Free Talk: Francisco Xavier Sánchez & His Legacy at the Peña-Peck House

IF YOU’RE FASCINATED BY SPANISH FLORIDA, LOVE A GOOD FAMILY SAGA OR SIMPLY ENJOY DISCOVERING HIDDEN STORIES FROM OUR CITY’S PAST, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU! STEP INTO ST. AUGUSTINE’S VIBRANT PAST AS HISTORIAN AND STORYTELLER DEE GRAHAM BRINGS THE WORLD OF FRANCISCO XAVIER SÁNCHEZ TO LIFE! SÁNCHEZ—ONE OF EAST FLORIDA’S WEALTHIEST LANDOWNERS AND A MAJOR FORCE DURING THE SECOND SPANISH PERIOD—LEFT A LEGACY WOVEN INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF THE PEÑA-PECK HOUSE. DEE’S LIVELY PRESENTATION WILL UNCOVER HER NEWEST FINDINGS ON THE SÁNCHEZ–CRESPO FAMILY: THEIR SURPRISING CONNECTIONS, FAR-REACHING LANDHOLDINGS, FAMILY DRAMA, AND THE EVERYDAY MOMENTS THAT SHAPED EARLY ST. AUGUSTINE. EXPECT HISTORY, GENEALOGY, AND A FEW “I NEVER KNEW THAT!” REVELATIONS. REV. DEE GRAHAM IS AN ACCOMPLISHED JOURNALIST, AUTHOR, MINISTER, AND GENEALOGIST WHOSE FAMILY LINEAGE TRACES DIRECTLY TO PATRIOT FRANCISCO XAVIER SÁNCHEZ AND SPANISH EXPLORER PONCE DE LEÓN. A PROLIFIC WRITER ON FLORIDA HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTOR TO USF’S FLORIDA STUDIES, SHE BRINGS DEEP EXPERTISE AND A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE SÁNCHEZ STORY. SHE IS CURRENTLY WRITING A HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY ABOUT THREE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SÁNCHEZ’S LIFE, ILLUMINATING THEIR OVERLOOKED ROLES IN COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA. Seating is limited!