DAPHNE, Ala.—Lillian author O. Lawrence Burnette Jr. will speak about the origins of Daphne during Jubilee Afternoons at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the conference room at the Daphne Public Library.

Burnette will share some of the area’s rich history included in his recently published book, “Coastal Kingdom: a History of Baldwin County, Alabama.”

“I’ll be covering the genesis of the city of Daphne,” Burnette said. “It started as an Italian colony. At that time, it was vastly unpopulated.”

In 1888, Italians immigrated to the area from urban centers such as Chicago and New York.

“They were largely specialist farmers who desired to get back to the land,” he said. “Initially, 200 or so settled and they increased in numbers.”

Daphne eventually became the largest town in the county and was the county seat until a legislative act ordered that designation to Bay Minette.

“It was also the first community to establish a telephone exchange in the county,” he said.

Burnette has written several works on the history and culture of the South, as well as political and diplomatic history.

Burnette grew up in Richmond, Va., and attended the University of Richmond. He served in the Navy during World War II before earning a Ph.D. in history from the University of Virginia.

He has had a distinguished career as a professor and administrator.

The library is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 and Whispering Pines Road.

Admission to Wednesday’s event is free; Friends of the Daphne Public Library will provide refreshments.