New World War I Related Exhibit at Musee de l’Armee Invalides

A major new exhibition at the Musée de l’Armée (if you visit the museum website you may translate to English through the drop down menu in the upper right corner) opening in October will retrace the reorganization of the Eastern Europe and the Near East from 1918 with the loose conglomeration of disturbances, violence and instability. The exhibition will explore this little-known period in history marked by revolutions, civil wars, major border shifts and the creation of new states.

While the conflicts came to an end on 11 November 1918 in Western Europe, the Great War allowed in the East until 1923. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to understand the complex struggles of the Eastern Europe and the Near East whose repercussions can still be seen today.

In the wake of the fall of the empires – Russian, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and German – some new countries were created by treaties which were soon contested. The Treaty of Sèvre, signed on 10 August 1920 by Turkey and the Allies, was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne, signed on 24 July 1923.

The exhibition sets out to show how, in this troubled context of the resolution of the First World War, France tried, with some difficulty, to put its military dominance to use in bringing stability to the region within a complex partnership of allies.

– READ THE PRESS RELEASE –

Florida Lecture Series at Florida Southern College

Florida Southern College has posted their 2018-2019 Florida Lecture Series schedule and it looks like some good speakers are lined up. Lectures start at 7pm and will be at different locations on campus. Click the link at the bottom of this post for more information and specific campus locations.

Speakers and topics include:

September 13
Gilbert King (Pulitzer Prize-winning Author)
“Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found”

October 25
Leslie Kemp Poole (Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Rollins College)
“Saving Florida: Women’s Fight for the Environment in the Twentieth Century”

November 29
Anne Rosen and Claudia Slate (Writers)
“Reflections from a Civil Rights Journalist: St. Augustine and Beyond”

JANUARY 10, 2019
Tracy Jean Revels (Professor of History, Wofford College)
“Florida’s Civil War: A Family Story”

February 7, 2019
David Head (Author and Lecturer, University of Central Florida)
“Privateers of the Americas”

March 21, 2019
John Capouya (Professor of Journalism, University of Tampa)
“Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to K.C. and the Sunshine Band”

For more information visit the Center for Florida History website.

Upcoming Appearance in Lake County

Lake County Courthouse in Tavares, FL

I have just today confirmed an appearance with the Lake County Historical Society at their Artists and Authors event taking place on Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 10-2p. I will have copies of all three of my books available for purchase. This should be a fun event. LCHS has some great volunteers and they usually attract a strong crowd. I missed their recent Museum by Moonlight event but heard it was a fantastic time.

 

The Lake County Historical Society operates the museum in the Lake County Courthouse located on the ground floor at 317 W. Main Street in downtown Tavares.  My dear friend Bob Grenier serves as Curator and has done a tremendous job. If you haven’t visited you are missing out.

I hope to see you there!

Secrets of Spanish Florida on PBS

Premiering on PBS tonight:

The documentary “Secrets of Spanish Florida” was funded in part by the St. Augustine Historical Society. They also contributed to the research for the project. Be sure to catch the premiere Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. on PBS. For more information, click here.

 

 

 

 

Deltona Authors Book Fair

I hope you are able to attend. I will be sharing a table with my good friend Bob Grenier. We will both have multiple history books available for sale and we would love to meet and talk with you. This event will be taking place on Saturday, October 28 from 1p-4p at the Deltona Library; 2150 Eustace Avenue in Deltona.

To learn more, visit the Facebook page for this event.

https://www.facebook.com/2017-Deltona-Authors-Book-Fair-Oct-28-2017-254626504946083/

Click the link below to view a copy of the event poster.

AuthorsFairflier (1)

My New Book Release: New Smyrna Beach (Postcard History Series)

My new book from Arcadia Publishing will be released next week, September 26, 2016!

New Smyrna Beach (Postcard History Series)

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You may order copies at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or other online retailers. If you live in the New Smyrna Beach area please feel free to stop at the New Smyrna Museum of History to purchase a signed copy. Your purchase will benefit the museum. You may also order a signed copy directly from me. Copies directly from me will cost $20 including shipping. Please pay by paypal: Robert at robertreddhistorian dot com. Be sure to let me know which book you are ordering (I have three out now and all cost $20 each), how you would like it signed, and where I am sending it to.

In addition, I will be at Renewals: A Bookshop on Friday, October 7 from 11am until 1pm. Stop buy, purchase a book, and browse Debbie’s great shop. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a signing or know of somebody who would. I have two New Smyrna Beach titles and my third book deals with St. Augustine and the Civil War. I would be glad to attend your event!

In the mean time, here’s a trailer that Arcadia has put together. Enjoy!

New St. Augustine Historical Society Marker to be Placed

The Saint Augustine Historical Society invites you to attend the unveiling of the historic marker “ST AUGUSTINE ON ANASTASIA ISLAND” on September 8, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. in the open field (overflow parking lot) just north of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm (999 Anastasia Boulevard).

Through the generosity of the Alligator Farm and Mr. David Drysdale, the Society is able to place this marker in a highly visible and easily accessed location.

THE MARKER

ST AUGUSTINE ON ANASTASIA ISLAND
St. Augustine, the oldest European-settled city in the United States, was located on Anastasia Island from 1566 until 1572. Spanish settlers had founded the city on the west shore of the Matanzas River on Sept. 8, 1565. They built homes and a fort. The fort and the supplies inside burned. On May 18, 1566, a council voted to relocate the city to the barrier island across from the first location. St. Augustine moved to the barrier island for protection from hostile Native Americans and European enemies entering the port. Documents describe in detail the city’s 6-year presence on the island–two forts, government buildings, barracks, a jail, homes, wells and fields for crops. No physical evidence has yet been found. Quarrying in the 17th and 18th centuries and erosion probably destroyed the remnants of the city on the island. Sixteenth-century reports note that the island city was two leagues (5-6 miles) from a strong house on San Julian Creek, placing the city in this general area of high ground and near the 16th-century inlet. The relentless ocean eroded the town’s location. In 1572 St. Augustine returned to the mainland.

Upcoming Presentation

I would like to thank the Arthur Erwin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their invitation to speak to their group. I will be speaking on New Smyrna Beach history.

The meeting will take place on Friday, March 10, 2017 at noon. The meeting will be held at The Cloisters of Deland. Please click the link for details as to location.

I will have copies of all three of my books available for purchase. I hope to see you there!

19th Annual Tybee Island Tour of Homes May 14

The 19th Annual Tybee Island Tour of Homes to be held May 14

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. – Tybee Island will host the 19th annual Tybee Island Tour of Homes May 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $35 each and lunch is included in the price of the ticket.

Guests can begin at the home of their choice and will be given a map, along with a list of homes, located on the back of the ticket. Tickets for this event can be purchased online or picked up at Chu’s Department Store, Saints and Shamrocks, or Seaside Sisters. Lunch will be served at Tybee Island Maritime Academy charter school and money raised from the tour will go to benefit the school.

For more information about the Tybee Island Tour of Homes visit tybeetourofhomes.com. For media information, contact Hannah Burnsed, Visit Tybee communications coordinator, at HBurnsed@VisitTybee.com or 912.704.8108.

Odds and Ends to Catch Up On

My apologies for the lack of posts recently. My book writing has kept me busy as of late. This week I submitted the manuscript and photos for my third book to Arcadia Publishing. This book will be in their Postcard History series and will cover the city of New Smyrna Beach. I found some great cards and I really think people will enjoy seeing the New Smyrna of yesterday. I don’t have a publication date yet but as soon as I do, I will let you, my readers, know.

Click here to see a PDF of the cover: A Postcard History of New Smyrna Beach

In addition, I have scheduled a talk on my recent book, Historic Sites and Landmarks of New Smyrna Beach,   also published by Arcadia. On Saturday, April 16 at 2pm I will be speaking at Debary Hall as part of their Lemonade Lectures series. If you haven’t visited Debary Hall, you have missed a great trip.

I have a conference call scheduled for early next week with acquisitions editors from Arcadia to discuss ideas for my next book. I have put forth several ideas so I am sure we will cover the merits of each, which they find most marketable, and which I prefer to work on. I’m sure the call will be productive.