Mission San Luis Presents October’s Cultural Thursday Free Lecture on the Struggle for Control of Colonial Southeastern United States

TALLAHASSEE, Fla –

Mission San Luis’ free Cultural Thursday program continues on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 6:00 pm with a lecture by Dr. Steven Oatis entitled Colonial Complex: Spanish Florida, English Carolina and the Struggle for the Southeast.

“Florida has a rich and vibrant colonial history that significantly contributed to shaping the Southeast,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “Join us at Mission San Luis to learn from Dr. Oatis about an important segment of this story.”

Image left: Steven Oatis  

Image right: Carolina map by Herman Moll, Geographer. London: Thos. Bowles and John Bowles, 1736. Original image housed by David Rumsey Map Collection.

The Yamasee War (1715–17), which pitted the English colonists in South Carolina against their former Indian allies and trading partners, had far-reaching implications outside the borders of South Carolina. Discover how the Spanish regime capitalized on this distraction of its English adversaries through an effort to reestablish its mission provinces in Florida. Learn also about the significant role that the Apalachee Indians played in launching the war against South Carolina and in building new Indian societies within Florida.

Steve Oatis was born and raised in Massachusetts and earned his bachelor's degree in history from the University of Vermont. In 1999 he earned his doctorate in history from Emory University and joined the faculty of the University of the Ozarks, where he currently serves as Professor of History and Dean of the Division of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communication. He has worked and taught extensively in the fields of American colonial, southern and frontier history, and is the author of A Colonial Complex: South Carolina's Frontiers in the Era of the Yamasee War, 1680–1730 (University of Nebraska Press, 2004). He lives in Clarksville, Arkansas, with his wife, daughter and adopted animals.

Each of the Mission’s special evening programs, which are free and open to the public, begin with a wine and cheese reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. The audience has the opportunity to meet and talk with the speaker at the reception, as well as after the presentation. Share the event on social media at facebook.com/MissionSanLuis/events.

The next Cultural Thursday event will feature a lecture by Pulitzer Prize nominee Dr. David Richter on November 30.  

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About Mission San Luis

Mission San Luis, Florida’s Apalachee-Spanish Living History Museum, was the western capital of Spanish Florida from 1656 to 1704. The Mission, now a National Historic Landmark, brings the year 1703 to life with living history interpreters in period dress, reconstructed period buildings, exhibits, and archaeological research. The site is managed by the Florida Department of State, and support is provided by the Friends of Florida History, Inc. Mission San Luis is located at 2100 West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee, Florida, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 850.245.6406 or visit missionsanluis.org.