Proctor Lecture Series continues with presentation by history professor

February 24, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Spring 2009 Samuel Proctor Florida History Lecture Series continues its environmental theme Wednesday with a presentation by University of Florida associate professor of history Jack E. Davis. The theme for this semester is “Florida, Water, and the Environment,” and includes talks by policy leaders, journalists and academics.

Davis will speak at 7 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora with a talk titled “An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century.” The series is sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program.

Davis’ new book, titled the same as the lecture, was recently published by the University of Georgia Press. He is a native Floridian who received his doctorate from Brandeis University. His first book, “Race Against Time: Culture and Separation in Natchez Since 1930,” won the Charles Sydnor Prize from the Southern Historical Association.

“Jack Davis’ new book paints a compelling portrait of a true legend in environmental activism,” said Michael Bowen, assistant director of the Graham Center. “Her work on behalf of the Everglades has benefited every Floridian. Jack does a good job in showing the relationship between nature, politics, and policy when environmentalism was a relatively new phenomenon.”

The Samuel Proctor Florida History Lecture Series is made possible by generous donations from the Proctor family and alumni members of the Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity.

The Graham Center for Public Service provides students with opportunities to train for future leadership positions, meet policymakers and take courses in critical thinking, language learning and studies of world cultures. Its mission is to foster public leadership and solve issues related to the Americas and homeland security. It also serves as a magnet to attract distinguished scholars and speakers to Florida.