At the Jacksonville Historical Society, we’re making history every day. Our monthly Speakers Series offers in-depth information on surprising and diverse aspects of our city’s past, and our fun Pop Up events are designed to bring attention to the forgotten history buried in our own back yard. Throughout the year, we also lead countless school groups on “insider tours” of our city’s most significant landmarks and events. Why don’t you join us?
An exhibit with guest curator, Stephen Cargile.
The Jacksonville Historical Society pauses to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a war that forever changed our city, our nation and the world. The monumental local role in the effort is highlighted in an exhibit of photographs and objects from guest curator, Stephen Cargile. The exhibit also includes items from the society’s collections, including Merrill Family Liberty Ship images.
The exhibit is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning August 13th and ending Veteran’s Day, November 11th located at Old St. Luke’s, 314 Palmetto Street. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
This exhibit and the 2015-16 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A., Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
An exhibit with guest curator, Stephen Cargile.
The Jacksonville Historical Society pauses to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a war that forever changed our city, our nation and the world. The monumental local role in the effort is highlighted in an exhibit of photographs and objects from guest curator, Stephen Cargile. The exhibit also includes items from the society’s collections, including Merrill Family Liberty Ship images.
The exhibit is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning August 13th and ending Veteran’s Day, November 11th located at Old St. Luke’s, 314 Palmetto Street. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
This exhibit and the 2015-16 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A., Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
An exhibit with guest curator, Stephen Cargile.
The Jacksonville Historical Society pauses to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a war that forever changed our city, our nation and the world. The monumental local role in the effort is highlighted in an exhibit of photographs and objects from guest curator, Stephen Cargile. The exhibit also includes items from the society’s collections, including Merrill Family Liberty Ship images.
The exhibit is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning August 13th and ending Veteran’s Day, November 11th located at Old St. Luke’s, 314 Palmetto Street. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
This exhibit and the 2015-16 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A., Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
An exhibit with guest curator, Stephen Cargile.
The Jacksonville Historical Society pauses to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a war that forever changed our city, our nation and the world. The monumental local role in the effort is highlighted in an exhibit of photographs and objects from guest curator, Stephen Cargile. The exhibit also includes items from the society’s collections, including Merrill Family Liberty Ship images.
The exhibit is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning August 13th and ending Veteran’s Day, November 11th located at Old St. Luke’s, 314 Palmetto Street. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
This exhibit and the 2015-16 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A., Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
An exhibit with guest curator, Stephen Cargile.
The Jacksonville Historical Society pauses to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a war that forever changed our city, our nation and the world. The monumental local role in the effort is highlighted in an exhibit of photographs and objects from guest curator, Stephen Cargile. The exhibit also includes items from the society’s collections, including Merrill Family Liberty Ship images.
The exhibit is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning August 13th and ending Veteran’s Day, November 11th located at Old St. Luke’s, 314 Palmetto Street. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
This exhibit and the 2015-16 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A., Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
Lights, camera, action!
Join the Jacksonville Historical Society Monday, January 25 for a reception and program on Jacksonville’s theatre and performance history. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30pm with the program to follow at 7pm. Author and speaker Dorothy K. Fletcher will present the theatres, drive-ins and movie houses that brought entertainment to Jacksonville citizens. 
Some have passed into memory. The Dixie Theatre, originally part of Dixieland Park, began to fade in 1909. The Palace Theatre, home to vaudeville acts, was torn down in the ’50s. The Alhambra has been everyone’s favorite dinner theatre since 1967’s debut of Come Blow Your Horn.
Local author Dorothy K. Fletcher revives the history of Jacksonville’s theatres in her new book Historic Jacksonville Theatre Palaces, Drive-Ins and Movie Houses,
published in 2015. Mrs. Fletcher retired from the Duval County Public School System in 2007 after thirty-five years of teaching English classes. She was then able to embrace her passion – writing. Her monthly column, “By the Wayside,” which she wrote for the Florida Times-Union, led to a series of history books she has written about her beloved home, Jacksonville, Florida. She and her husband, Hardy, love traveling and hanging out with their grandchildren.
** Due to illness, the original program scheduled for January 25th, “The History of Jacksonville’s Jewish Community” with Marcia Jo Zerivitz will be rescheduled for a later date.**
This program and the 2015-16 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A. Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
Join the Jacksonville Historical Society and speaker Tom Schmidt Tuesday, April 26 at Old St. Andrews for a presentation on Jacksonville’s railroad history.
Engineer, educator, lawyer and “career railroader,” Tom Schmidt explores Jacksonville railroad history from its early years through the decades — now fast a[[roaching two centuries of rail travel in North Florida. This sometimes complicated, but always fascinating history includes Jacksonville’s early rail travel, the first bridge spanning the St. John’s River at Jacksonville (a train bridge), the passenger heydays of the 1920’s and much more.
About the author
Retired Vice-President of Engineering for CSX, Mr. Schmidt calls himself a “career railroader”. He is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in industrial engineering and received a law degree from St. Louis University Law School. After retirement from CSX, Mr. Schmidt received a masters degree in history from the University of North Florida and now teaches history at Florida State College and in UNF’s continuing education OLLIE program. He is board vice-president of the Child Guidance Center, past board chair of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and has served on the YMCA of the USA International Committee.
According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom(OIF), “hundreds of books are challenged in schools and libraries in the United States each year. A challenge is an 
attempt to remove or restrict materials, while a banning reflects the actual removal of those materials”. 275 challenges were recorded nationally during 2015. The OIF staff believes far more challenges occur, however, because reporting is not mandatory in all states.
In the Duval County School System alone, 300 book challenges have been reported from 1978 – 2012. The Jacksonville Public Library reports 70 challenges to materials (books, DVDs, etc.) since 2000.
Leslie Kirkwood, Chair of Banned: A Community Conversation about Censorship and Free Speech will present crucial history and background and Barbara A. B. Gubbin, Director of Jacksonville Public Library in this important conversation. The presentation also incorporates performances by Jason Woods, actor/director. The presentation will also highlight the history of the Nazi-era censorship and its relevance today; Banned Books Week; a review of national, local public school and public library challenges; and a discussion of First Amendment rights.
Leslie Kirkwood is is a current chair of Banned: Censorship and Free Speech (a series of public programs—community conversations—that examines the delicate balance between censorship and free speech) and Remembering for the Future Community Holocaust Initiative (an organization that focuses attention on Holocaust education and remembrance through educational resources, teacher training, major exhibitions and community programs.). She is also the Vice-President of Urban Dynamics Corporation, a member of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library and the former Executive Director of the Jacksonville Public Libraries Foundation.
The reception begins at 6:30pm with the program to follow at 7pm. Both events will be held at Old St. Andrew’s, 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Free parking is available in the lot behind the Merrill House and Old St. Andrew’s, along Duval Street.
Security will be on duty.
Your guests are welcome.
A suggested donation for non-members is $5, students free with proper ID.
This program and the 2016-17 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A. Dr. Fred H. Lambrou, Jr.
Marching at Morrison’s, 1964. Florida-Times Union.
This observation of Black History Month connects Jacksonville to some of the Civil Rights era’s most pivotal events, which took place in Northeast Florida. Demonstrations in St. Augustine, led by giants of history such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Andrew Young, were forcefully suppressed by local authorities. Legal appeals by the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were decided in the Jacksonville courtroom of federal judge Bryan Simpson, whose rulings defied heavy community resistance and personal criticism. Worldwide attention to local events helped move Congress to act on civil rights legislation. In 2008, Jacksonville’s United States Courthouse at 300 North Hogan Street was named in honor of Judge Simpson.
Program speakers will describe local civil rights conflicts, and the judicial process that critically upheld the right to public demonstrations.
Co-sponsors: the Jacksonville Historical Society, the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Daniel Webster Perkins Bar Association of Jacksonville.
Please note the time change:
Reception: 6pm
Program: 630pm
This event is open to the public. A suggested donation for non-members is $5.
We ask that you register for the event online, by following this link, by emailing info@jaxhistory.org or phoning 904.665.0064.
Free parking is available behind Old St. Andrews along Duval Street. Security will be on duty. Your guests are welcome.
This program and the 2016-17 JHS program series is generously sponsored by Retina Associates, P.A., Dr. Fred Lanbrou, Jr.
In honor of National Preservation Month, Wayne W. Wood, the “godfather of Jacksonville History,” is speaker for the Jacksonville Historical Society annual meeting. Dr. Wood’s presentation explores Jacksonville’s greatest architectural gems, including amazing landmarks that are long gone, and his 25 favorite buildings existing in Northeast Florida. You” hear dramatic stories of local significant structures that have been rescued and preserved. Also covered during the presentation are Jacksonville’s most endangered buildings, which include some big surprises!
About the speaker
Dr. Wood, a retired optometrist, is author or editor of numerous books exploring Jacksonville’s history, including the best selling, Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage: Landmarks for the Future (currently out-of-print). Other publications include, but are not limited to The Jacksonville Family Album: 150 Years of the Art of Photography, The Great Fire of 1901, The Architectural of Henry John Klutho: The Prairie School in Jacksonville, The Broward Family in Florida: From France to Florida, and The Living Heritage of Riverside and Avondale. A few remaining copies of The Jacksonville Family Album will be available for sale at the May 31 program along with other books by Dr. Wood, or purchase them online by clicking on the highlighted book name.
