Guides @ UF: "Florida's Birmingham": The Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine: Oral Histories

Samuel Proctor Oral History Program Interviews

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In the 1970s and 1980s, prominent Florida historian David Colburn conducted a series of interviews that contributed to his 1990 book, "Racial Change and Community Crisis." The transcripts for those interviews are now made available through the UF Libraries Digital Collection.

Samuel Proctor Oral History Interview Videos

Rabbi Jerrold Goldstein shares an oral history relating to the 1964 mass arrest of Rabbi's in St.Augustine, Florida as they supported Civil Rights.

Robert Hayling became an important part of the history of St. Augustine, Florida, because of his leadership and activism in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. In this video, Dr. Hayling describes those times in this 10 minute presentation of audio clips selected from an oral history recorded in February of 2011.

In 1964 Rabbi Joseph Herzog along with 15 fellow Rabbis and 1 activist were arrested in St. Augustine, Florida for joining the protest against segregation. This clip was screened as part of the Justice, Justice 1964 event presented in June of 2014 as a remembrance. Rabbi Herzog passed away in April of 2014, just weeks after this interview.

James Jackson, a native of St. Augustine, Florida, is interviewed on February 15, 2018, about his life in St. Augustine.

Rabbi Richard Levy shares an oral history relating to the 1964 mass arrest of Rabbi's in St.Augustine, Florida as they supported Civil Rights.

Rabbi Hanan Sills shares an oral history relating to the 1964 mass arrest of Rabbi's in St.Augustine, Florida as they supported Civil Rights.

Voices of the Civil Rights Movement

Gail Blattenberger traveled to St. Augustine in 1965 to participate in a tutoring program to educate students in segregated schools. She stayed with local activist Lucille Plummer, whose home was firebombed while Gail was staying there.

Civil Rights Activist Purcell Conway shares his experiences with racism growing up in St. Augustine as well as recounts the demonstrations to integrate a Florida beach, and the violence that ensued.

In September 1963, Dr. Robert Hayling, "father" of the civil rights movement in St. Augustine, Fla., along with some activists, were caught spying on a Ku Klux Klan rally. The men were severely beaten.

Activist James Jackson was confronted by the Ku Klux Klan at a civil rights protest in St. Augustine, Fla. Despite being held at gunpoint, and facing a mob of Klansmen, an unshaken Jackson persisted in his fight for justice.

Maude Burroughs Jackson, civil rights activist discusses the civil rights movement, mass meetings and night protests in St. Augustine, Fla.

Janie Price grew up and came of age in segregated St. Augustine, FL. She met Dr. King when both were college students, and hosted him in her home when he came to St. Augustine.

Civil Rights Activist Barbara Vickers discusses the Foot Soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement and building a monument to honor them.