2024 Programs, Workshops, and Keynotes
Programs
Florida History
Shade in the Sunshine State: Reflections on Segregation in Florida
If you’re like most Americans, when someone asks you to name a “southern” state, chances are good that places like Mississippi, Georgia, or Alabama will come to mind. Join award-winning Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen for this fast-paced, thought-provoking lecture that will show that when it came to segregation of the races, Florida was as Deep South as Deep South got. “Shade in the Sunshine State” will celebrate the progress that has been made, both here in Florida and across the country, while illustrating how much more still needs to be done.
The Rosenwald Schools of Florida
In 1911, Booker T. Washington, principal of the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, met Julius Rosenwald, Chicago philanthropist and CEO of Sears, Roebuck. Their collaboration would result in the building of … wait for it … 5300 schools, from Maryland to Texas, which became known as Rosenwald Schools. Of these 5300 schools, 127 were built in Florida. This is their story.
What did you learn about this topic? Never heard of the Rosenwald Schools before.
Excellent presentation!
Glad I came; thank you!
Keep on speaking!
LBJ and Florida's Civil Rights Movement
In 1963, Florida’s civil rights movement and the vice presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson intertwined in surprising ways. Up to that point, Florida’s politicians had been successful in keeping the state off the front page of national newspapers when it came to matters of race. That was about to change. Join award-winning Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen as she discusses LBJ’s actions and activities in Florida during this tumultuous time in our state and in our nation.
Shade in the Sunshine State: The Role of Jewish Activists in Florida’s Civil Rights History
Though African Americans bore the brunt of legal segregation, Jewish Americans felt its effects, all the more disturbing because, often, discrimination against Jews was rarely overt. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, that Jews were eager, effective leaders in the fight to dismantle Florida’s racist laws and practices. Join award-winning author and independent scholar Liz Coursen as she explores the work of Jewish activists to change hearts, minds, and laws in Jim Crow-era Florida, from the cat-and-mouse strategies at the drugstore lunch counters of metro Miami to the headline-making arrest of 16 rabbis in St. Augustine.
Having Fun, Wish You Were Here! An Illustrated History of the Postcard in Florida
Join award-winning Sarasota author and publisher Liz Coursen as she takes her audience on a trip…a trip back in time, from a Florida when ox carts traveled via ferry and air-conditioning existed only in the imagination to a Florida of Streamliners and Orange Blossom Specials, using museum-quality postcards to tell the tale.
Excellent presentation.
Glad I came. Thank you!
What specific suggestions would you like to make? Keep on speaking!
Loved it all
Just very enjoyable
Perfect length
Great history of postcards
It was perfect! Thank you!
I learned a lot
Knew nothing before; fascinated now
Guiding Lights: A History of Florida's Most Famous Lighthouses
Florida’s lighthouses have surprising stories to tell. Join Sarasota author and editor Liz Coursen as she discusses the little-known role that lighthouses played in Florida’s history, using colorful vintage postcards and contemporaneous ephemera, in this lively and fast-paced lecture.
What did you learn about this topic? Everything about lighthouses. I came in knowing nothing about them.
The 50 minutes flew by.
Great program!
Taking the Waters: A History of Florida's Most Famous Springs
From Ponce de Leon to the caravans of RVs that ply our highways, tourists visit the Sunshine State for many reasons, including the health benefits they hope to find here. Join Sarasota editor and publisher Liz Coursen as she takes a trip back in time to Florida’s first tourist attractions: our many fresh water springs. “Taking the Waters” will identify Florida’s most famous springs and illustrate how these natural wonders helped to chart Florida’s growth.
David Levy Yulee: Father of Florida's Railroads
The first Jewish American to serve in the U.S. Senate, Florida politician David Levy Yulee was a slave-owning, fiery-tongued Confederate sympathizer who also happened to be a visionary when it came building railroads across the Sunshine State. Worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as such storied names as Flagler and Plant, Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen will discuss Yulee’s political and social milieu as well as his continuing influence on Florida’s growth and development in this lively, hour-long lecture.
I have enjoyed all of your presentations. I started with the baseball one. I had never heard of Yulee before this program. Thank you!
I knew nothing/little of Yulee. Thank you for researching the topic. I follow you around.
What do you think should have been/could have been cut? Perfect the way it was.
Great! Thanks! I learned a lot!
Nice job circling back to topic you mentioned in the beginning
What did you learn about this topic? Lots! All new. I love Florida.
Keep up the great work! Thank you!
Wonderful, entertaining, educational; love your primary research
The Amazing Career and Great Escape of Judah P. Benjamin, Lion of the Confederacy
Join Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen as she explores the enigmatic Mr. Benjamin’s life, historical milieu, and shares the dramatic tale of his escape through the Sunshine State, often times in disguise, in his life-or-death flight from Union soldiers.
What did you learn about this topic? So much! History/journey of Judah P. Benjamin. Fascinating! The three different structures of Florida lighthouses. General Meade’s contributions.
Wonderful presentation! Enlightening; infused with humor; broad coverage.
Excellent presentation.
Very informative.
Excellent presentation.
The Bounty of the Earth: A Postcard History of Florida's Mining and Agricultural Industries
Florida’s mining and agricultural industries have been a rich source of employment and profit for generations. Though Florida’s citrus production has long been its marquee industry, Florida long been the home of significant harvests of warm-weather row crops, like cotton and celery. In addition, the Sunshine State has a deep and interesting history when it comes to other natural bounties, like sugar cane, turpentine, phosphate, and Fuller’s earth. Join award-winning author and independent scholar Liz Coursen as she explores Florida’s rich and wonderful agricultural heritage, using vintage postcards as lively illustrations.
The Bounty of the Earth: A Postcard History of Florida's Agricultural Industries
Florida’s agricultural products have enjoyed an excellent international reputation for generations. The Sunshine State’s harvests of warm-weather row crops like cotton, strawberries, celery, pineapples, and even potatoes have provided jobs for Floridians. Join award-winning author and independent scholar Liz Coursen as she explores Florida’s rich and wonderful agricultural heritage.
Up From the Ground: A Postcard History of Citrus Production in Florida
Postcards have been used to promote Florida and celebrate its citrus industry since the late 1800s. Join Sarasota author and editor Liz Coursen as she uses colorful and fun vintage postcards to chart the growth and development of the Sunshine State’s most famous product.
Citrus Labels in Florida: Signs of the Times
Bold, colorful, and exciting, the citrus labels used by Florida growers from the 1900s through the 1950s told many stories. Join award-winning Sarasota author and historian as she uses Florida citrus labels to illustrate the mores and milieu of the Sunshine State during this time.
Zoom, Zoom! A Postcard History of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles in Florida
Florida’s unique topography has been the bane of many a traveler to the Sunshine State. Join Sarasota author and publisher Liz Coursen as she illustrates how Florida’s transportation challenges were conquered, over land, sea, and swamp, using museum-quality postcards and contemporaneous ephemera to tell the story.
The St. Johns River and its Tributaries: Florida's First Tourist Attraction
When tourists traveled from the East Coast to Florida at the turn of the last century, their first (and oftentimes last) stop was Jacksonville, on the St. Johns River. After disembarking and enjoying the sights, the next question on their minds was simple: What’s next? A trip down the St. Johns for a moonlit cruise through the mysterious Ocklawaha River on a steamer was the choice of many. Join Liz Coursen, award-winning Sarasota author and independent scholar, as she explores this popular journey through the eyes of the late-1800s Florida tourist, using contemporaneous postcards and other ephemera to illustrate her story.
Mysteries of the Midden: A History of Shell Mounds in Florida
MOO! A History of the Cattle Industry in Florida
Before it was beaches, it was cattle. Florida’s cattle industry has been the backbone of the state for generations, and is now carried on in dwindling numbers on dwindling acreage. Join Sarasota author and independent scholar Liz Coursen as she delves into the history of the cattle industry in Florida, telling her stories using vintage postcards, photos, and historical ephemera to illustrate the tale. And, never fear, at some point during the presentation Liz will do her best to explain exactly why the term “Cracker” came about!
Baseball in Paradise: A History of Spring Training in Florida
The history of America’s Pastime and the Sunshine State has been intertwined since the dramatic (and perhaps apocryphal) advent of the Grapefruit League. Hear about spring training’s humble beginnings, the game-changing role played by Jackie Robinson, and how baseball has influenced and directed Florida’s growth and development in this lively, fast-paced lecture by Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen.
PUFF! A History of the Cigar Industry in Florida
The cigar has been a staple of the Florida economy for generations. Join Liz Coursen as she delves into Florida’s cigar-making history using museum-quality cigar labels, vintage postcards, and other ephemera to tell this fascinating story.
TIMBER! A History of the Lumber Industry in Florida
Florida’s rich timber resources may not be the first thing people think of when they picture the “Sunshine State,” but the timber in Florida and the careful stewardship of it is an important part of our state’s success story. Join Sarasota author Liz Coursen as she presents TIMBER! A History of the Lumber Industry in Florida, using vintage ephemera to tell this interesting story.
Harriet Beecher Stowe: Yankee, Abolitionist, and Florida Promoter
The world knows Harriet Beecher Stowe as the internationally famous author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. What is not so well known is that Mrs. Stowe was a resident of post-Civil War Florida and an active promoter of the state, encouraging northerners to experience the manifold benefits of the Florida “lifestyle.” Please join author and editor Liz Coursen as she illustrates the life and historic milieu of Harriet Beecher Stowe and tells the strange, sad story about why Mrs. Stowe came to Florida in the first place.
Robert Frost (yes, that Robert Frost!) in Florida
Perhaps no other American poet is so closely associated with Yankee wit and wisdom as is Robert Frost. His poems are a World War II-era picture postcard of snowy woods, taking other roads just as fair, and meeting a smiling neighbor with work gloves by a pile of weathered stones for a couple of hours of work and talk, work and talk, so it’s Frost’s status as the storyteller of the northeast that makes the story of his close ties to the Sunshine State such a surprise. Join Sarasota author and independent scholar as she tells the story of Robert Frost (yes, that Robert Frost!) in Florida, using contemporaneous ephemera and just a little bit of poetry to tell the tale.
Jewish History Month (January) Topics
Hank Greenberg: America’s First Jewish Superstar
Challenging convention and in the face of incredible prejudice, Hank Greenberg rose to the very top of baseball’s pantheon by virtue of raw power and hard-won skill. Join independent scholar Liz Coursen as she discusses Greenberg’s life, career, and social milieu, and why his life and his record-breaking stats still matter so much today.
Dachau First, Dachau Last, Dachau Jamais Plus
Part of an editor/publisher’s job is research and fact-checking, so five years ago independent historian Liz Coursen found herself, to her surprise, researching Dachau, Nazi Germany’s first and last concentration camp. Quite quickly she realized that she could not do her research during the evening, because if she did, she couldn’t sleep. Still, as an avid collector of ephemera, it’s no accident that Liz eventually collected some 500 books, postcards, pamphlets, photos, and other ephemera pertaining to Dachau. Presenting this lecture a couple of years ago at a senior center, Liz experienced a speaker’s nightmare: She was heckled. To honor the memory of those who lived and died in the concentration camp, and those who fought so valiantly to liberate it, Liz will continue to lecture about Dachau, in the hopes that Dachau Jamais Plus—Dachau Never Again—will become a reality.
Shade in the Sunshine State: Reflections on Segregation in Florida
The Amazing Career and Great Escape of Judah P. Benjamin, Lion of the Confederacy
David Levy Yulee: Father of Florida Railroads
The Rosenwald Schools of Florida
Shade in the Sunshine State: The Role of Jewish Activists in Florida’s Civil Rights History
Julius Rosenwald: The Life and Times of an American Mensch
Julius Rosenwald—entrepreneur, philanthropist, and CEO of Sears, Roebuck—didn’t even graduate from high school, but his interest in education impacted tens of thousands of lives across the American South. Join independent historian Liz Coursen as she discusses the inspirational life and historical milieu of this amazing American.
When Booker T. met J.R.: Important Lessons in American Philanthropy
When Booker T. Washington met Julius Rosenwald in 1911, it was inevitable that both men would work together on the most successful interracial, interreligious collaboration the country has ever seen. Despite backgrounds that couldn’t have been more different, both men had a similar personal philosophy. What set their philanthropic ethos apart, and why does it still work, more than 150 years later? Join Sarasota author and independent historian Liz Coursen as she discusses how the life and times of each man informed a collaboration that would touch the lives of millions.
Jackie Robinson and Hank Greenberg: Blazing a Trail in Baseball History
Black History Month (February) Topics
Shade in the Sunshine State: Reflections on Segregation in Florida
LBJ and Florida’s Civil Rights Movement
The Rosenwald Schools of Florida
The Rosenwald Schools of the South: Shaping a Generation of Civil Rights Leaders
When Booker T. met J.R.: Important Lessons in American Philanthropy
Up from Slavery to Tea with the Queen: The Amazing Life of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington was the most prominent African American educator and orator of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born a slave, Washington rose to a position of political power and social influence as the principal of the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. Millionaires and presidents asked for his advice. Booker T. Washington was one of the best-selling authors of his time, and his books continue to sell this to day. Catapulted into international fame following his 1895 Atlanta Address, Washington worked tirelessly to help African Americans succeed by promoting the benefits of self-help, hard work, and a practical education. Please join Sarasota author and editor Liz Coursen as she explores the fascinating life of Booker T. Washington, including the just-wait-till-you-hear-it “tea with Queen” story.
The Education of Black Folk: The Complementary Visions of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois
Major Taylor: The Remarkable Life of a World Champion.
Fifty years before Jackie Robinson, there was Marshall “Major” Taylor, the national and international sprint cycling champion. Buffeted by prejudice unimaginable today, Major Taylor was a fierce competitor and drew crowds numbering in the tens of thousands as far away as Australia. For a time, he considered Paris to be his home, but when he returned to Massachusetts, he was forced to use a shill buyer to purchase a home. Join Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen as she discusses the remarkable life of “Major” Taylor in this colorful, fast-paced lecture.
Jackie Robinson and Hank Greenberg: Blazing a Trail in Baseball History.
Two titans of baseball—Hank Greenberg and Jackie Robinson—are distinguished for their “stats,” racking up careers still celebrated in the record books. The legacies of both men rest more on their status as societal groundbreakers, however: Greenberg as America’s first Jewish sports hero and Robinson for smashing the color barrier. Join Sarasota author and historian Liz Coursen as she explores the life and times of these legendary superstars.
Women’s History Month (March) Topics
Mary McLeod Bethune: First Lady of Florida’s Civil Rights Movement
Harriet Beecher Stowe: Yankee, Abolitionist, and Florida Promoter
Game-Changer: Me, My Mom, and Billie Jean King
When You Hit the Ice, Don’t Lead with Your Chin!
April Topics
Robert Frost (yes, that Robert Frost!) in Florida!
Editing Poetry workshop
Dachau First, Dachau Last, Dachau Jamais Plus (liberation April 29, 1945)
Maine History
Greetings from VACATIONLAND! An Illustrated History of the Postcard in Maine
Leighton & Co.: Maine’s Celebrated Postcard Publishers
The Best of the Best: The Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast, Maine
California History
California Dreaming! An Illustrated History of the Postcard in California
Progress and Postcards: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition
Fruit and Vegetable Labels in California: Signs of the Times
Texas History
Gen-U-Wine TEXAS! The Crazy Illustrated History of the Postcard in TEXAS
Fruit and Vegetable Labels in Texas: Signs of the Times
Nevada History
Greetings from NEVADA! An Illustrated History of the Postcard in Nevada
Postcard History
Having Fun, Wish You Were Here! An Illustrated History of the Postcard in the USA
Postcards and Crate Labels in the US: Signs of the Times
Workshops
Author- and Aspiring Author-Related Topics
Yes, You! An Entertaining Autobiography in Three Easy Steps.
Have you always wanted to write about your life, but didn’t know where to begin? Not sure what stories to tell and what stories to leave out? How do you write an autobiography as fun to read as it was to write? Join Sarasota editor and publisher Liz Coursen as she shows her audience how to get started, how to keep going, and how to cross the finish line—publication—in this fast-paced and interactive workshop.
Yes, You! An Entertaining Family History in FOUR Easy Steps, with author Larry Suek
How to Work with an Editor Without Losing Your Mind, with author McClaren Davies
Man Up! A Men’s Memoir Workshop
There are certain stories that need a man’s voice. Whether you are a man, or maybe you’re a woman writing about your father, or simply need an inside track on what stories that a man simply must tell to write a really good memoir, join award-winning Sarasota author Liz Coursen as she teases out the stories that are the exclusive province of men and shows, exactly, how to tell those stories really well. A 60-minute workshop.
The Book Tourist: Seven Steps to a Wildly Successful Book Tour
There’s nothing that beats an in-person book tour event. Properly managed, when you manage your own book tour, you can promote yourself and your book’s message/theme effectively while selling books. Sarasota author Liz Coursen, the veteran of many a book tour event, has distilled her experience in organizing an efficiently managed book tour event into seven steps which, if followed, will make you look like a true professional, and she will give her audience the benefit of her wisdom (with a few horrifying tales of near-disaster thrown in!) in this fast-paced and fun 60-minute lecture.
Write Right, Right Now! Modern American English Best Practices
Believe it or not, there’s no big mystery to American English punctuation and basic grammar. If you’re as smart as an 8th-grader, join opinionated (but award-winning!) editor Liz Coursen as she shows us what we need to know in “Write Right, Right Now! Modern American English Best Practices,” a 60-minute PowerPoint lecture.
Special Occasion Speaking: Writing and DELIVERING a Memorable Toast
A toast should be three things: memorable, heartfelt, and easy to deliver. If you are faced with the opportunity to “say a few words” at a special occasion honoring someone special, especially at a time and place when everyone there will talk about what you say for years and years—no pressure—join professional speaker Liz Coursen in this 60-minute workshop when she will illustrate the easy way to keep it short, keep it clean, and look like a genius.
My First Book in Three Easy Steps
Edit THIS! How to Work with an Editor without Losing Your Mind
Write AMERICAN! American English Writing for EVERYBODY
Comma Common Sense
Advanced American English Editing
Decisions, Decisions: Designing Your Book, Inside and Out
Enough Already! How to Stop TALKING and Get Your Book PUBLISHED
Speaker-Related Topics
The Explosive Power of the Published Speaker
Finding the Ham Within: Making Lemonade from Life’s Lemons
Before You Even Open Your Mouth: Business Writing for the Professional Speaker
Talk, Talk, Talk! Developing a Professional Speaker’s Repertoire
Would you like to become a professional public speaker who speaks about everything BUT “workplace tension” or “employee motivation”? Will you promise never to use the phrase “thought leader” or the word “disruptive” in your promotional materials? Do you want to present sophisticated programs for grown-ups in libraries, museums, genealogical and historical societies, churches and synagogues? If so, you will want to join Liz Coursen as she shows how you can use the insight and expertise you already have to get out in the real world and speak in true public, talking with enthusiasm and confidence about topics you already know.
My Cup Runneth Over: How to Generate IDEAS!
Special Occasion Speaking: Writing and DELIVERING a Heartfelt Eulogy
We’ve all squirmed though a wooden or rote eulogy. When you have the honor to be asked to deliver a eulogy, swing for the fences! Lay your friend or family member to rest in a way that people will always remember, and maybe get a few chuckles in the process. Join professional speaker Liz Coursen has she sketches out how to write and deliver a eulogy like it should be done.
Special Occasion Speaking: Writing and DELIVERING a Memorable Toast
Keynotes
Passing the Baton: When Someone Else’s Story Becomes Your Own
When You Hit the Ice, Don’t Lead with Your Chin!
The Best You Have
Game-Changer: Me, My Mom, and Billie Jean King
When Booker T. met J.R.: Important Lessons in American Philanthropy
Lightbulb Moments: How to Spark Bright Ideas