Matheson History Museum announces its 2024 Fall Program Series
Press release from Matheson History Museum
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Matheson History Museum is excited to announce our 2024 Fall Program Series! The full slate of programs includes live music, elections and voting history, author talks, and more.
Along with our regular local and Florida history programs and Second Saturdays at Sweetwater series, we will be hosting programs to coincide with the “Voices and Votes: Alachua County” exhibition.
Sarah’s Birthday Bash with Patchwork (Second Saturdays at Sweetwater)
Saturday, September 14, 2:30pm-4pm
FREE (no registration required)
Join us as we celebrate Sarah Hamilton Matheson’s birthday! We are excited to host Patchwork for an afternoon of music from the front porch of the Matheson home in celebration of the birthday of our original patron, Sarah Matheson. Sarah was the last resident of the historic Matheson House, which was bequeathed to the Museum on her death in 1996.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and their appreciation for music for a relaxing afternoon in Sweetwater Park.
Bloody Streets and Crooked Lines: 100 Years of Voter Suppression in Florida with James Abraham
Wednesday, September 18, 7pm
FREE with registration
From the violent and fatal 1921 election riots in Ocoee to modern redistricting issues, James Abraham explores in his presentation the suppression of voters in Florida over one hundred years and the prime figures in the struggle for full and equal access to the polls.
Women Politicking Politely: Breaking Boundaries in the Workplace and the Home with Kimberly Voss, Ph.D.
Saturday, September 21, 4pm
FREE with registration
We are excited to welcome back Dr. Kimberly Voss to the Matheson History Museum to share from her book Women Politicking Politely: Advancing Feminism in the 1960s and 1970s. Dr. Voss’s presentation includes the relatively unknown stories of six important women who laid the foundation for improving women’s equality in the U.S.
100 Things to Do in Gainesville Before You Die with Lauren Gonzalez
Wednesday, September 25, 7pm
FREE with registration
Join author Lauren Gonzalez for a book talk and presentation about her new book, 100 Things to Do in Gainesville Before You Die. Learn about the process of researching and writing the book, Lauren’s background in travel writing, and some special tips, tricks, and itineraries for exploring Gainesville.
Voting in Alachua County and the 2024 Presidential General Election with Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton
Thursday, September 26, 6pm
FREE with registration
We are honored to welcome Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton to the Matheson History Museum to discuss the election process in Alachua County and the upcoming 2024 Presidential General Election. Supervisor of Elections employees will be on hand to assist county residents in updating their voter registration or register for the first time.
Why is the University of Florida in Gainesville? with Carl Van Ness
Wednesday, October 2, 7pm
FREE with registration
If the Buckman Act of 1905 had not been passed, what would Gainesville be like without the University of Florida? The University of Florida Librarian Emeritus Carl Van Ness will answer that question in his presentation, based on his recent book The Making of Florida Universities: Public Higher Education at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.
The Traveling Canary in Alachua County with Terrence Ho
Wednesday, October 9, 7pm
FREE with registration
The Travelling Canary in Alachua County is a coffee table book, art book, memoir, and history of life in Gainesville. Author and artist Terrence Ho will showcase the stories of some of these pen & ink drawings, chosen to represent as much of the county in its 200th anniversary year.
Florida! Florida! Florida!: Presidential Elections in the Sunshine State with Boyd Murphree, Ph.D.
Wednesday, October 16, 7pm
FREE with registration
Boyd Murphree, Political Papers Archivist for Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries, will talk about Florida’s role in some of the nation’s presidential primaries and general elections from 1876 to 2016 and present images illustrating those elections from UF’s large and diverse holdings of presidential election documents, publications, and artifacts.
Democracy in Florida: A Work in Progress with Steve Noll, Ph.D.
Wednesday, October 23, 7pm
FREE with registration
We are excited to welcome back to the Matheson Dr. Steve Noll to examine the history of democracy in Florida, as individuals and groups fought (and are still fighting) to be included in the body politic.
Florida: A History in Pictures with Jeff Davies and Mike McGinness
Wednesday, November 13, 7pm
FREE with registration
Authors Jeff Davies and Mike McGinness will share about the journey to create their book Florida: A History in Pictures and manage their growing Facebook group of the same name. Davies and McGinness also have a second book in the works!
Dashing Through History: Step Back in Time for the Holidays (Second Saturdays at Sweetwater)
Saturday, December 8
2pm-4pm
Paid Ticket
Join us for a journey through time this holiday season as we celebrate “Dashing Through History” at our festive holiday open house. Enjoy historical crafts, live music, refreshments, and tours of the historic Matheson House.
These events are sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville/Alachua County, FL; The City of Gainesville; and by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of the Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.