Issue 72, Spring 2004

The image appears to be the cover of a magazine titled “ALABAMA HERITAGE.” Here are the details: Text on the Cover: In the top left corner, there is the text “SIX DOLLARS.” In the top right corner, it says “NUMBER 72 SPRING 2004.” Below the central photograph, there is additional text that reads “PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY.” Photograph: The central feature of the cover is a grayscale photograph of an individual from the chest up. The individual is wearing a collared shirt and appears to be from an earlier time period, judging by the style of clothing and hair, which is parted on one side.

Issue 72, Spring 2004

On the cover: As World War I drew to a close, Sergeant Leon Ragsdale McGavock was anxious to see his family once again, but fate had other plans. [Alabama Department of Archives and History]

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Features

The image you’ve uploaded depicts an individual sitting and holding a piece of paper or a document. Let’s break down the details: Setting and Subject: The person is seated, and their face is obscured by a gray box, presumably for privacy. The document they are holding appears to be of interest to them, as they are examining it closely. Document Content: The document features at least two distinct images: One image seems to depict a building with columns, suggesting historical or architectural significance. Another image shows an outdoor scene with a figure standing next to what could be interpreted as a well or structure. There is additional text surrounding these illustrations, but it is not clear enough to transcribe or determine its content.
Charles Brooks’ career spanned nearly forty years as a political cartoonist. [Charles Brooks]

The Less Things Change: Charles Brooks and the Art of Alabama Politics

By James L. Baggett

Charles Brooks showed a talent for illustration as early as high school. When he attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and was later hired by the Birmingham News as its first political cartoonist, he molded this talent into a memorable career. Brooks worked for the Birmingham News for close to forty years, recording countless political and social events in his own caustic perspective. Jim Baggett presents many of Brooks’s cartoons, which reveal a keen social insight into Alabama politics, and remain relevant to this day.

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Alabama and World War One:
The Gold Star Collection

By Sam Duvall

The Gold Star Collection began as a project to create a book memorializing young Alabama heroes who died in World War I. After the war, Dr. Thomas Owen, then head of the state archives, began collecting information about soldiers from across the state. Dr. Owen died before he could finish the project, and it was turned over to his wife, Marie Bankhead Owens, who succeeded him as head of the archives. Unfortunately, other matters took precedence and the Gold Star book was never published.

Eighty years later, writer Sam Duvall seeks to honor those Alabamians who died in WWI by telling the stories of a few of the “Gold Star” boys. Men of all religions, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds represented Alabama during WWI. Duvall’s vignettes seek to memorialize the lost soldiers and acknowledge their contributions to Alabama, the country, and the Great War.

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The image appears to be a black and white photograph featuring an individual dressed in a sailor suit. Let’s break down the details: Attire: The person is wearing a white top with a dark, possibly navy blue, sailor collar. The sailor collar has a square back flap, which is a characteristic feature of sailor suits. Additionally, there is a dark tie or scarf knotted at the front. Headwear: The individual is adorned with a white cap, which is likely part of the sailor uniform. Pose: The person is seated, with one arm resting on their raised knee. Context: Without further context, it’s challenging to determine the specific time period or location associated with this photograph. However, sailor suits were commonly worn by sailors and naval personnel during the early 20th century.
Electrician 2nd Class Hamilton Thompson Beggs.
[Alabama Department of Archives and History]
The image you’ve uploaded depicts a close-up view of several white hydrangea flowers in full bloom. Let’s delve into the details: Flower Petals: Each flower features five delicate, slightly translucent petals. These petals exhibit visible veins running through them, emphasizing their intricate structure. The white color of the petals contrasts beautifully with the green background. Center Details: At the center of each flower, we observe small, yellowish structures. These are likely the stamens, which contain the pollen. The stamens add a vibrant touch to the overall composition. Background: The background appears blurred and green, suggesting foliage or other plants behind the flowers. This soft backdrop enhances the focus on the floral details.
Bartram’s Oak Leaf Hydrangea Alabama’s State Wildflower. [Robin McDonald]

William Bartram: First Scientist of Alabama

By John C. Hall

In 1772, William Bartram left his Pennsylvania home and set out for the remote frontier of the South. After visiting Georgia and the Carolinas, Bartram eventually made his way to Alabama, where he discovered several new species of plants, including the giant primrose, the cherry laurel, and the pyramid magnolia. John C. Hall recalls the impact Bartram’s travels and findings had on natural science, as well as Romantic poets.

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Lillian Goodner: Queen of the Sepias

By Marc Bankert

A little known jazz singer from Alabama almost slipped into obscurity after her death in 1994. Luckily, Lillian Goodner’s impressive collection of photographs of jazz stars such as Josephine Baker, Blanche Calloway, and Bessie Smith were discovered shortly before she passed away. Marc Bankert’s story, with many of Goodner’s photos, documents her five-decade-long career as a performer and provides an intimate look into the lives and careers of some of the Jazz Age’s biggest stars.

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The image you’ve uploaded depicts a sepia-toned photograph. Here are the details: Subject: A woman stands in front of an ornate, circular window with a patterned design. Clothing: The person wears vintage attire, including a dark fur stole draped over the shoulders, a long skirt, and high-heeled boots. Possible Era: The clothing style suggests the photo may be from the early 20th century or late 19th century. Handwriting: There is cursive script on the left side of the image, but it’s not clear enough to transcribe accurately.
Lillian on stage in Chicago in the 1930s. [John and Vivian Gadson]

Departments

Southern Architecture and Preservation

The Old Rock House

By Robert Gamble

With its small windows and sturdy walls of carefully laid native limestone, the old Shelby-county house is early nineteenth-century Alabama’s only known stone dwelling. Though time is taking its toll, with proper appreciation and care, a unique Alabama landmark could again come into its own.

The image depicts a vintage black and white photograph of a two-story stone building with a covered porch. On the porch, there appears to be a wooden bench and possibly some other items that are not clearly distinguishable. To the right of the stone building, there is an attached structure with vertical wooden siding. A ladder is leaning against this structure, suggesting maintenance or accessibility to higher levels. The roof of the main building extends over the porch, providing shade and protection from elements. The setting seems rural or semi-rural, indicated by the visible trees in the background and the overall architecture of the buildings.
Early nineteenth-century Alabama’s only known stone dwelling. [Historic American Buildings Survey Collection, Library of Congress]
The image you’ve uploaded appears to be a scanned document of sheet music for the song “Alabama” by Julia Tutwiler. Let me provide a detailed description: Title and Authorship: The sheet music prominently displays the title “Alabama” at the top. The composer of this song is Julia Tutwiler. There’s also a secondary attribution to Edna Gockel Gussen. Dedication: Below the title, there’s a dedication that reads, “Dedicated to Alabama Division United Daughters of the Confederacy.” Musical Notation: The body of the page contains two stanzas of lyrics accompanied by musical notation for piano. Each stanza consists of four lines. Following each stanza, there are two refrains with additional lyrics and corresponding music. Historical Context: The song likely holds historical significance related to Alabama, given its dedication and authorship. It provides insight into musical composition during the period when it was composed.
Officially adopted in 1931, Alabama’s state song unites the poem “Alabama” by Julia Tutwiler with a melody composed by Edna Gockel-Gussen. [Courtesy McCorvey-Tutwiler Papers, W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library]

Alabama Treasures

“Alabama”: Story of a Song

By Kristen Record

Officially adapted in 1931, Alabama’s state song unites the poem “Alabama” by Julia Tutwiler with a melody composed by Edna Gockel-Gussen, making the state song yet another of the many contributions of Julia Tutwiler to the culture of the state.

Nature Journal

Opossums

By L.J. Davenport

Opossums, “living fossils,” are marsupials, placing them among the Earth’s oldest surviving mammals. Primitively clumsy and slow, with conical heads and pointed pink noses, these omnivores are well known both from the wild and from popular sayings.

The image depicts a nocturnal opossum perched on the edge of a wooden structure. Let’s delve into the details: Animal Description: The creature in the image is an opossum, a marsupial native to the Americas. Its fur is greyish-white, and it has a distinctive white face with black eyes and ears. The opossum’s mouth is slightly open, revealing small teeth, and it has a pointed snout. We can see its front paws resting on the wooden surface. The background is dark, indicating that the photo was taken at night. Behavior and Adaptability: Opossums are known for their ability to adapt to various environments. They are nocturnal, which means they are most active during the night. This particular opossum seems to be scavenging near human dwellings, as it perches on the wooden structure.
An opossum in suburban Birmingham. [L.J. Davenport]
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