Friday, February 26, 2010

Hisoric Hyde Park Neighborhood Association Celebrates the Bungalow at the History Center

On Sunday, February 28, from 3 to 6 pm, the Tampa History Center will host the premier of Celebrating the Bungalow, a new documentary about Tampa’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood.

The documentary’s premier is being held in conjunction with the opening of a new exhibit on Hisoric Hyde Park in the History Center’s Community Case. Beginning Sunday at 3 pm, visitors will be able to tour the History Center and view the exhibit before attending the premier showing of the documentary in TECO Hall at 5:00 pm.

Tickets to the event are $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for children ages 4 to 12. You can purchase tickets through the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association by clicking here.

Or, contact Evelyn at 813-938-5667 to be added to the pre-pay list. Tickets can also be purchased at the door the day of the event.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

History Center Takes Kids ‘Out To The Ballgame’

Morning at the Museum, a before-hours exploration of the Tampa Bay History Center, continues on Saturday, February 27th with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” which will highlight the History Center’s traveling exhibit, Shades of Greatness: Art Inspired By Negro Leagues Baseball.

Register now for this special family friendly program, which will focus on the Tampa Bay area’s historic connection to America’s favorite pastime. Kids are encouraged to wear a baseball uniform or sport a jersey or hat from their favorite team. The History Center staff will lead a special “kid-friendly” tour with hands-on games and activities. Afterwards, enjoy guava pastries and other breakfast treats provided by the Columbia Cafe.

Morning at the Museum is held one Saturday per month from 9-10:30 a.m. and is open to children ages 5 to 12 with an adult companion. Each session is $10.00 per child and $14 for adults, which includes breakfast. History Center members receive a $2.00 discount.

Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required. For more information on Morning at the Museum and to register, contact Jen Tyson at 813-675-8960 or send her an email.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Tampa Sports History, 2/23/75

This week 35 years ago, the University of Tampa appeared on the verge of eliminating their football program forever. Faced with rising costs and lack of administrative support, the team was on life-support, and only a last-minute "S.O.S." campaign to "Save Our Spartans" could save college football in Tampa. 

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the February 19 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Upcoming Events at the History Center

As we near the end of Black History Month, we have lots of exciting programs coming up:

Thursday, February 18th  - Join Fred Hearns and the History Center Book Group for an informal discussion on The Odyssey of an African Slave, by Sitiki edited by Patricia C. Griffin. 10:30 – 11:30 am. This free event is open to the public.
Saturday, February 20th - Former Negro Leagues baseball players Walter “Dirk” Gibbons, Clifford “Quack” Brown, Raydell “Lefty” Maddix and Billy Reed visit the History Center to talk about their years playing for local pro and semi-pro African American teams. Dr. Raymond Doswell, Vice President of Curatorial Services of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri will lead the players in a question and answer session following his discussion on the History Center’s traveling exhibit, Shades of Greatness. Dr. Doswell will talk about how the exhibit reflects the history of the Negro Leagues from roughly 1920 through 1960. 3:00 pm, TECO Hall. Free.

Sunday, February 21st - Florida Conversations with Patricia C. Griffin, editor of The Odyssey of an African Slave, by Sitiki. 3:00 pm, TECO Hall. Free. 

Saturday, February 27th - Morning at the Museum, a before-hours exploration of the History Center, continues on Saturday, February 27th with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” This special family friendly program will focus on baseball and the Tampa Bay area’s historic connection to America’s favorite pastime. Kids are encouraged to wear a baseball uniform or sport a jersey or hat from their favorite team. The History Center staff will lead a special “kid-friendly” tour with hands-on games and activities. Afterwards, enjoy guava pastries and other breakfast treats provided by the Columbia Cafe. Pre-registration is required. Contact Jen Tyson for more information.

We hope to see you at one of these great programs!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Florida Conversations Traces the ‘Odyssey of an African Slave’

On Sunday, February 21, at 3:00 pm, Florida Conversations at the Tampa Bay History Center features Patricia C. Griffin, editor of the recently-published book, Odyssey of an African Slave.

Before the lecture, join the TBHC Book Group for a discussion of Odyssey on Thursday morning at 10:30. Both the lecture and the book discussion are free and open to the public.

Odyssey is the mesmerizing narrative of Sitiki, an African-born slave.

Sitiki, also known as Jack Smith, was born in Africa and died, a free man, in St. Augustine, Florida. He wrote his memoir between 1869 and 1871 with the assistance of Buckingham Smith, his former master.

Captured and sold into slavery as a five-year-old, Sitiki traveled to America as a cabin boy. He was sold to Josiah Smith of Savannah, Georgia, captured by the British during the War of 1812, and freed after the Civil War. He went on to become the first black Methodist minister in St. Augustine, Florida, where he established his own church.

Griffin edited the original hand-written account, which was recently discovered in the Buckingham Smith Collection at the New York Historical Society.

Florida Conversations features authors covering the history, culture and people of Florida and is presented through a partnership with the University of South Florida Libraries’ Florida Studies Center. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information or to find out about upcoming lectures, visit our website or call (813) 228-0097.

Tampa Sports History, Interview with John Cannon: Part 3

John Cannon, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's 4th overall draft pick in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft. The defensive end out of William & Mary recorded 22 sacks in 9 seasons with Tampa Bay. Cannon retired following the 1990 season, but has remained a fixture in the community. Currently a firefighter and paramedic for Tampa Fire Rescue in downtown Tampa, Cannon recently took some time to reflect on his memorable playing career. The following is the last in a three-part interview with John Cannon.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the February 12 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Register Your Kids Now For 'A Little History'

Our children’s program, A Little History, continues on Saturday, February 13th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

This month’s theme will be Pioneer Life. The History Center’s early childhood educators will entertain and enlighten with stories, songs, crafts and other age-appropriate activities related to the History Center’s exhibits and galleries. Saturday’s program will highlight pioneers from the 1800s who lived and worked in Florida’s rugged wilderness.

A Little History is open to children ages 3 to 5 with an adult companion. Each program is $10.00 per child and $6.00 per adult. Members of the Tampa Bay History Center will receive a $2.00 discount for both children and adults. One adult must accompany every two children. Space is limited, pre-registration is required. Download a registration form here.

For more information on A Little History, contact the History Center’s Assistant Curator of Education, Jennifer Tyson, at (813) 675-8960 or send her an email.

Upcoming dates and themes for A Little History:

March 13 Strawberries!
April 17 Junior Archaeologists
May 15 Museum Mysteries

Monday, February 8, 2010

Tampa Sports History, Interview with John Cannon: Part 2

John Cannon, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's 4th overall draft pick in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft. The defensive end out of William & Mary recorded 22 sacks in 9 seasons with Tampa Bay. Cannon retired following the 1990 season, but has remained a fixture in the community. Currently a firefighter and paramedic for Tampa Fire Rescue in downtown Tampa, Cannon recently took some time to reflect on his memorable playing career. The following is the second of a three-part interview with John Cannon.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the February 5 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Shades of Greatness: Art Inspired by Negro Leagues Baseball Now Open at the Tampa Bay History Center

Black History Month at the Tampa Bay History Center kicks off on February 1st with the opening of Shades of Greatness: Art Inspired by Negro Leagues Baseball.

Shades of Greatness is the first-ever collaborative professional art exhibition inspired by Negro leagues baseball. Raymond Doswell, Vice President of Curatorial Services for the Negro League Baseball Museum (NLBM), wanted to offer a new interpretation of the story of the Negro leagues, one that differed from the painted portraiture that dominated Negro leagues art. The NLBM brought together 27 local (Kansas City) and national artists to develop a new understanding of this fascinating subject.

The exhibit pieces are in mixed media, from cubist paintings of Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and James "Cool Papa" Bell to bronze sculptures of batters' hands, among them Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. Some works focus on individuals, like Jackie Robinson or Effa Manley, the owner of the Newark Eagles. Others are symbolic, with generic figures representing the many Negro leaguers and their experiences. While other pieces showcase known figures in the same piece, purposefully not elevating any one player's status over another's. George Morris illustrates this in the painting "No Pepper Ball" which utilizes a "double exposure effect" which renders vague who is overlapping whom. All of the artwork sheds light upon an oft-overlooked part of baseball history.

The Shades of Greatness exhibit is included in regular admission to the History Center. Dr. Dosewell will visit the History Center on February 20th for a lecuture on the exhibit and how it reflects the history of Negro Leagues Baseball. For more information, visit our website.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Tampa Sports History, Interview with John Cannon: Part 1

John Cannon, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's 4th overall draft pick in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft. The defensive end out of William & Mary recorded 22 sacks in 9 seasons with Tampa Bay. Cannon retired following the 1990 season, but has remained a fixture in the community. Currently a firefighter and paramedic for Tampa Fire Rescue in downtown Tampa, Cannon recently took some time to reflect on his memorable playing career. The following is the first of a three-part interview with John Cannon.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the January 29 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

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