LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 6, 2009) — The Lawton Chiles Center for Florida History at Florida Southern College welcomes Patsy West, director of the Seminole/Miccosukee Photographic Archive in Fort Lauderdale, to the Florida Lecture Series. West will discuss "From Hard Times to Hard Rock: Cultural and Economic Overview of the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes from 1900 to the Present." Her lecture begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall, adjacent to Branscomb Auditorium on the FSC campus. The event is free and open to the public.

West, a fourth-generation Florida native and active preservationist, is the award-winning author of three books and a leading authority on the cultural history of the Seminole and Miccosukee Peoples. Her 1998 book, "The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism," received awards for best social and ethnographic history from the Florida Historical Society and a certificate of commendation from the American Association of State and Local Historians. The book was recently revised and expanded to "From Alligator Wrestling to Casino Gaming." West also is the author of "The Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Southern Florida," a visual history that features more than 200 images from the photographic archive.

"Patsy West has dedicated her life to the study, understanding, and appreciation of the unique culture of Floridas Seminole and Miccosukee Peoples. She is a great speaker and we anticipate a great program," said James M. Denham, professor of history and director of the Center.

About the Florida Lecture Series
In its 14th year, the Florida Lecture Series at Florida Southern College is a forum that brings speakers to the FSC campus to lecture on Florida life and culture from a wide range of disciplines, including history, public affairs, law, sociology, criminology, anthropology, literature, and art. The overall objective of the series is to bring members of the community, faculty and student body together to interact with and learn from leading scholars in their fields.