Department Archives: History

On August 22, 1908, the Sanford Herald published its first issue. Featuring articles about the cost of purchasing and developing farm land and details of orange culture, the first issue was named the “industrial edition” as Sanford was then known as the Gate City to Florida. News of the past is no longer limited to […]

Karen Kelly currently lives about an hour away from Paris in the historic city of Rouen, Normandy teaching English to French children. Since graduating from UCF in 2017 with a BA in History, Karen has started working as a teaching assistant through the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). The program is an initiative through […]

In partnership with the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities, Dr. Scot French and UCF History graduate student Gramond McPherson created an exhibit highlighting the history of Eatonville, Fl. and Zora Neale Hurston’s legacy. The exhibit narrates part of Eatonville’s history, one of the nation’s oldest African American towns. During the mid […]

With great sadness, the Department of History at the University of Central Florida announces the passing of Simon Fraser Barton, Professor of History. The renowned historian of medieval Iberia passed away in Orlando on Friday, December 15, 2017 at the age of 55. Before coming to the University of Central Florida, Dr. Barton was a […]

Professors and students from the UCF History Department presented at the American Historical Association Conference last week. Dr. Amelia Lyons, Dr. Scot French, Dr. Barbara Gannon, and Graduate student Sarah Schneider presented papers on the benefits and challenges of the Veterans Legacy Program. Dr. Martinez-Fernandez also chaired a Latin American History Session on Slavery and […]

Over 200,000 people have migrated from Puerto Rico since hurricane Maria devastated the island. Following the storm’s landfall, the Central Florida area has become a refuge to a growing number of Puerto Ricans impacted by the storm. Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez, UCF Professor of History, continues to share his expert knowledge on Latinos in the United […]

  Dr. Robert Cassanello and Dr. Lisa Mills recently joined Reporter Brendan Byrne at the WMFE 90.7 studio to discuss their work on an upcoming documentary film, “Marching Forward”. Slated for release in early 2018, the documentary chronicles the rise of the all-black marching band at Orlando’s Jones High School during segregation. Listen to the […]

Digital Storytelling (ASH 3930) – Dr. Tiffany Earley-Spadoni If you are interested in new ways to tell stories about the past, this class is for you. “Digital Storytelling” is a relatively new practice which uses digital tools for community-engagement. Digital stories are often presented in a compelling first-person style and combine a variety of formats including […]

This year HASTAC 2017 will take place at the University of Central Florida. At this conference, a number of panels will take place relating to this year’s theme of “The Possible Worlds of Digital Humanities.” One of the panels featured at HASTAC is led by UCF’s History Department’s Dr. Tiffany Earley-Spadoni. She, along with three […]

The History Department hosted the annual Jerrell H. Shofner lecture series covering Florida culture and history earlier this week. Nearly 100 students, faculty and alumni attended this year’s lecture as guest speaker, Gary. R. Mormino, discussed “Florida and the Age of Terror.” Mormino explored Florida as it navigated its way into the new millennia in […]