USF Oral History Projects
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Interviewer
Andy Huse
Publication Date
2-1-2016
Date
2015-04-09
Abstract
James Anthony Schnur is a native and lifelong resident of Pinellas County in Florida. Schnur has an MA in history and an MA in library science from the University of South Florida (USF). As of 2016, he was they president of the Pinellas County Historical Society and a special collections librarian at the USF St. Petersburg campus. Schnur has published several books on local history, including St. Petersburg through Time, Images of America: Madeira Beach, Historical Pinellas County: A Centennial History, and Images of America: Largo. In this oral history interview, Schnur discusses the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, more commonly known as the Johns Committee, and his role in obtaining its legislative records. Schnur explains the purpose of the committee and its actions in persecuting suspected communists, civil rights activists, and LGBTQ+ individuals. He also recounts the role local figures such as congressman Charles William “Bill” Young and Sumter Lowry played in supporting the committee’s objectives. Throughout the interview, Schnur emphasizes the effects of the Johns Committee on academic freedom and how USF and then-president John Allen defended the university from its investigations.
Keywords
Communism, Gay rights, Human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, Legislature, Florida. Legislature. Legislative Investigation Committee, Charley Johns (1905-1990), University of South Florida, C.W. Bill Young (1930-2013), Sumter Lowry (1893-1985)
Extent
29 page transcript
Subject: geographic
Hillsborough County (Fla.); Pinellas County (Fla.); Tampa (Fla.); St. Petersburg (Fla.)
Language
English
Media Type
Oral histories
Format
Digital Only
Identifier
J15-00001
Recommended Citation
Schnur, James Anthony, "James Anthony Schnur Oral History Interview" (2016). USF Oral History Projects. 11.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/usf_oh_projects/11
Rights Statement
