Issue 94, Fall 2009

The image appears to be the cover of a publication titled “ALABAMA HERITAGE.” It features an illustration of soldiers in uniform standing in rows on a parade ground or military installation. One individual, likely an officer, walks purposefully in front of the troops. The text at the top reads “SIX DOLLARS,” and at the bottom, it says “ISSUE 94, FALL 2009.” The publication is associated with The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and The Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Issue 94, Fall 2009

On the cover: In 1883 Harper’s Weekly highlighted night military drills at the Mobile levee. [Birmingham Public Library Archives]

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Features

The image you uploaded appears to be a sepia-toned photograph. It features four individuals sitting in front of a building. On the left, there’s an adult holding a young child, and two other adults are seated to the right. The setting suggests an outdoor environment with grass on the ground.
Dollie, Ben, Rena, and Marvin Teel. [Ammie Anderson, “Irene Vansandt Teel”]

Remembering Mrs. Rena: The East Alabama Soothsayer

By Elizabeth W. Wade

Ask anyone who grew up near Clay County if they know about Rena Teel, and chances are, they will respond with a slew of stories about her. Known throughout the Southeast for her prescience, Teel established herself as a reliable and trustworthy resource for people in need. Most of her readings were routine: helping clients find misplaced possessions or wayward livestock or regaling high school seniors with a glimpse of their futures. However, Teel also proved a valuable asset in emergencies, and desperate Alabamians routinely sought her services. Throughout her lifelong career, Teel located missing children, helped authorities solve crimes and discover bodies, and even prevented a murder. 

Alabama Illustrated: Engravings from Nineteenth-Century Newspapers

By Kelsey Scouten Bates and James L. Baggett

Before the easy and economical reproduction of photographs was possible, newspapers used engravings to offer readers an artistic glimpse of recent events. Alabama was featured in many such engravings, exposing readers worldwide to life in the “exotic” American South. Archivists Kelsey Bates and Jim Baggett discuss the techniques and content a variety of these engravings, all drawn from the Birmingham Public Library’s collection and travelling exhibit titledAlabama Illustrated. From scenes of the Civil War to cyclones trade, from enslaved workers to society balls, these engravings reveal important aspects of Alabama’s past and help readers see the world as nineteenth-century newspaper readers perceived it.

The black and white illustration is from the cover of “Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization” dated New York, Saturday, September 3, 1864. Here’s what I can discern: Title and Banner: At the top, there’s a decorative banner adorned with intricate designs and text. Two reclining figures flank the magazine’s title. The central illustration captures a landscape with dense foliage and trees draped in Spanish moss. In the background, a body of water reflects the trees. In the foreground, a group of people—some on horseback and others on foot—appear to be soldiers due to their uniforms and weapons. They traverse a path cutting through the wooded area. Historical Context: The scene represents a moment during the American Civil War. Specifically, it’s titled “Part of the Battle-ground before Atlanta, Ga., on which General McPherson was killed—Sketched by an Officer.” General James B. McPherson lost his life in this battle. This captivating image provides a glimpse into a significant historical event.
“Pictures of the South– Magnolia Grove, on the Shell Road at Mobile, Alabama”.
[A.R. Waud]

From Alabama to Amendola And Back: Journey of a B-17 Pilot

By James L. Noles Jr.

As a response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Alabama native William S. (“Bill”) Tune enlisted in the Army Air Force to serve his country. After being trained as a pilot, Tune departed for Europe, where he flew forty-eight missions in a B-17G Flying Fortress before being captured as a POW and interred in Germany. Tune’s story, like that of so many other Americans, reflects the hardships and opportunities of wartime service.

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The image you uploaded appears to show an individual wearing a military-style uniform with badges. They are sitting, one arm resting on their hip and the other leaning on a structure made of wood and straw.
Bill Tune on the Isle of Capri. [William S. Tune]

Places in Peril 2009: Alabama’s Endangered Historic Landmarks

By Melanie Betz Gregory

The rich history represented in the beautiful, yet crumbling, remains of many historic buildings in Alabama is in perpetual danger of being demolished and erased from memory. In this latest addition of “Places in Peril,” The Alabama Historic Commission, the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation and Alabama Heritage have collaborated to highlight homes, business structures, forts, churches, and schoolhouses that stand at risk from neglect, underfunding, or development. From sites that provide an understanding of Alabama’s transportation history to residential and entertainment structures, these endangered properties tell the Alabama story. With much-needed preservation, these structures will survive to educate, inform, and inspire future generations. 

The image depicts an old, abandoned train station with a dilapidated structure. The roof, made of red tiles, is missing several pieces, and the building’s walls show visible damage and peeling paint. The station has arches and decorative elements characteristic of older architectural styles. In front of the building, overgrown grass surrounds train tracks that run parallel to the platform. The image evokes a sense of historical architecture and urban decay.
The Wadley Depot, 1907. [Robin McDonald]

Departments

The composite image consists of two distinct paintings. On the left side, there’s a historical scene featuring several individuals. They engage in various activities, such as walking or sitting, against a backdrop of buildings and a clear sky. The right side depicts a darker scene with an emaciated figure standing on cracked ground, evoking feelings of despair or suffering.
POW mural at the old Fort McClellan Officer’s Club. [Catherine Gambrell Rogers]

Southern Architecture and Preservation

The POW Murals: Anniston’s Hidden Treasures

By Joan McKinney

Tucked away in Anniston, the former Officer’s Club of Fort McClellan holds a little-known gem from Alabama’s World War II history. Painted in 1945 by POWs Albert Sagadin and Herbert Belau, the Anniston murals offer a glimpse into life during the war era. Although the murals have been inaccessible to the public for some time now, as the building containing them passed into private ownership, recent events offer hope that these artworks will be preserved and made available for public viewing again, thereby opening up an important relic from Alabama’s wartime past. 

In the black and white photograph, two individuals stand outdoors. Their faces are obscured for privacy. Here are the details: Person on the Left: Holds a leash connected to two dogs. Appears to be casually dressed. Person on the Right: Wears a white garment. Holds what seems to be a book or a small object. Background: Features a wooden fence and trees, suggesting a rural setting.
Jim, the “Master of Possum Hounds” and his wife rally the canine troops. [Virginia Van der Veer Hamilton]

Recollections

Possum Hunting 

By Virginia Van der Veer Hamilton

Alabamian Virginia Van der Veer Hamilton reminisces about her possum hunting adventures as a girl in Depression-era Birmingham. Hamilton’s anecdote transports readers back to a time when several future meals could be “bagged” on a good night if you had talented dogs, a bull’s horn, and patience.

The image you uploaded appears to be a scanned document with handwritten entries. On the left side, it’s dated “April 26th,” and on the right side, it says “Bought of David Bradley & Co.” The document resembles an account or ledger page, containing various entries related to quantities, prices, and calculations. While I can’t transcribe specific details from the image, it’s interesting as it provides insight into historical record-keeping and transactions.
April 12, 1865: Business as usual, and “Yankeys Burnt Shelby Iron Wks.” [W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, the University of Alabama]

Alabama Treasures

Finding Our African American Legacy: New Tools for the Researcher 

By Clark E. Center Jr.

Thanks to a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, several Alabama institutions have been able to preserve and collect important records from Alabama’s African American communities. Tuskegee University and the University of Alabama have combined resources in this project, called “Bringing Alabama’s African American History to Light: A Model Partnership.” Featuring a variety of documents and records, from personal, business, and research documents, the collection will prove a valuable tool for researchers interested in this important aspect of Alabama’s history.

The image appears to be related to the Confederate Battle Flag, which is often considered America’s most embattled emblem. The flag has a controversial history and is associated with the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. It remains a symbol that evokes strong emotions and debates.
The image you uploaded depicts the cover of a book titled “What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848” by Daniel Walker Howe. This Pulitzer Prize-winning historical work delves into significant changes in America during the specified period. The cover features an illustration with stormy skies, trees, water, and an eagle holding a shield adorned with the American flag design.
The image you uploaded appears to be the cover of a book titled “Everybody Was Black Down There” by Robert H. Woodrum. The cover features a black and white photograph of miners, with one miner’s face obscured by a black rectangle. The subtitle reads “Race and Industrial Change in the Alabama Coalfields.” This image seems relevant to historical and sociological studies, specifically focusing on race relations and industrial history in the Alabama coal mining sector.

Reading the Southern Past

A World A-Changing

By Stephen Goldfarb

Stephen Goldfarb reviews several books that investigate periods of significant change in Alabama’s past. John M. Coski’s The Confederate Battle Flag: America’s Most Embattled Emblem (Harvard University Press, 2005) traces the history of this battle symbol and its various iterations. Daniel Walker Howe’s What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815–1848 (Oxford University Press, 2007) offers a narrative history of Jacksonian America in the 1820s and the impact Jackson’s politics and policies had on the young nation. Finally, Robert H. Woodrum’s “Everybody Was Black Down There”: Race and Industrial Change in the Alabama Coalfields (University of Georgia Press, 2007) considers the connections between the coal industry and the emerging civil rights struggles of the mid-twentieth century.

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