IRSC Living History Series Tells Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary People

September 27, 2019 Robert Lane

Professor Robert Farley The Indian River State College (IRSC) Living History Series presents enlightening presentations that focus on topics that range from local legend and lore, Mid-eastern power struggles—and even the history of Santa Claus. Developed by IRSC Professor Robert Farley in cooperation with the Martin County Library System, presentations for this annual series are free-of-charge and open to students and the public.

The following topics comprise the 2019 “IRSC Living History Series” presentations:

“The Military on the Treasure Coast”
Saturday, September 28, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Kimbell Center, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound
Ron Frazer, IRSC adjunct History Professor, discusses topics from the Navy Seals to Camp Murphy and how the local area contributed to the war efforts.

“Online Privacy Awareness”
Friday, October 4, 12:00–1:15 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Kendra Auberry, IRSC Librarian at the St. Lucie West Campus, enlightens on how much of our day-to-day existence is tracked and by whom. What happens to that data after it is collected? Learn how is personal data used by others to drive your decision making in the areas of finance, health, entertainment, politics, and more.

“Pirate of the Treasure Coast”
Friday, October 4, 1:45–3:00 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Alice Luckhardt, local historian and author presents Don Pedro Gilbert, a local pirate in the 1830’s, of whom Gilbert’s bar is named after and famous for his saying ‘Dead Cats Don’t Meow.’

“The Paintings of Thomas Cole”
Thursday, October 10, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Cummings Library, 2551 SW Matheson Avenue, Palm City
Robert Farley, IRSC Professor of History, presents the founder of the Hudson River School of Art depicting the rugged landscape and natural beauty. Two series of his art will be explained: “Journey through Life” and “Course of Empire.”

“An American Odyssey”
Friday, October 11, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Donna Adair, former educator and author, will lead a journey into America's past with a real-life family of pioneers as they settle a series of frontiers in the 1800’s. Covered wagons, log cabins, new lands, hard work and danger were the hallmarks of everyday life on the frontier. Life was filled with hardship yet rewarding in those pioneer decades long ago.

“Female Pirates of the Seven Seas”
Friday, October 25, 12:00–1:15 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Joanne Wetzl, author and former educator, introduces that “A pirate’s life for me” was a chorus never limited to men only. History is dotted with women who took to the high seas for necessity, adventure—or revenge! Join us for a look at a few of the “mean girls” who ruled the seven seas, swashbuckling women who made their mark in the pirate world.

“The Golden Age of Piracy”
Friday, October 25, 1:30–2:45 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Allen Balogh, author and former educator presents “The Golden Age of Piracy.” Countless ships, treasures and lives were lost during the Golden Age of Piracy. Learn the “Who’s Who” of this age of scoundrels.

“Make Uncle Sam Great Again”
First Presentation: Saturday, November 2, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Kimbell Center, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound

Second Presentation: Thursday, November 7, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Cummings Library, 2551 SW Matheson Avenue, Palm City
Robert Farley, IRSC Professor, discusses the historical and non-partisan, Uncle Sam, who has represented the Constitution and the U.S. Government for over two centuries. Learn the backdrops on how a cartoon character has has been depicted by artists.

“Fergie Ferguson: Local Sports and War Hero”
Friday, November 8, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Alice Luckhardt, local historian and author, discusses sports star at Stuart High School and the University of Florida and war hero of D-Day.

“Local Photographs of the late 1800’s”
Saturday, November 9, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Kimbell Center, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound
Josh Liller, Jupiter Lighthouse archivist and historian, explores lighthouse keeper Melville Spencer’s historically significant photography from the 1870s through the 1880s.

"The Saudi and Iranian Struggle for Mid-East Hegemony"
Thursday, November 14, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Cummings Library, 2551 SW Matheson Avenue, Palm City
Alex Shelby, IRSC Professor of History presents on a timely subject in Middle-Eastern affairs. With the death of the Saudi king and the Rise of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a dynamic power play will continue between the Sunnis and Shi'ites in the Persian Gulf region with the possibility of nuclear weapon proliferation.

“The Partisan Press in our Early Republic”
Thursday, November 21, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Cummings Library, 2551 SW Matheson Avenue, Palm City
Michelle Carrigan, IRSC Professor of History shares how “Fake News” in nothing new in American politics. From the Constitutional Debate to the “corrupt bargain,” our first seven presidents (1785-1825) have dealt with disinformation and the distortion of reality.

“The History of Christmas and Santa Claus”
Friday, November 22, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Johnson Auditorium, C-101, IRSC Chastain Campus, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart
Robert Farley, IRSC History professor, presents the captivating evolution of our winter holiday and its jolliest old elf, Santa Claus.

For more information on the IRSC Living History Series, contact Professor Farley at rfarley@irsc.edu.