Issue 155, Winter 2025
On the cover: Boy working in West Virginia coal mine. [Library of Congress]
Features
Alabama Black Diamonds: Coal Mining on the Bryce Hospital Property
By George Adair
On the site of Tuscaloosa’s Alabama Insane Hospital, later renamed Bryce Hospital, hospital officials took on a somewhat unique role: overseeing the operations of a coal mine, which fueled hospital needs as well as adding important revenue to the hospital coffers. Such revenue was not without cost, however, as many miners were injured and some died on the job. Thanks to a new historical marker, the story of the men who labored and lost their lives in these mines will not be forgotten.
Additional Information
- For more information on mining at Bryce, see the author’s “The Bryce Hospital Coal Mine Lawsuits: African Americans’ Pursuit of Justice in a Time of Triumphant White Supremacy,” Alabama Review Volume 76, Number 3, July 2023.
- For information on Bryce Hospital, please see its Encyclopedia of Alabama article.
The Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Tour of Alabama
By Lawrence Krumenaker
This spring marks the 200th anniversary of the visit the Marquis de Lafayette made to Alabama, part of his triumphant national tour fifty years after the American Revolution. Today, intrepid Alabamians can retrace his steps through the state, exploring some sites and structures that look very similar to what Lafayette would have seen, while also taking in some vistas that look dramatically different.
Additional Information
- For more information about Lafayette’s visit to Alabama, see its Encyclopedia of Alabama article.
Rotary International: An Alabama History
by William Petty
Though Rotary International began in Chicago, Illinois, its Alabama impact has been long and significant. Originating with interest from Harry B. Wheelock in 1912, Alabama’s many Rotary clubs have launched a legacy of service, especially to children, and have inspired and equipped the creation of other clubs outside Alabama.
Additional Information
Summerville: A Forgotten Haven
by Sid Harden
Summerville, a small community in Phenix City was founded in 1838 by wealthy families seeking healthy sites to raise their families. For a time, it offered residents a warm, bustling community, complete with schools, a mill, and other components of daily life. With the advent of the Civil War, Summerville began declining, and today it remains most vibrantly alive in the memories of those whose families lived and thrived there.
Acknowledgements
This article relied heavily on the research conducted by two dedicated local historians, Dr. Rod Hinton and Mr. Jesse Williams. I am eternally grateful for their guidance, wisdom, and friendship. A special word of thanks to Danny Tice who thoughtfully provided me with several valuable resources and to Donna Gullatte who served as my knowledgeable and patient editor.
Department Abstracts
From the Archives
“No One Seemed to Pay Me Any Mind”: The Selma to Montgomery March Account of Milo B. Howard Jr.
by Sophie G.H. Law
Prior to becoming the director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH), Milo B. Howard witnessed the 1965 arrival in Montgomery of civil rights marchers, who had traveled from Selma. In a letter to his friend Dr. Harold “Hal” Lerow Weatherby Jr., Howard recounted the experience. Thanks to Weatherby’s prescience, the letter was returned quickly to Alabama, where it joined the historical record housed in ADAH, offering contemporary readers and researchers a first-hand glimpse of the events from the eyes of a young historian.
Alabama Makers
Craigger Browne: Sylacagua’s Marble Sculptor
With work in many countries as well as locations across the state of Alabama, sculptor Craigger Browne has made a significant mark on the marble community around the world. Browne, who credits much of his success to the valuable Sylacagua marble quarried close to his Alabama home, works in his front yard, making his work and process visible and accessible to passersby. His works may also be seen throughout the state, from Ivy Green to the B.B. Comer Memorial Library.
Correction: The image of Craigger Browne’s sculpture “The Warmth of Enlightenment” being unveiled was incorrectly credited to Craigger Browne in our print issue. The image is courtesy Wanda Green. We apologize for this error.
Nature Journal
Smith’s Crossing (And Daisy’s Lament)
In a tribute to John C. Hall, from whom he learned the story, L.J. Davenport explores the history of Herbert Huntington Smith and his wife Daisy, who both made valuable contributions to the field of natural history across the world, including in Alabama.
Reading the Southern Past
Alabama between the World Wars
This quarter’s installment of “Reading the Southern Past” explores two texts, Carl Carmer’s Stars Fell on Alabama (Farrar and Rinehart, 1934) and Clarence Carson’s 90° in the Shade (The University of North Carolina Press, 1935). Taken together, they offer a compelling view of Alabama in the era between the world wars.
Alabama Counties
Bibb County
By Katharine Armbrester and Laura Newland Hill
This quarter, Alabama Heritage visits Bibb County, highlighting its historical impact, notable citizens, and interesting contributions to the state’s arts and culture.
