UF history professor Dr. Steve Noll will present “Democracy in Florida: A Work in Progress” at the Matheson History Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

The free event will start at 7 p.m. at 513 E. University Ave. in Gainesville. Attendees must register for the free event by clicking here if they want to come in person. For Zoom registration, click here.

The presentation is a companion program to the “Voices and Votes: Alachua County” exhibit and the traveling Smithsonian exhibit, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” which Matheson displayed over the summer.

On Wednesday, Noll will look at how the actions of grass-roots activists and political leaders have worked to increase the notions and ideas of democracy, starting with Spanish colonial Florida. Noll will examine the slow growth of democracy in the state as groups and individuals have fought (and continue to fight) be included in the body politic.

Noll is an instructional professor in the UF history department. His work focuses on disability history and Florida history. His latest book is entitled, “Writing for the Public Good: Essays from David Colburn and Bob Graham.” The Princeton Review has named Noll one of the top 300 best professors in the U.S.