2011-2012 Lecture Schedule September 22 September 22 2011-2012 Orville Vernon Burton Orville Vernon Burton “The Age of Lincoln: Then and Distinguished Professor of october 6 Florida Lecture Series Humanities, Clemson University Now”

Frank Laumer O ctober 6 “The Age of Lincoln: Then and Now” Author, Dade City, Florida Frank Laumer Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and the decades “Soldiers, Seminoles, and Slavery: surrounding it comprised one of the nation’s most “Soldiers, Seminoles, bloody and turbulent periods. Still, the conflict ultimately Florida and the Second Seminole produced a unified nation that rests proudly on the and Slavery: Florida and the Second War” foundation of personal liberty for all of its citizens. Through his efforts to expand the Founding Fathers’ Seminole War” N ovember 17 incomplete view of freedom, Lincoln helped create a Hon. John Antoon II country that more closely resembles the ideal of “liberty Frank Laumer knows Florida’s history down to the bone – and justice for all.” Vernon Burton will bring this era literally. He personally exhumed and examined the bones “America’s Courts: State and to life through a dynamic discussion of the impact of of Ransom Clark, one of only two survivors of the first Nation” Lincoln’s life and legacy. Burton’s lecture will be derived battle of the Second Seminole War. Laumer studied the from his latest book, The Age of Lincoln, (2007), which bones to confirm Clark’s tale of heroic courage wherein J anuary 19 won the Chicago Tribune Heartland Literary Award for he was shot five times before crawling 50 miles over Nonfiction. three days to report the dreadful news. For nearly 50 Lu Vickers years, Laumer has devoted himself to conducting this “Cypress Gardens: America’s A native of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, Burton is one kind of in-depth analysis of the battle, which sparked the Tropical Wonderland” of America’s leading scholars of Southern History, the longest Indian war in U.S. history. Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement. He earned his doctorate in 1976 from , and soon In 1968, amateur historian Frank Laumer published F ebruary 16 thereafter joined the faculty at the University of Illinois Massacre! – the first full-length account of Maj. Francis Tracy Jean Revels where he taught for over 33 years. He has authored Langhorne Dade’s fateful battle with the Seminoles, or edited 16 books and over 180 articles, including his which occurred on December 28, 1835. But nearly thirty “Sunshine Paradise: A History of classic work, In My Father’s House Are Many Mansions: more years of research and sifting of evidence convinced Florida Tourism” Family and Community in Edgefield, South Carolina, Laumer that the full story had not yet been told. Finally, (1985). in 1995 Laumer published Dade’s Last Command, a M arch 29 work commended as definitive by leading authorities Isabel Wilkerson in the field. Laumer’s most recent book is Nobody’s Hero (2008), a novelized account of Ransom Clark’s “The Warmth of Other Suns: the experience. Epic Story of America’s Great ABOUT THE LECTURE SERIES Migration and the Odyssey of In its 17th year, the Florida Lecture Series at George Swanson Starling” Florida Southern College is a forum that brings speakers to the FSC campus who explore Florida life and culture from a wide range of disciplines, including history, public affairs, law, sociology, criminology, anthropology, literature, and art. The overall objective of the series is to bring members of the community, the faculty, and the student body together to interact with and learn from leading scholars in their fields.

All programs are held at 7 p.m. on the 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive Lakeland, FL 33801-5698 Florida Southern College campus in Lakeland and 863.680.3001 are free and open to the public. Lawton M. Chiles, Jr. For more information, visit our Web site at Center for Florida History www.flsouthern.edu/flhistory/ at Florida Southern College March 29 NOVEMBER 17* February 16 Isabel Wilkerson Hon. John Antoon II Professor of Judge, U.S. District Court, Tracy Jean Revels and Director, Narrative Nonfiction, Middle District of Florida Professor, Wofford College January 19 “America’s Courts: State and Nation” “Sunshine Paradise: “The Warmth of Other Suns: Lu Vickers The Honorable John Antoon II will draw from his vast A History of Florida Tourism” The Epic Story of America’s experience with the legal system to address what he Professor, considers to be the most significant issues facing today’s Tallahassee Community College Walt Disney’s entertainment empire looms in the minds Great Migration and the Odyssey of courts. Among the topics he will address will be the of many when they think of Florida, along with other importance of maintaining the judiciary’s freedom from tourism magnets such as beachside resorts, extensive George Swanson Starling” political influences. Attendees will have the unique “Cypress Gardens: nature preserves, and numerous theme parks. This opportunity to engage with a premier legal expert and America’s Tropical Wonderland” intricate and inextricable relationship between tourism In 1945, George Swanson Starling was in fear for his life gain an insider’s perspective on the American judicial and the Sunshine State has been thoroughly explored after hearing of his boss’ plan to lynch him. As a result, system. Dick Pope, the founder of one of Florida’s first theme by Tracy Revels, author of Sunshine Paradise: A History he fled to Harlem, leaving behind his life of picking citrus parks, Cypress Gardens, was once called “The Man Who of Florida Tourism (2010). Revels argues that Florida’s fruit in a Florida grove. In doing so, Starling joined the The Honorable Judge John Antoon earned his bachelor’s Invented Florida.” Creating a paradise where tourists tourism industry has immeasurably shaped the state’s estimated six million who left the degree from Florida Southern College (1968) and his could wander through lavish botanical gardens, gaze at identity, economy, and residents. Incorporating 200 years South to seek out new opportunities in the country’s law degree from the Florida State College of Law (1971). southern belles lounging under tropical trees, and gasp at of historical perspectives from tourists, politicians, and northern cities. This phenomenon became known as the He has earned an M.S. from the Florida Institute of over-the-top water-ski shows, Pope garnered international Floridians, Revels paints a vivid picture of the continual Great Migration. Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Isabel Technology (1973) and a L.LM. from the University of media attention and drew countless visitors to the state. evolution of the state’s tourism industry as it works to Wilkerson highlights Starling’s story, as well as many Virginia (2001). Judge Antoon’s nearly forty year career Lu Vickers will share her research on Pope’s creation, create the ultimate tourist haven. others, in her acclaimed book, The Warmth of Other Suns: in the law has provided him with a unique opportunity along with the rich history of the landmark attraction and the Epic Story of America’s Great Migration (2010). to view the courts from a variety of perspectives. Prior to A native of Madison, Florida, Tracy Revels is professor the dynamic people involved in its development. his nomination to the federal court by President Clinton and chair of the history department at Wofford College in Isabel Wilkerson became the first African American in 2000, Antoon served as prosecutor, public defender, Lu Vickers earned a doctorate in creative writing from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She earned her bachelor’s, woman to win a in journalism when she private practitioner, Circuit Judge of the Eighteenth Florida State University and currently teaches English master’s, and doctoral degrees in history from Florida was awarded the 1994 Pulitzer for feature writing. A Judicial Circuit of Florida, 1985-1995, and Judge on the at Tallahassee Community College. In addition to her State University. Revels has written numerous essays and celebrated journalist and former Chicago Bureau Chief of Fifth District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida, book on Cypress Gardens, Vickers is the author of Weeki four books covering subjects ranging from the impact of , Wilkerson has lectured in Canada 1995-2000. Wachee: City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida’s the Civil War on Florida women to a humorous collection and Denmark and at Harvard, Emory, Princeton, and Oldest Roadside Attractions, (2007), and her acclaimed of stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. Northwestern Universities. *ROBERT & ROSE STAHL novel, Breathing Underwater, (2007). CRIMINAL JUSTICE LECTURE The Robert and Rose Stahl Criminal Justice Lecture honors the memory of Robert and Rose Stahl. Mr. Stahl served more than 30 years as a police officer, including ABOUT US BOARD OF GOVERNERS: his years as Chief of Police in North Miami Beach, Florida. Founded in 2001, The Lawton M. Chiles Center Mr. J. Allison DeFoor II, Chairman, Tallahassee The family of Robert and Rose Stahl has generously made for Florida History strives to enhance the Dr. James M. Denham, Executive Director these lectures available to Florida Southern College. teaching, study, and writing of Florida history. Ms. Kristen Gunter, Lakeland Mrs. Mimi Hardman, Lake Wales The Center seeks to preserve the state’s past Mr. Kent Lilly, Lakeland through cooperative efforts with historical Professor Walter W. Manley II, Tallahassee societies, preservation groups, museums, The Hon. Adam Putnam, Bartow public programs, media, and interested The Hon. Susan Roberts, Lakeland persons. This unique center, housed in the Dr. T. Terrell Sessums, Tampa ON THE COVER: Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr., Archives Center Special thanks to: The Cypress Gardens water-skiers were featured in a 1958 is a source of continuing information created Dr. Anne B. Kerr, President of Florida Southern College National Geographic article about the “fastest growing sport to increase appreciation for Florida history. Dr. Matt Thompson, Vice President for Advancement in the world.” By permission of Cypress Gardens. Image furnished courtesy of the University Press of Florida. Dr. Robert H. Tate, Vice President for External Relations Dr. James T. Byrd, Dean of Arts and Sciences Lawton M. Chiles, Jr. Center for Florida History