Lecture on Spanish Florida Franciscan Missions

Historic City News readers have been invited by Public Information Director Brian Thompson to attend the Flagler College Community Lecture Series on Tuesday, January, 18th, with a presentation by Dr. John Diviney on “17th Century Spanish Florida Franciscan Missions.”

Diviney is the coordinator for the Spanish and Latin American Program in the college’s Liberal Studies Department.

The lecture series features speakers who have unique perspectives on religious and cultural issues.

Diviney earned a B.A. and M.A. from Brigham Young University in International Relations and Portuguese and earned a second M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish from Florida State University. He specializes in colonial Hispanic Florida history and literature and translation of colonial Spanish Florida historical documents from the period of 1700-1720.

Diviney is a retired United States Army major and has completed training missions in Panama, Colombia, Liberia and Buenos Aires. A decorated army veteran, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Widely published in academic and literary journals, Diviney teaches courses in Spanish and Hispanic literature, Latin American Studies and Latin American History.

The Flagler College Lecture Series, established in 2007, is designed to offer educational opportunities to the St. Augustine Community. Tickets are $5 per person for a single lecture, or $15 for the series. Active military personnel may attend at no charge. Lectures begin at 10 a.m. in the Flagler Room at Flagler College, 74 King St. Reservations are required as space is limited. The lecture will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a coffee and pastry reception. Call (904) 819-6282 for reservations or more information.