Issue 104, Spring 2012

The image you uploaded is the cover of a magazine titled “Alabama Heritage,” issue number 104 from Spring 2012. Priced at six dollars, the cover features a framed portrait of an individual labeled as “Doctor Thomas Fearn." The text on the cover indicates that the magazine is published by the University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Issue 104, Spring 2012

On the cover: Portrait of Dr. Thomas Fearn. [Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Archives]

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Features

Pioneer Professional: The Extraordinary Career of Doctor Thomas Fearn

By Thomas Reidy

Prior to Alabama’s statehood, the territory offered a rough and tumble—but potentially lucrative—site for settlers willing to risk to hardships of an emerging community. One such settler was Doctor Thomas Fearn, who quickly established himself as a reputable and conscientious physician. Fearn studied in Europe, where he gained a strong sense of the physician’s ethical codes, before establishing his practice in Huntsville and nearby communities. Although devoted to medicine, he also diversified, leaving his influence on the landscape as well as its people.

The image depicts a stack of six antique books with weathered leather covers and gold embossing. These books appear to be part of a series, as indicated by the volume numbers on their spines (ranging from 1 to 6). Notable titles visible include “HOLY BIBLE” and “PRAYER.” Given their age, condition, and religious content, these books likely hold historical value.
Thomas Fearn’s medical books. [Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Archives]
The photograph depicts four individuals seated closely together. Their faces are obscured by grey rectangular blocks, lending an air of mystery. The attire suggests an older time period—possibly the late 19th or early 20th century. Three of the individuals wear dark, high-necked garments with long sleeves and full skirts, while the central figure stands out in a striped dress of lighter tones. Adorned with necklaces and brooches, they evoke an antique charm. The oval shape of the photo, framed ornately, adds to its historical allure.
The Fox sisters helped unleash the Spiritualist craze. [Library of Congress]

Seeking Solace from the Dead: The Spiritualists of Mobile

By Nancy Gray Schoonmaker

As the Spiritualist movement swept across America, some Alabamians also fell under its spell. Marked by charismatic—and more often than not, disingenuous—figures such as the Fox sisters, the movement offered a chance at direction and certainty in the midst of chaotic nineteenth-century life. Although significantly less prominent at the end of the century, for a time, spiritualism reigned as a pursuit among many Mobile citizens, each of them eager to commune with the realm beyond their own.

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The image depicts an open book with a portrait on the left page and text on the right page. The obscured portrait appears to maintain privacy or anonymity. The right page contains the title “NARRATIVE OF JAMES WILLIAMS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE,” suggesting it’s a historical document related to slavery in America. Additional text below the title provides publication details: “NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, 143 NASSAU STREET. BOSTON: ISAAC KNAPP, 25 CORNHILL. 1838.” This book likely offers insights into personal accounts of slavery and contributes to understanding the historical context.
This portrait of James Williams lent credence to the “Narrative.” [Alabama Department of Archives and History]

The Memoir that Wasn’t: An Alabama Slave, a New England Poet, and the Scandal that Changed the Abolitionist Movement

By Colin Rafferty

The memoir of escaped slave James Williams created quite a sensation upon its publication in 1838. Loaded with emotional and melodramatic scenes, the memoir offered a haunting and pointed indictment of American slavery, and it urged readers to end this institution. However, when some astute Alabama readers noticed a few errant details, another sensation arose around the book: it wasn’t actually true. Colin Rafferty traces the book’s history and publication, along with the involvement of John Greenleaf Whittier, whose hand embellished a great deal of Williams’s story.

The image depicts a damaged building, possibly a church or similar structure. The roof is partially collapsed, and debris litters the site. The front facade remains standing, featuring an arched entrance with a large rectangular window boarded up. Stairs lead to the entrance, flanked by handrails. The overcast sky suggests recent inclement weather. This image could be relevant in discussions about natural disasters, building integrity, or architectural restoration.
The Long Memorial United Methodist Church, Cordova. [Robin McDonald]

Landmark Loss and Renewal: Update and Retrospective on the April 2011 Storms

By Robert Gamble

The devastating storms that passed through Alabama in April 2011 wreaked destruction to life, limb, and buildings. Approximately a year after the tornadoes, historian Robert Gamble offers a survey of the architectural losses caused by the storms. Many historic structures sustained damage, and Gamble’s update appraises the state of these damages and the possibility for some restoration. It also chronicles other significant tornadoes in Alabama’s history, noting how the state’s citizens have united to restore historic structures. 

Departments

The photograph portrays an individual standing in a room adorned with vintage furnishings. The person’s face remains obscured by a white block, rendering identification impossible. Clad in a formal suit, the individual stands next to a round table, upon which rests a large trophy cup with two handles—an indication of an award or recognition for some achievement. The room features patterned wallpaper, ornate decorations, and additional furniture, including an upholstered chair and a lamp with a fringed shade. The overall ambiance exudes an antique charm.
Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald. [Library of Congress]

Southern Architecture and Preservation

Rosenwald Schools: 100 Years of Pride, Progress, and Preservation

By Dorothy Walker

Built as part of a joint endeavor between Booker T. Washington and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, head of the Sears and Roebuck company, Rosenwald schools are increasingly recognized as a vivid reminder of the early African American struggle for educational opportunity on the southern landscape. In connection with a National Trust–sponsored conference on Rosenwald schools to be held at Tuskegee University in June 2012, Dorothy Walker here discusses the meaning of the Rosenwald school movement and some recent preservation efforts in Alabama. 

Becoming Alabama

Quarter by Quarter

By Joseph W. Pearson, Megan L. Bever, and Matthew Downs

The latest installment of Becoming Alabama charts significant events in each of the three time periods. Joseph W. Pearson revisits the circumstances that led to the War of 1812, detailing how the particular tensions of the frontier made settlers ready—and in some cases even eager—for conflict. Next, Megan L. Bever looks at the Civil War occupation of northern Alabama communities and the toll of life under Union invaders. Finally, Matthew L. Downs considers some legal decisions arising during the civil rights movement, detailing how landmark cases such as Baker v. Carr originated in Alabama. Each installment shows the increasing ramifications of events in the state on these larger historical events.

Editor’s Note: Alabama Heritage, the Summersell Center for Study of the South, the University of Alabama Department of History, and the Alabama Tourism Department offer this department as a part of the statewide “Becoming Alabama” initiative—a cooperative venture of state organizations to commemorate Alabama’s experiences related to the Creek War, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement. Quarter by quarter we will take you to the corresponding seasons 200, 150, and 50 years ago—sometimes describing the most pivotal events, sometimes describing daily life, but always illuminating a world in flux. We will wait for the ultimate outcomes as our forbears did—over time.

The image depicts an individual wearing a judicial robe, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with numerous hardcover books. The person’s face is obscured by a gray square, making identification impossible. The setting suggests a legal or judicial environment, possibly a courtroom or judge’s chambers. The anonymity could represent the impartiality expected of a judge.
Justice William J. Brenner, Jr. [Library of Congress]

Portraits & Landscapes

The Dreamers and the Realist

By Aileen Kilgore Henderson

In post–Civil War Alabama, Eugene Allen Smith, the state geologist, strove to identify the natural resources available as a means to help push Alabama forward in its reconstruction. Along the way, he encountered many citizens striving to do something similar—find fortune from the land. Although Smith’s expertise allowed for a valuable perspective, locals often ignored it, convinced that they had found silver, gold, or other riches in the state’s natural bounty.

The image you provided depicts a historical black and white photograph. In it, a group of individuals stands on and around what appears to be a flatboat or ferry docked at the riverbank. Two smaller boats, possibly canoes, are in front of the larger vessel. The people are dressed in attire suggesting an earlier century. In the background, an intricate truss bridge spans the river. The setting appears rural or semi-rural, with trees lining the opposite bank. This snapshot captures a moment from a bygone era, reflecting historical modes of transportation and engineering achievements.
Dr. Eugene Allen Smith leads a group of geologists on a river expedition. [W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama]
Bread: The loaf has a golden-brown crust, suggesting it was baked to perfection. Its interior appears dense and evenly baked, with small air pockets. The slice is neatly cut, indicating precision. Plate: The plate beneath the bread features an intricate floral pattern. The colors on the plate are vibrant, possibly indicating a decorative or vintage design.
Fresh-baked, still-warm Graham Bread. [L.J. Davenport]

Nature Journal

The History, Natural History, and Biogeography of Graham Bread

By L. J. Davenport

Larry Davenport normally reports on all sorts of Alabama wildlife, charting the state’s diverse flora and fauna. In this quarter’s column, however, he takes a different approach, exploring how some figures tried to tame what they considered the “wild” tendencies of humans. In a fascinating history of Graham Bread, Davenport connects cultural and culinary history, offering a colorful commentary on a food many of us have probably never given a second thought. After reading his article, we promise you’ll never look at Graham Bread (or its relative the Graham cracker) the same way again.

The image features a two-page spread from a publication. On the left page, a prominent title reads “Black Wings of Tuskegee.” Below the title, there’s smaller text that appears to provide an introduction or description related to the title. The right page showcases a photograph of a group of pilots standing in formation beside a P-40 Warhawk aircraft adorned with distinctive shark mouth nose art. These pilots, dressed in military uniforms, face away from the camera, their attention directed toward something or someone not visible in the image. The context here is significant: this image likely pertains to the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. Despite facing racial discrimination both within and outside the army, the Tuskegee Airmen made significant contributions during World War II. Their achievements played a crucial role in the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces.
A photograph of Maj. James Ellison saluting Tuskegee cadets featured on the opening spread of Jerry Davis’s article. [Robin McDonald]

AH Update

The Tuskegee Airmen Fly Again

By Jerry A. Davis Jr.

In the Winter 1993 (#27) issue of Alabama Heritage, the magazine introduced readers to the little known history of the Tuskegee Airmen in Jerry Davis’s “Black Wings of Tuskegee.” Davis opened readers’ eyes to the fascinating story of the African American pilots who performed so bravely and admirably in World War II but faded from history for decades. Now, nearly twenty years after the story appeared here, Hollywood has released the blockbuster movie Red Tails, depicting the war experience of the Tuskegee Airmen for a wide audience. To celebrate this achievement, Alabama Heritage posed several questions to Davis regarding his research and writing experience from the early 1990s. He reveals what it was like to stumble upon and share such an important story.

The image you provided is the cover of a book titled “Rivers of History: Life on the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Cahaba, and Alabama” by Harvey H. Jackson III. The cover features a serene river scene with calm waters reflecting the sky and trees on the far bank. In the foreground, there’s a raft made of logs tied together, possibly carrying barrels or casks. A small rowboat with two figures is next to the raft. The background depicts buildings, suggesting a small riverside town or settlement surrounded by dense foliage. This historical depiction could be of interest to those curious about regional history or waterway commerce.
The image you uploaded is the cover of a book titled “HEADWATERS: A Journey on Alabama Rivers.” The cover features a serene river scene with lush greenery and partially submerged rocks. The photograph, credited to Beth Maynor Young, captures the natural beauty of Alabama’s river headwaters. The book’s text is by John C. Hall, with a foreword by Rick Middleton. It seems like a delightful exploration of Alabama’s rivers and their significance.

Reading the Southern Past

The Alabama River and Its Tributaries

By Stephen Goldfarb

In this quarter’s review, Stephen Goldfarb explores works on Alabama’s rivers, considering both what texts exist and what topics deserve further treatment. Among the books on his shelf this quarter are Harvey H. Jackson III’s Rivers of History: Life on the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Cahaba, and Alabama (University of Alabama Press, 1995) and Putting “Loafing Streams” to Work: The Building of Lay, Mitchell, Martin, and Jordan Dams, 1910–1929 (University of Alabama Press, 1997). He also considers the more recent Headwaters: A Journey on Alabama Rivers, with photography by Beth Maynor Young and text by John C. Hall (University of Alabama Press, 2009). 

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