Issue 23, Winter 1992

This image depicts the cover of a magazine titled “Alabama Heritage” from the Winter 1992 issue, numbered 23. The magazine is published quarterly by the University of Alabama. Here are the key elements: Magazine Title: The top portion displays the title “Alabama Heritage” in a cursive blue font. Publication Information: Below the title, smaller black text indicates that it is “PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.” Central Image: The central image features a person dressed in historical attire. The person wears a red turban with black tassels. Their outfit includes green and red elements with intricate gold detailing. A white flower is pinned near their shoulder. Issue Details: At the bottom left corner, it states “Winter 1992,” indicating the season and year of this issue. Adjacent to this, on the right side, is “Number 23,” signifying the magazine’s 23rd edition. Price: The bottom right corner displays the price as “.00.” Overall, this intriguing image captures a censored portrait on an old magazine cover, inviting curiosity about its original content and historical context.

Issue 23, Winter 1992

On the cover: Tustennuggee Emathla, or Jim Boy, helped lead the Redstick rebellion. [From McKenney and Hall, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, vol. II, 1842]

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Features

The image depicts the back view of a person’s head and shoulders. The person’s hair is visible, and they appear to be wearing some sort of clothing on the shoulders. The man has a stoic demeanor. The background is textured but does not provide a location. The overall tone of the visible parts of the image is monochromatic.
U.S Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins spent two decades promoting his culture’s version of civilization to the Indians. Redstick prophets, preferring Indian civilization, named Hawkins a prime target for execution in 1813. [Courtesy Alabama State Department of Archives and History]

The Creek Prophetic Movement

By Joel W. Martin

In 1914 a group of Creek rebels known as the Redsticks attempted to revolt against the United States government. Spurred on by prophets and alarmed by natural disasters such as earthquakes, these poorly armed Native American warriors fought against a coalition of whites, Cherokees, and Creeks–only to be defeated on March 27 in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, the costliest battle in the history of warfare between the United States and Native Americans.The story of this rebellion remains a notable part of Creek history.

The image features a white egret standing on one leg atop a dark, textured vertical structure that is protruding from the water. The bird has a slender neck, a pointed yellow beak, and black legs with visible yellow feet gripping the structure. The background is primarily composed of calm blue water with gentle ripples. Key details: A white egret with a slender profile is the main subject. The bird is perched on one leg on top of a dark, barnacle-encrusted object. It has a long neck, pointed yellow beak, and black legs with distinctive yellow feet. The surrounding environment is calm blue water with subtle ripples indicating movement. There’s no discernible activity or other creatures in the immediate vicinity of the bird.
The great egret, snowy egret, and white ibis are often found in rookeries with cattle egret. [Photograph by Robin McDonald]

The Cattle Egret

By William H. Allen, Jr.

Late in the nineteenth century, a remarkable migration took place. The cattle egret, a native of Africa, migrated across the Atlantic. They were first sighted in South America, but as the years passed the egret moved northward; by 1957 they had reached Alabama. This remarkable bird has demonstrated astounding adaptability and provides bird watchers with a nigh-limitless source of fascination.

Endangered Aristocrats

By Robert Gamble

Alabama’s Tennessee Valley claims the largest surviving concentration of Williamsburg-type cottages in the Deep South. These houses have steadily dwindled in number until perhaps no more than a dozen clear-cut examples stand today. These houses provide valuable insight into the process of cultural transference, as well as being in themselves worthwhile examples of

The photograph depicts an old, abandoned house set against a stark backdrop. Here are the key elements: House Structure: The house appears to be in a state of disrepair. Its exterior shows signs of decay and neglect. The roof is missing, leaving the interior exposed to the elements. The siding of the house is weathered and worn, suggesting years of exposure to wind, rain, and sun. There are two windows visible, both without glass. They appear dark, hinting at an empty or abandoned interior. The doorway is also open, revealing darkness within. The overall architecture seems simple and utilitarian, lacking any ornate features. Surroundings: The house stands amidst a desolate landscape. Bare trees encircle it, their branches reaching toward the sky. The absence of leaves on the trees suggests either a winter scene or that the trees are dead. The ground around the house is barren, devoid of grass or vegetation. Mood and Atmosphere: The black and white color scheme adds to the photograph’s somber and eerie mood. The image evokes feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and the passage of time.
This abandoned 1820 brick Tidewater-type house, Colbert County, could be restored.
The image appears to be a historical photograph, depicted in sepia tones, suggesting it is from an earlier time period. There are multiple individuals in the image; however, several of the individuals are obscured by shadows. It appears there are at least five individuals, one standing and the others sitting or laying down. The setting seems to be an indoor space with a rustic appearance, possibly a bunkhouse or workers’ quarters. One individual is standing in the foreground wearing work attire, including a hat and boots covered in dust or mud. In the background, there are several individuals seated and lying down on what appears to be a wooden bunk bed structure. The environment looks cramped and utilitarian with minimal furnishings or comforts.
The “dull, hopeless misery” of convicts like these in a Birmingham jail inspired Julia Tutwiler to campaign resolutely for prison reform in Alabama. [Courtesy Birmingham Public Library Archives]

Julia S. Tutwiler: Years of Experience

By Paul M. Pruitt, Jr.

 As a woman, Julia Tutwiler could neither vote nor hold office. Yet she changed the face of higher education in Alabama and forced prison reform on a reluctant state. In many ways, Tutwiler was the product of her age, yet she accomplished a tremendous amount of reform by working within the system she inherited. Part two of a series on the life of this remarkable woman. Part one is found in Alabama Heritage Issue 22: “Julia Tutwiler: Years of Innocence.”

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