Inspired by the exhibition, Honoring the Life and Works of Purvis Young, join HistoryMiami Museum’s Resident Historian, Dr. Paul S. George as he reflects upon the important history of Miami’s Overtown community. Purvis Young, a self-taught artist who lived in the Goodbread Alley area of Overtown, painted thousands of artistic works as a form of social expression reflecting the changes and trials of his Overtown community. Learn about the cultural heritage of this vibrant community and how it served as inspiration and a backdrop to Purvis Young’s storytelling through art.

About Dr. Paul S. George

Paul S. George is the Resident Historian at the HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate in downtown Miami. A native Miamian, Dr. George is a graduate of Miami Dade Community College and the University of Miami. He holds a Masters and a Ph.D. in History from The Florida State University. A former college professor, Dr. George has taught at several universities and colleges, including Florida State University, Florida A & M University, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Miami. From 1991 to 2016 he was a history professor at Miami-Dade College. Today he holds emeritus status at the college.

Dr. George has authored seventeen books, hundreds of articles, book reviews, columns, and numerous unpublished manuscripts. Two of the books have won awards. He also served as editor of three books. He has served as President of the Florida Historical Society, Vice Chairman of the City of Miami’s Heritage Conservation Board (1984-1987), Director of the Historic Broward County Preservation Board, President of the Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archive, and currently serves as a member of Metro Dade County’s Preservation Board (1997-present). From 2011-2020, he authored a monthly photo essay column for Biscayne Times and is currently the editor of Tequesta, the scholarly journal of the HistoryMiami Museum. In 2002, the Florida Historical Society recognized Tequesta as the outstanding historical publication for the previous year.

Dr, George has twice been cited as Miami’s outstanding historian by Miami New Times. The same publication anointed him, in its Best of Miami issue for 2009, “Best Know It All,” and in 2011 branded him “Mr. Miami History.” Miami Today featured him as a Newsmaker in December 1991. The Sun Post (Miami Beach), in its “Best of 2007” issue, lauded him as its “Personal Best,” the Miami Woman’s Club honored him with its inaugural Historian of the Year award in 2008. In 2018, the Dade Heritage Trust awarded him its annual Henriette Harris Award for his contributions to historic preservation. In the same year, the Rotary Club of Miami made him an Honorary Member for his wide-ranging contributions in local and state history. In 2019, the Coral Gables Community Foundation presented Dr. George its annual Education Award.

Dr. George has curated several historical exhibits at the HistoryMiami Museum (formerly known as Historical Association of Southern Florida), and at the Jewish Museum of Florida. He also conducts a wide variety of more than thirty history tours of Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties. His Crime tour and boat tour the waters along Key Biscayne and Stiltsville were feted by Miami New Times, as the “Best Tours” in recent years. Dr. George was also the narrator and a principal in a historical documentary on the Miami News/Freedom Tower created by WLRN Television. The documentary was selected as the top film in its category by the Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives in 2004. He was the recipient in 2003 of an award from Miami-Dade County School’s Social Science Division for Excellence in that field. The University of Notre Dame Club of South Florida has feted Dr. George as its Person of the Year in 1997 with its Exemplar Award. He was recognized in 1995 as Teacher of the Year for Miami-Dade Community College, Wolfson and Inter-American campuses.

Between 1997 and 2000, he held the Arthur Hertz Endowed Chair at Miami-Dade College. In 2011, he was presented the Excellence in Teaching Award for Social Science by Miami-Dade College. In 2013, MDC, Wolfson’s National Society of Leadership and Success honored him as its teacher of the year for 2012-2013. In 2018, he received from the Dade Heritage Trust the Henriette Harris award for his educational contributions to South Florida. In the same year, he was recognized as South Florida’s “Best Tour Guide” at the 2018 Synergy Summit for Cultural and Heritage Tourism, held in Broward County. In 2026, Paul George was the recipient of HistoryMiami Museum’s Preservation Award for his exemplary efforts in preserving and conserving Miami’s historical narratives, enhancing public awareness of the city’s heritage; and was selected by Miami Dade College to be inducted into their Alumni Hall of Fame, one of the College’s most prestigious annual traditions. Dr. George is a member of the Archbishop Curley/Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame; is a member of the Miami-Dade County Library’s Advisory Board; as well as the Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar