B. B. Comer Library director Shirley Spears and the library staff announce the winter Brown Bag Lecture series for Comer Library. The “Operation History” series will bring presentations on music, literature, history and much more. Programs are sponsored by Alabama Trust Bank.According to Spears, the series was planned to bring learning and enjoyment to the participants. The roster of presenters ranges from outstanding historians and cultural arts scholars to professional entertainers.
All programs will be held at noon on Wednesdays in the Harry I. Brown Auditorium.
Chris Phillips — Jan. 7
“Frank Sinatra: The Man & His Music”
History portrays Sinatra as a child of Italian immigrants, a high school dropout, a young man who sang in saloons and dives, and a man who fraternized with presidents and was accused of association with the Italian mafia. But his legacy indicates that he was so much more, a man who starred in movies and enjoyed a recording career that spanned 60 years.
Chris Phillips, the Minister of Worship and Arts at First United Methodist Church, will give his rendition of Sinatra’s life using photographs, narrative and his voice as he sings the songs that made Sinatra an American music icon.
Wayne Flynt — Jan. 14
“More than Just a Game: Alabama Football”
There are lots of reasons for the priority that is placed on football in the Alabama and Dr. Wayne Flynt is just the man to tell the story. Flynt has researched the topic and wrote a chapter, “The Social Significance of Sports,” in his latest book, Alabama in the Twentieth Century. Flynt will discuss the evolution of football as more that just a game in the Heart of Dixie with “bloodlines” of the college “families” requiring devotion to the football team rather than a degree from the college.
Flynt studied history and theology at Samford University and has a PH. D. with a specialty in Southern political history from Florida State University. Flynt served as Distinguished Professor of History at Auburn University and he is Editor-in-Chief of the new Online Encyclopedia of Alabama.
Dolores Hydock — Jan. 21
“Feisty Women: The Widow’s Mite by Ferrol Sams and The Red-Headed Woman Meets Mr. Death by Helen Eustis”
Dolores Hydock, professional actor and storyteller, will bring two spell-binding stories of “feisty women” from the pages of history and literature. Dolores has chosen a story about preachers and money, The Widow’s Mite, by Ferrol Sams and an old Wild West story, The Red-Headed Woman Meets Mr. Death, by Helen Eustis. Sams, a physician from Georgia, is the much-loved author of the earthy, humorous accounts of rural, southern life in “Run with the Horsemen” and “Whisper of the River”. Hydock describes these women as “having starch in their petticoats.”
Frye Gaillard — Jan. 28
“In the Path of the Storms: Hurricanes Change Gulf Coast Lives”
Frye Gaillard, writer in residence in English and history at the University of South Alabama, spent the better part of a year in Coden and Bayou La Batre interviewing and gathering first person accounts of recent storms and recording memories handed down from other storms to paint a powerful portrait of two of Alabama’s most distinctive communities.
The author offers stories of tradition, forces of change and the brave struggle of the Gulf Coast communities to deal with the influx of refugees from Southeast Asia, the challenges of higher fuel prices and cheap imported sea food as well as the battering hurricanes.
Gaillard encourages other communities to capture their own fascinating stories. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and has served as the Southern Editor for the “Charlotte Observer.”
Phil Koerper — Feb. 4
“Winston Churchill: The War Years” (1940-1945)
Dr. Phil Koerper, an avid student of Winston Churchill, will talk about the big man’s speeches, leadership, diplomacy and inspiration during World War II and his relationships which extended to FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Stalin and DeGaulle. Koerper will tackle the task of condensing the rich words, deeds and works of this multifaceted man who was dubbed by his distinguished political foe, Clement Attlee, as “the greatest citizen of the world of our time.” Koerper says that “the war years are what people really want to hear about.” Koerper has taught at Jacksonville State University since 1969, has a Ph. D. from the University of Georgia and has studied Modern Britain, the Age of Churchill and English History.
Donna Cox — Feb. 11
“Telling Our Stories: The Present Power of the Past”
Donna Cox will share some of the colorful stories that have been showcased in the Alabama Heritage magazine which is known for its coverage of local, regional and state history. Cox’s “stories about the stories” bring to light the intriguing, far-reaching effect of many of the articles in the quarterly history journal. Cox points to the story of the Hodges Meteorite as one of the most popular and inquired about stories ever published by Alabama Heritage, and she mentions the story of Hank Williams: The Hillbilly Shakespeare as well as the story of Creek Removal From the Alabama Homeland. Cox, the editor-in-chief of Alabama Heritage magazine, holds degrees from Auburn University, UAB, and is working on a PhD in history at the University of Alabama. The magazine is published in Tuscaloosa by the University of Alabama, UAB, and the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
John Blitz — Feb. 18
“Moundville: The Mystery and History of the Sacred Grounds of Native American Tribes”
Moundville, overlooking the Black Warrior River in west Alabama, was one of the largest prehistoric settlements in the United States. Founded by Native Americans 800 years ago, Moundville was an important town of the Mississippian culture. Spread over more than 300 acres were 29 earthen mounds arranged around a great plaza, a mile-long stockade, and dozens of houses for hundreds of people. Later, Moundville changed from a populous town to a sacred place of ceremonies and funerals. Blitz, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama, initiated the Early Moundville Archaeological Project. In a talk illustrated with images of many artifacts found at Moundville, Blitz will present the story of the ancient people who lived there, the modern struggle to save the site from destruction, and the scientific saga of the archaeologists who brought the story to life.
Doug Phillips — Feb. 25
“Highlights of Alabama’s Natural History”
Popularly called “Dr. Doug,” Doug Phillips will be sharing his knowledge about Alabama’s natural history. Phillips is known widely for his adventurous travels in Alabama’s wild lands as host of the highly-rated public television program Discovering Alabama, an educational documentary series featuring the natural history and natural wonders of Alabama.
In addition to creating and producing this Emmy – honored series, Phillips has pioneered many other important Alabama initiatives for education and conservation including the nationally-recognized model for wild land conservation, the Alabama Forever Wild Program.
Phillips holds the position of coordinator for environmental information and education with the Alabama Museum of Natural History at the University of Alabama, where he has also authored numerous publications including the national award – winning books, Discovering Alabama Wetlands and Discovering Alabama Forests.
For each program, the Hightower Room will open at 11 a.m. for refreshments. Participants are invited to bring a sandwich and enjoy drinks and desserts provided by the library.
Working people are invited to come by on their lunch break to enjoy the programs.
The programs will begin promptly at noon in the Harry I. Brown Auditorium.
