LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 27, 2005) — Florida Southern College’s Center for Florida History welcomes Joe Akerman to the Florida Lecture Series on Nov. 10. Akerman will discuss his book “Jacob Summerlin: King of the Crackers,” beginning at 7 p.m. in the William M. Hollis Seminar Room on the Florida Southern campus. The lecture is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow the lecture. 

“We are delighted to once again welcome Joe Akerman to Florida Southern,” noted James M. Denham, Director of the College’s Center for Florida History. “He is a great speaker as well as the foremost authority on Florida’s cattle history.” Akerman holds degrees from Rollins College and the University of Florida, and a post-graduate certificate in Southern and Negro history from Johns Hopkins University. Currently a professor of history, emeritus, at North Florida Junior College, he is also the author of “The Florida Cowman: A History of the Cattle Industry in Florida” (Kissimmee, 1997) and “American Brahman: A History of the American Brahman” (Houston, 1982). His book “Jacob Summerlin: King of the Crackers” (Melbourne, 2004) won the Florida Historical Society’s Charlton Tebeau Book Prize in 2005. His articles have appeared in many journals and newspapers, including the “Florida Historical Quarterly,” “Orlando Sentinel,” “Tallahassee Democrat,” “Jacksonville Times-Union,” and “Vancouver Sun.” Akerman is a native of Orlando, Fla.  

About the Florida Lecture Series 
The Florida Lecture Series is produced by the Center for Florida History under the direction of Dr. James M. Denham. The program brings speakers to the Lakeland campus who approach the issue of “Florida Life and Culture” from a wide range of disciplines, including history, public affairs, law, sociology, criminology, anthropology, literature, music and art. Its overall objective is to create an opportunity for members of the community, faculty, and student body to listen to, interact with and learn from leading scholars and specialists of the state’s history and culture.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.