Issue 11, Winter 1989

Magazine Title: At the top of the image, there’s elegant dark blue cursive writing that reads “Alabama.” Below "Alabama" is the word "Heritage" in a serif font. Subtitle: Just below the title, in smaller print, it states “PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.” Old Photograph: The central focus of the image is an oval-shaped sepia-toned photograph bordered by an ornate golden frame. The photograph depicts a seated man wearing what appears to be period clothing. He has long, dark facial hair. Background Pattern: Surrounding the photograph, there’s an intricate golden pattern on a white background. The pattern adds a touch of elegance and historical charm to the overall composition. Issue Information: In the bottom left corner, it reads “Winter 1989.” Adjacent to this on the right are “Number 11” (indicating the issue number) and “.50” (the price). This cover belongs to an old “Alabama Heritage” magazine, capturing a blend of historical aesthetics and cultural significance.

Issue 11, Winter 1989

On the cover: A. A. Powell, a Confederate surgeon, enlisted in the Confederate army at Corinth, Mississippi, as a private in the 15th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. By June 21, 1861, Powell had been made an acting surgeon. [Courtesy Hodo Strickland]

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Features

General Overview: The photograph is rendered in a classic black-and-white style, evoking a sense of nostalgia and timelessness. The subject of the image is an elderly woman who appears to be a nun for a church. She wears a hooded robe, reminiscent of historical or ceremonial attire. Attire: The figure wears a dark, flowing robe with a hood. The fabric drapes gracefully, suggesting a sense of tradition or ancient lineage. Hands: The hands are visible, clasped together at waist level. Their position hints at contemplation or reverence. Background: The background is unadorned, allowing the central figure to take prominence. The absence of context adds to the mystery. This captivating image invites us to ponder the hidden story behind the hooded figure. Who are they? What secrets do they carry? The monochromatic tones enhance the vintage feel, transporting us to a bygone era where history and intrigue intertwine.
Mother Francis de Sales Browne (1826-1910) and other Sisters of Mercy from Vicksburg, Mississippi, nursed Confederate soldiers throughout the Civil War, eventually establishing a Confederate military hospital at Shelby Springs, Alabama. [Courtesy Sisters of Mercy, Vicksburg, Mississippi]

Sisters of Mercy: From Vicksburg to Shelby Springs

By Barbara Roberts

The remarkable story of how the Shelby Springs military hospital came into existence begins in 1860, when the Sisters of Mercy, a religious order founded in Ireland in 1831, decided to send several nuns from their Baltimore convent to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to establish a school. That decision began a train of events that would last through the Civil War as the Sisters battled disease, war injuries, and religious prejudice in their quest to care for the sick and injured.

Excerpts from Place Names in Alabama

By Virgina O. Foscue

This feature is made up of selections from Virginia O. Foscue’s Place Names in Alabama. From Abanda to Zip City, Foscue digs into the history of these places, unearthing surprising and intriguing bits of information.

The image appears to be a book cover titled “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue. The background color of the book cover is a deep red or maroon hue, which provides a rich and eye-catching backdrop. Specific Elements or Objects: Title: The main title “Place Names in Alabama” is prominently displayed in large, bold white letters at the center of the image. Author’s Name: Below the title, we see “Virginia O. Foscue” written in smaller gold text, indicating the author of the book. List of Place Names: Above and below the main title, there are several unique and intriguing place names listed in white text. Some of these names include: “SmokeNeck” “ZipCity” “Bug Tussle” “RabbitTown” And more… These place names evoke curiosity and hint at the diverse and colorful geography of Alabama. Decorative Element: Just above the author’s name, there is a small golden symbol resembling a sun or starburst. It adds a touch of elegance and visual interest.
Place Names in Alabama is still widely used to learn more about Alabama’s towns.
This captivating black and white photograph portrays a serene yet haunting landscape. Dead Trees: Three stark, lifeless tree trunks emerge from the calm waters. Their branches are bare, devoid of leaves, and their edges appear jagged, hinting at their long-deceased state. Water: The water is still, reflecting the sky and the trees with remarkable clarity. It stretches toward the horizon, where it meets the sky in a seamless union. Sky: The sky is vast and cloudless, creating a sense of openness and tranquility. Its expanse contrasts sharply with the starkness of the dead trees. Overall, this monochromatic landscape evokes feelings of solitude and reflection. The absence of color intensifies the eerie beauty of the scene, inviting contemplation and wonder.
Cypress, Bon Secour Bay (1984)

Images of Alabama

By Walter Beckham

Of particular interest to photographer Walter Beckham of Mobile are the plants, leaves, and trees of the Gulf Coast area, which he photographs almost exclusively in black and white. The photographs displayed in this issue are part of a continuing series of landscape photographs Beckham began in the mid-1970s. The largest of the photographs was made with a sixty-year-old Korona Panoramic view camera that produces 8×20-inch negatives. Beckham believes his Korona may be the only working camera of its size in the state, perhaps one of only two in the Southeast.

A black and white photo shows a white middle-age man posing from the chest up. The man appears to have light-colored hair, possibly blonde or white, slightly darker tinted eyebrows, deep-set eyes and a stoic look. He is in vintage formal wear, a grey jacket coat, with a darker colored overcoat and a neck-high white shirt. This photograph appears to be from a different, earlier century.
Horace King (1807-1885), a slave who was freed by his master in 1846, became one of the most respected bridge builders in Georgia and Alabama during the nineteenth century. [Courtesy Theodora Thomas]

Horace King, Bridge Builder

By Thomas L. French, Jr., and Edward L. French

Free blacks in the antebellum South led precarious lives. Respected by slaves, with whom they shared skin color but not bondage, free persons of color were often feared by whites, who suspected they might be the fuse with which Northern abolitionists ignited a slave rebellion in the South. To prevent such an occurrence, southern whites passed a series of laws throughout the first half of the nineteenth century restricting the actions of free blacks. In spite of this inhospitable legal climate, a number of free blacks made reasonably good livings in antebellum America. One such man was Horace King, who began life as a slave, gained his freedom, and managed to forge a singular path through the minefield of antebellum southern society to become Alabama’s foremost bridge builder and one of the South’s most respected engineers.

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