Throughout the vast annals of women’s history looms many unsung, adventurous, daring, courageous, and clever females whose stories are sadly often left untold.
Until now, Pirates, Spies, and Women Warriors, a special presentation of Academia Hernando by Women’s Historian Sheryl Long, will take place at 10 am on Friday, January 28th at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., in Spring Hill. Drawing its origins more than a decade ago from the popular Mondays in Brooksville program, Academia Hernando is a not-for-profit lifelong learning organization providing quality instruction and learning experiences for adult students throughout Hernando County and beyond. The program is sponsored by The Hernando Sun, Kenjo’s Tree Service and The Residence at Timber Pines.
“Who commanded the largest fleet in history? Who was the last woman hanged in Massachusetts? Who was Churchill’s favorite spy? These women and many more had careers and/or exploits (for good or bad) that often meant they worked undercover or disguised as men. Learn the exciting details of their lives and adventures,” reads an event notice.
Sheryl Long is a retired communications and marketing manager with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida. She has a curious mind and loves a good story. “In this presentation, people can expect to hear stories of female bravery, adventure, patriotism, greed, revenge, beheading, hangings, and more! The same things you learn about men in history. But in the past, women didn’t make the history books,” said Long.
Long, who previously presented “She Went Where? Women Adventurers and Explorers Who Didn’t Make the History Books and Women Inventors Who Didn’t Make the History Books” to Academia Hernando and has taught at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Eckerd College, considers the teaching of women’s history to be a valuable and much needed pursuit.
“In my early research on women that we didn’t learn about in school, I focused on unknown females who did amazing things. Those things were almost always for the betterment of the world. Occasionally I came across a notorious and/or a truly bad unknown woman that was a great story. And I love a good story. So, my Pirates, Warriors and Spies; Oh, my! lecture allowed me to include both. The pirates are mainly bad characters, the warriors mostly good and the spies can be on either side.”
Coming soon at Academia Hernando, Robert Jacob will present the Battle of Little BigHorn-George Custer and the Government Conspiracy to Destroy Him at 10 am on February 4th. Jason Fortner will present Danny Kaye–Court Jester of Comedy at 10 am on February 11th. Dennis Dundore will present Hidden Gems of New York City at 10 am on February 18th. Cathy Salustri will present Roadside Attractions: Vintage Florida at 10 am on February 25th. Dr. Ruth Kelly will present A History of Ireland Before Independence at 10 am on March 4th. The program will culminate with a Mystery Excursion on March 11th.
An academic subscription to Academia Hernando costs $70 and includes all eight lectures and a mystery bus trip excursion. Tickets to individual lectures are $10. For more information, visit www.academiahernando.org or call (352) 515-0300 or (352) 686-4035.
