Issue 95, Winter 2010

Title and Date: The cover of the magazine is labeled “ALABAMA HERITAGE” with the text “NUMBER 95, WINTER 2010” at the top. Visual Content: The main illustration or painting depicts an individual dressed in blue attire with buttons. They are climbing what appears to be a hill or embankment. The person carries a flag on a pole over their shoulder, suggesting a historical or military context. Background: The background has a yellowish and white hue, possibly indicating fog or smoke. Additional Text: Below the main image, there’s text that reads: “PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY.”

Issue 95, Winter 2010

On the cover: Washing Day by Edwin Forbes, one of the gems in the collection of the Eufaula Athenaeum.

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Features

Athena on the Chattahoochee

By Stephen M. Rowe

One of the country’s most impressive privately held collections of unique and rare documents, books, and photographs is located in a beautifully renovated historic storefront in Eufaula, Alabama. This collection—pertaining to Alabama, southern, and American history—has been a labor of love for decades for owner Steve Williams, who acquired much of this stunning treasure with the help of Steven Rowe, who now serves as the collection’s curator and wrote this article for Alabama Heritage. The two-story Eufaula Athenaeum holds the memories of everything from colonial America to the civil rights movement and includes one-of-a-kind photographs, first editions of classics, documents discussing the nation’s founders, documents signed by many of America’s most notable historical figures, and forty-five unique Confederate imprints (of 450 total). Best of all, Williams makes his collection available to researchers, rendering this immense private collection of value to the public.

The image you uploaded depicts three pieces of historical currency. Here’s a breakdown of each bill: Top Bill (Green, ): This bill features an illustration of a train. It’s a ten-dollar note. Middle Bill (Blue, ): The blue bill showcases an eagle and has a value of five dollars. Bottom Bill (Red, ): This one-dollar bill is from the Eastern Bank of Alabama. It depicts cotton plants and slaves working in the fields. These antique banknotes provide a glimpse into the history and economic practices of their time. The use of slave labor imagery on the one-dollar bill serves as a stark reminder of that period in American history.
These bank notes were issued by the Eastern Bank of Eufaula between 1858 and 1860. [Robin McDonald]
The image you uploaded appears to be a black and white historical photograph. It depicts a large gathering of people, likely at an outdoor event. Many faces are obscured with grey blocks, making identification impossible. A person stands on an elevated platform to the left, possibly addressing the crowd. The formal setting suggests this could be a public speaking event or gathering. Structures resembling pavilions or stands are visible in the background.
Booker T. Washington promoted practical education and self-help in the African American community. [Library of Congress]

“Keep Still”: Booker T. Washington and the Shiloh Church Tragedy

By James L. Baggett

In the early twentieth century, African American intellectual and orator Booker T. Washington always drew a crowd. In 1902 Washington was invited to speak at Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham during a National Baptist Convention. Not surprisingly, the event garnered much attention, and the crowd grew to several thousand on the night of September 19, 1902, packing the room, balcony, outer stairs, and lawn with guests from all over the South. In this article, James L. Baggett describes how a shout misinterpreted as “Fire!” set off a panic, causing a massive stampede that took the lives of 120 people. It was a painful memory for Booker T. Washington and many others, but created such a stir of sympathy in Birmingham that, for one brief golden moment, racial tensions were forgotten.

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The image depicts an architectural feature—a staircase with a unique design. The steps appear to be upside down due to an optical illusion, creating a visual paradox. This intriguing design could be relevant for those studying perspective or interested in visual illusions.
Oakleigh’s curved exterior stair exhibits a high degree of workmanship. [Sheila Hagler]

Columns and Colonnades: Treasures of Greek Revival Mobile

By John S. Sledge, photography by Sheila Hagler

In the early decades of the nineteenth century, Mobile was becoming a thriving port city of the South. However, much of the architecture did not boast of the economic prosperity and growth that was taking place during that time period. John S. Sledge discusses how, in the aftermath of a devastating fire that consumed most of the city, a revival of classical architecture flourished. This revival produced many landmarks that still testify to the spirit of hope and cultural celebration surrounding that generation. The article visits some of these landmarks, including the City Hospital, the main building at Spring Hill College, and the lovely Oakleigh residence, and offers glimpses of the lives of the men who built or helped build them. The blending of architectural styles of the Gulf Coast and classic Western architecture illustrates the unique flavor of the Greek Revival in nineteenth-century Mobile. 

Becoming Alabama: A Time Rich in Historical Remembrances

By Edwin C. Bridges

The next five years will see milestone anniversaries of numerous events that shaped and defined Alabama’s history. These anniversaries all surround three major historical and cultural conflicts—the Creek War, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement—all of which are essential to understanding how Alabama became what it is today. This article introduces a collaborative venture of cultural organizations all over the state to commemorate cooperatively a program they call “Becoming Alabama.” Edwin C. Bridges describes how each of these core events shaped the next, and why the simultaneous commemorations offer a great opportunity to understand the complexity of “becoming Alabama.” A sidebar by Steve Murray introduces the actual Becoming Alabama program with information for those who want to participate. 

The image depicts a statue of a standing figure holding a rifle vertically with both hands. The figure wears what appears to be military attire, suggesting it commemorates a soldier or historical military figure. The face of the statue is obscured by pixelation for privacy or copyright reasons. In the background, there’s a relief sculpture that seems to be part of the monument. At the base of the statue, partially visible inscribed letters add to its significance.
This statue of a soldier is part of the Confederate Memorial in Montgomery. [Robin McDonald]

Departments

The image depicts a group of eleven individuals standing outdoors in front of a brick structure, possibly a historical building. Various age groups are represented, and some individuals wear name tags.
The Gaines family. [Ed Gaines]

Southern Architecture and Preservation

Reclaiming Roseland 

By Betsy Gaines Crosby

Preservation, while crucially important to maintaining Alabama’s heritage, often takes curious and creative forms. Here, Betsy Gaines Crosby recounts her family’s efforts to maintain Roseland, a family plantation. After securing a spot for Roseland on the National Register of Historic Places, the family’s preservation efforts began in full. Crosby details the intricate steps a family and community took to ensure the preservation of their historic structure. 

The image shows a group of individuals standing together, presumably for a group photo. The setting appears to be an outdoor area with green grass, which could indicate an event held at a sports field or similar venue.
Members of the First and Ten Club pose with Gen. Colin Powell. [University of Alabama]

Recollections

Colin Powell and a Nearly Perfect Plan 

By Jack Owens

After the University of Alabama football team won the 1992 National Championship, the excitement was only beginning. Jack Owens recounts the day Gen. Colin Powell visited the team in March 1993, just ahead of a freak snowstorm. Despite meticulous planning, Owens faced the unexpected challenge of getting the general out of town before weather conditions shut him in.

The image you uploaded shows a close-up of a plant stem with several insects on it. The stem is green and covered with fine hairs. There are black insects clustered around a specific area of the stem, which appear to be aphids. Additionally, there is at least one larger insect resembling an ant near the bottom of the image. This interaction captures a common occurrence in nature where ants farm aphids for their honeydew, a sugary substance produced by aphids when they feed on plant sap.
Ants tending aphids [L.J. Davenport]

The Nature Journal

Milking Aphids 

By L. J. Davenport

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 you uploaded appears to be the book cover for “Almost Family” by Roy Hoffman. The cover features two photographs: a black and white image of a group of people gathered on a street, with an individual holding an American flag in the foreground, and a color photograph depicting an interior scene with two chairs and a small table between them, under wall-mounted lamps. There’s also a gold seal on the cover, but the text inside it isn’t entirely legible due to the image size. This book cover could be interesting for its historical context or literary content.
The image depicts the cover of a novel titled “Chicken Dreaming Corn” by Roy Hoffman. The sepia-toned photograph features an old storefront with various signs, including one that reads “M. Kleinman & Sons.” In front of the store, there’s a figure whose face is obscured by a green block, likely for privacy or design purposes. The top of the image bears a quote from Harper Lee: “A story of great appeal.”
The image you uploaded appears to be the cover of a book titled “Back Home: Journeys through Mobile” by Roy Hoffman. The cover art features an abstract, colorful depiction of a coastal scene with boats, water, and buildings, possibly representing the city of Mobile. The night sky is dotted with stars above the scene.

Reading the Southern Past

Portraits of a Changing South

By Stephen Goldfarb

Author Stephen Goldfarb considers several books that explore Alabama’s Jewish immigrant population. Goldfarb charts the works of Mobile writer Roy Hoffman, showing how his novels reveal a unique portrait of the life of twentieth-century Jewish southerners. Hoffman’s books include Almost Family (University of Alabama Press, 2000),Chicken Dreaming Corn (University of Georgia Press, 2004), and Back Home: Journeys through Mobile (University of Alabama Press, 2001). 

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