW-007) describes her trials and subsequent success as a journeyman/wireman. […]
Read more "Judith Davis: The Breakdown of Gender Stereotyping in the IBEW (IBEW-007)"
Jody Noll is a Ph.D. student at Georgia State University, and 2015’s Julian Pleasants Scholar. Click to view.
Gainesville, FL–This fall, students and staff from the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) will return to the Middle Peninsula of Virginia, continuing the Fieldwork in Folklore research trip into […]
Read more "Fieldwork in Folklore Research Trip Returns to Virginia in October 2015"
Taylor wrote for the Summer/Fall 2015 Oral History Review, drawing from the Mississippi Freedom Project to discuss the preservation, commemoration, and rebirth of Mississippi’s Civil Rights Sites.
Read more "SPOHP Alumna Jessica Taylor in Oral History Review for Summer/Fall 2015: “We’re on Fire”"
Activist and founder of grass roots organization Cope Pink, Meada Benjamin (WAF-024) explores the effects of police brutality on community organizing. Topics include: organizing and protesting, police relations, and the […]
Read more "Women Activists Feminists, Medea Benjamin (WAF-024)"
David Barsamian created Alternative Radio to cover important stories neglected by mainstream media. In this podcast, he explains why he first pursued broadcasting, and how journalism can continue to be […]
Read more "Community Organizing in America, David Barsamian (COA-025)"
Erika Clarke (ADHP-011) is a recovering addict and current member of Gainesville’s House for Hope sobriety program for women. In this podcast, she talks about her drug-related experiences and how […]
Read more "Addiction History Project, Erika Clarke (ADHP-011)"
The lecture, delivered by Dr. Chafe at the February 5 public program, is now available on YouTube. Dr. Chafe is the Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of History at Duke University, where […]
Press Release For Immediate Release February 13, 2015, On March 5, 2015 at the Western Institute for Leadership Development at 6:00pm Prescott College and Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at […]
Applicants should be actively engaged in research about the American South, broadly understood (including Latin America & the Caribbean). Deadline is March 9, 2015.
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"
The internship application for Fall 2014 is now available online! SPOHP’s semester-long academic internship is open to all interested students. Applications are due May 1, 2014.
Read more "SPOHP Internship Application for Fall 2014 Now Available!"
The Southern Labor Studies Association (SLSA) announces the Robert H. Zieger Prize for the best essay in Southern Labor Studies. This prize has been established with the cooperation of the Zieger family and […]
Read more "SLSA now accepting essay submissions for the Robert H. Zieger Prize"
March 12, “Scott Camil: Resistance & Liberation” By Eugenia Hawk, Intern On March 12, 2014, SPOHP hosted a presentation by Vietnam veteran and political activist Scott Camil. The UF Center for Women’s […]
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This year, the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program nominated four undergraduates for the UF University Scholars Program. This program recognizes outstanding undergraduate research and includes a monetary stipend to support the student’s senior […]
Read more "Congratulations to SPOHP’s 4 University Scholars!"
“Several give stark accounts of segregation-era racism,” The Gainesville Sun, by Jeff Schweers, March 12, 2014. The Gainesville Sun highlighted SPOHP’s public history program, “The Florida Civil Rights Struggle: Past […]
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The Gainesville Sun highlights student and staff work in a feature this week for the March 12 civil rights program focusing on the value of involving students in local history work.
Read more "3/10 Gainesville Sun: “UF students get immersed in the history of civil rights”"
“UF students get immersed in the history of civil rights,” The Gainesville Sun, by Jeff Schweers, March 10, 2014. In preparation for the upcoming public history program, “The Florida Civil Rights […]
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This podcast explores the issues of identity and representation that minorities face with a focus on LGBT life in Florida, specifically the views of Fred Pratt, a man who is a […]
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)"
Mary Bahr, a veteran of the Vietnam War, recounts the work of her in-country service as an Intelligence Officer, including challenging sexism in her ranks and living in a devastated conflict zone. […]
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 […]
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“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 […]
Gainesville, FL— On January 22, 2014, George A. Smathers Libraries and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program will release the first round in a series of oral history interviews with […]
“Oral History of Coastal Change,” Planning for Coastal Change in Levy County, by Trey Bonds, October 28, 2013. Planning for Coastal Change in Levy County examines scientific studies and oral histories […]
Erin Conlin, a PhD candidate in twentieth century U.S. History at the University of Florida, is a SPOHP Graduate Coordinator. She began working at SPOHP in Fall 2012 and is […]
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 […]
“Coming home at last; Stetson Kennedy’s work to reside at UF,” The Gainesville Sun, by Jeff Schweers, October 22, 2013. On October 22, 2013, a symposium of events celebrated the donation […]
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“Events mark acquisition; UF celebrates Stetson Kennedy’s work” The Gainesville Sun, by Jeff Schweers, October 23, 2013. On October 22, 2013, a symposium of events celebrated the donation of Stetson Kennedy’s papers […]
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Gainesville, FL—The Poarch Creek Project at the Samuel Project Oral History Program at the University of Florida, which focused on the digitization of oral histories conducted with the Poarch Creek […]
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 […]
“UF Oral History Program Digs Deep in the Delta” from the Groundswell Blog, October 4, 2013. Groundswell: Oral History for Social Change is a dynamic, active network of oral historians, […]
Read more "Groundswell.org: UF Oral History Program Digs Deep in the Delta"
The University of Florida Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s 2013-2014 Advisory Board is a dynamic panel composed of civically engaged, internationally-recognized scholars and activists. Members the Advisory Board are distinguished […]
The Oral History Association‘s 47th Annual Meeting will take place this year at the historic Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The meeting is scheduled for October 9-13, 2013, focusing […]
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‘“The cool guys in Gloucester, the cool girls in Mathews”: Oral History Reveals Courtship Strategies of Gloucester Youth in the 1940s and 50s’ from the Fairfield Foundation. In August, The […]
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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: […]
“Oral History in Motion: Movements, Transformations, and the Power of Story” OHA Annual Meeting in Madison, WI, October 6-12, 2014 Deadline: February 1, 2014 Motion suggests many things: action and […]
Read more "Oral History Association 2014 Call for Papers: Madison, WI"
Gainesville, FL—During the week of September 17 through September 22, the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) at UF will return to the Mississippi Delta to continue research on the […]
Read more "Sept. 17-22, The 6th Annual Mississippi Freedom Project Tour and Speaker Series"
Gainesville, FL—August 31, 2013 marked the fortieth anniversary of the acquittal of seven Vietnam War veterans and one supporter indicted for conspiracy to violently disrupt the 1972 Republican National Convention. […]
Génesis Lara is SPOHP’s new Latino History Coordinator. Currently a senior at the University of Florida studying history, Génesis is a University Scholar and recipient of the Ann Regan Undergraduate Research Award. […]
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Gainesville, FL. August 14, 2013—The Oral History Association is awarding its 2013 Stetson Kennedy Vox Populi (“Voice of the People”) Award to the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program for achievements […]
Gainesville, FL, August 15, 2013—George A. Smathers Libraries approved a mini-grant proposal to transcribe the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP)’s Mississippi Freedom Project collection. The collection features in-depth oral […]
“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"
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 […]
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program congratulates Dr. Regennia N. Williams of Cleveland State University on her receipt of SPOHP’s 2013 Julian Pleasants Travel Award. Dr. Williams is an Associate […]
Read more "Dr. Regennia N. Williams is SPOHP’s 2013 Julian Pleasants Travel Award Scholar"
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida announces the release of a new documentary, “The Fire Within: The Rebuilding of a Downtown Community,” which tells the […]
Read more "Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and SPOHP Premiere Church History Documentary"