Every fall and spring, USF Libraries partner with the Tampa Bay History Center to offer this intriguing series of conversations on topics relevant to Tampa Bay and Florida.
All presentations are free and offered both in-person and virtually (Zoom and YouTube). Registration and more information can be found here.
2024 FALL Schedule:
Sept 11 | TECO Hall: 6:30 P.M.
Florida Conversations: The Story of an Estuary & Its People
Evan Bennett, Ph.D.
History and nature intertwine in Tampa Bay and on its shores, each informing the understanding of the other. Historian Evan P. Bennett, Ph.D., will uncover the deep-rooted relationships between water, land, and people, illustrating how people have lived and worked on Tampa Bay over two millennia and contemplating their future interactions with the environment.
Oct 2 | TECO Hall: 6:30 P.M.
Florida Conversations: Hotels, Motels, and Inns of Florida
Kristen Hare, journalist, author, and Florida travel writer
Since the late 1800s, tourists have flocked to the Sunshine State for rest, sun, and fun. Discover over 60 historic properties still welcoming guests, from quirky inns to iconic pink palaces and family-owned motels. Learn about lodgings built by Black Floridians during segregation. Join author Kristen Hare as she explores the histories and stories of these remarkable places.
Oct 23 | TECO Hall: 6:30 P.M.
Florida Conversations: John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community
Ray Arsenault, Ph.D.
Fred Hearns, curator of Black history, will interview Ray Arsenault, Ph.D., author of the new book “John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community,” along with Roselia Kennedy, Ph.D., a USF professor and sister of Bernard LaFayette, Ph.D. This discussion will provide perspectives on the struggle for civil rights for Black people in Tampa and across the nation.
Nov 20 | TECO Hall; 6:30 P.M.
Florida Conversations: A New Perspective of V.M. Ybor and His City
Loy Glen Westfall, Ph.D.
Join Glen Westfall, Ph.D., as he unravels the tale of Don Vicente Martinez Ybor, tracing the Cuban cigar industry’s migration to Florida and its impact on the state’s industrial rise by 1900. Explore preservation efforts for Ybor City and the Ybor City State Museum in this enlightening lecture.