Jerry Urso email
Jaxson guest writer Jerry Urso is a historian for the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He is the Past President of the Alexander Darnes Research Chapter, Past President of Lux e Tenebris Research Society, and a member of the Jacksonville Historical Society and Florida Historical Society. He was a panelist for the Civil Rights Timeline for the city of Jacksonville and Lavilla historian for the Downtown Investment Authority.
Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The Farris family: From grocers to meatpacking pioneers”
An old newspaper advertisement for the Farris grocery store
April 22, 2026

THE JAXSON | The Farris family: From grocers to meatpacking pioneers

In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, The Jaxson highlights the Farris family and the rise of a Syrian…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Remembering the Roosevelt Grill of West Ashley Street”
The Roosevelt Grill stood at 808 W. Ashley St., beside the Roosevelt Theatre, in what was then the center of Jacksonville’s African American entertainment district
April 15, 2026

THE JAXSON | Remembering the Roosevelt Grill of West Ashley Street

In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, The Jaxson takes a look at a business that made a lasting…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The woman behind the Richmond Hotel: the Alice Kirkpatrick story”
Alice Kirkpatrick's old Richmond Hotel, as seen today
April 1, 2026

THE JAXSON | The woman behind the Richmond Hotel: the Alice Kirkpatrick story

Alice Kirkpatrick was a Jacksonville businesswoman at the center of Black enterprise, civic life and cultural exchange during the Jim…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Defending Black History Month”
A group of early 20th century segregation era Black business leaders on the steps of Old Stanton High School in LaVilla. | University of North Florida
February 25, 2026

THE JAXSON | Defending Black History Month

Black History Month predates contemporary political terminology and was conceived during the Jim Crow era as a scholarly initiative, not…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Andrew Patterson: LaVilla’s forgotten Civil Rights crusader”
A streetcar on West Monroe Street in the early 20th century. | Ritz Theater & Museum
October 8, 2025

THE JAXSON | Andrew Patterson: LaVilla’s forgotten Civil Rights crusader

Before Montgomery was the Civil Rights epicenter, a pastor on Ashley Street sat down on a Jacksonville streetcar, refused bail,…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jacksonville dentist E.A. Welters took tooth powder and justice to Chicago”
Dr. Edward Alexander Welters | Jerry Urso
June 10, 2025

THE JAXSON | Jacksonville dentist E.A. Welters took tooth powder and justice to Chicago

Dr. Walters created one of the earliest Black-owned antiseptic tooth powders in the U.S.…

By Jerry Urso