Free Speech at the University of Florida: The Enoch Marvin Banks Case

At the November 1911 meeting of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, reports by state division presidents constituted an important ritual. The women drew strength from each successful membership drive, monument raised, child educated, and aging veteran comforted— all to the greater glory of their southern heritage. Among the honored speakers was Florida’s Sister Esther Carlotta. She graciously credited accomplishments in her state to her organization’s enthusiastic and patriotic membership.1 Only once did she call attention to her own efforts. Representing her state division, she had personally “protested against the retention in the Chair of History,” at the University of Florida, “of a man whose published writings proved him so unjust to the South’s attitude in 1861 as to unfit him for that position.” In triumph she reported, “His place has been filled by another.