Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Alabama History & Culture News: August 31 edition


 

Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!



Local Pelham author sells over 100000 copies - Shelby County Reporter
The book was adapted into a major motion picture starring Gerard Butler ... writer and is grateful to reach his Alabama based audience and to have ...
[Don Keith]


Little Professor opening second location in Pepper Place | Bham Now
One of Alabama's oldest independent bookstores is growing. #books #retail #independentbookstore #Birminghamal.

Books We Love: Recommended reading for nonfiction - NPR
I cover the American South for NPR, and I'm recommending Alabama journalist Ben Raines' book "The Last Slave Ship." It's the story of the Clotilda ...

Counties with the oldest homes in Alabama | State | selmasun.com
However, the tireless efforts of architectural preservationists and local historical societies have saved many of these homes from demolition, leading ...
Birthplace of late Congressman John Lewis now historic marker - WSFA
A historic marker at the birthplace of late congressman John Lewis was unveiled in front of friends and family during a private ceremony.
Early settlers who rest in Magnolia Cemetery are, left, Malachi Riley born ... stories are featured in an 1893 Memorial Record of Alabama volume.
... of the Alabama Historical Commission's historical marker for China Grove-Pike ... He and his other descendants are buried in this cemetery.
OPEN NOW: The Haunted Book Shop reopens at new location in Downtown Mobile
It was open in Mobile for 50 years, but like all good things, the store came to an end in 1991. Advertisement. Alabama Launchpad. New beginnings.

Can't Miss Alabama: Fill up the weekend at Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival, Birmingham ...
27 to Birmingham's Historic 4th Avenue District downtown. The festival will bring together varied artists, vendors, food and entertainment.

Live at The Pillars: Mansion for sale in Lowndesboro - Montgomery Advertiser
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Alabama Historic Register, it was also included in the 1934 Historic American Building ...

Black Belt Heritage Act could boost historic sites, outdoor recreation, tourism | News
The Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area Act is on the way to becoming law. If passed, it will be a major boost to historic sites and outdoor ...


First-ever Civil Rights Trail Market opens at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
“We have a rich history here. ... Lee Sentell, director of Alabama Tourism Department and author of the Official US Civil Rights Trail Book.


Alabama's Natural Bridge Park is a marvel
While little is known about its origins, Denton said it is another unique piece of Alabama's history on display at the park.


Little Green Men? The history behind Fyffe's UFO Days celebration - WHNT.com
Whatever you call UFOs, a small town in Northeast Alabama has a history of spotting them in the night sky – and it's inspired a full day of family ...

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Friday, August 26, 2022

Sailing South American Skies by James Saxon Childers

Back in April I posted a piece on one of Hudson Strode's travel books, Now in Mexico. Strode taught English at the University of Alabama for many years before his death in 1976; many of the state's fiction writers passed through his classes. In addition to his travel books, Strode published a three volume biography of Jefferson Davis. 

In some ways James Saxon Childers [1899-1965] was similar to Strode. Childers was born in Birmingham and taught English at Birmingham-Southern College from 1925-1942. He also wrote some travel studies, such as the one I'm looking at in this post. While at Birmingham-Southern he published reviews and columns in local newspapers and several significant novels, including Hilltop in the Rain [1928], set at a small southern college. The significance of The Bookshop Mystery [1930] is noted at the end of this post. His 1936 work A Novel about a White Man and a Black Man in the Deep South was a daring portrait of endemic racism in the southern U.S. The 1942 spy novel Enemy Outpost was based on Childers' own military experiences. 

I have comments about this 1936 travel book below some of the images. As with the Strode book on Mexico, I haven't read this one and plan to let it go in the downsizing of my book collection.

You can find Childers 1933 Birmingham News-Age-Herald article on Parker High School here. One from the following year on the legendary Birmingham elephant Miss Fancy is here.




Photograph of Childers from the Encyclopedia of Alabama 



Childers in his study at Birmingham-Southern College in the late 1930's

Source: BhamWiki



My copy of the book is the 1936 first edition, but does not have the dust jacket, which you can see here. 







Like my copy of Strode's book, this one is signed by the author. I have been unable to identify "Vincent Townsend". Journeys through Childers' papers at the Birmingham Public Library or the University of North Carolina might solve the mystery. That message from Childers is rather cryptic. 



By the time this book appeared in 1936, Childers had quite a track record of publications.



Yes, we have the "Great White Visitor coming out of the jungle photograph" as the frontispiece. Childers is not only wearing a white suit and hat and a tie, but has the coat buttoned. Did people really travel like that or was the outfit donned for the photo?






I'm such a book nerd I researched the printers, Quinn and Boden of Rahway, New Jersey. The company was apparently a large one; a 1922 book about it can be read here. 




More cryptic dedications




Childers devotes a chapter to a strike by Mexican prostitutes and another to the "hellish sport" of bull fighting. 



More chapters are devoted to Rio, the "most beautiful city on earth", a thousand mile odyssey up the Amazon, and tropical fish. His final chapter, excerpts below, discusses American ignorance about the other America. 










One day while fishing on a lake in Alabama, Childers up and decided to fly around the whole of South America and see much of it. His reason? He knew "virtually nothing about the people of South America today, [and] I decided that I would go find out about them."














As he ends the book, Childers notes some things he would do differently if he took the trip again. 



The author notes that Americans need to overcome their lack of knowledge and their misinformation about the nations of South America. On a golf course in Uruguay, a famous surgeon gives him sage advice that we in the United States still haven't taken. 







Childers' only mystery novel, published in 1930, has never been reprinted and sells on the rare book market for prices ranging from $200+ to $900+. The work is an early example of the bibliomystery, a genre which involves libraries, bookstores, archives, their employees and/or the rare book market, etc. 






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Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Alabama History & Culture News: August 24 edition

 


Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!

“The South's Forgotten Fire-Eater: David Hubbard & North Alabama's Long Road to Disunion” By
Along the way he draws our attention to Alabama figures we might have overlooked. His book “The Million Dollar Man Who Helped Kill a President” ...


Earthquake Rattles Northern Alabama on Sunday Afternoon - Weatherboy
This map shows epicenters of historical Alabama earthquakes since 1886 and surface and basement faults. Image: Geological Survey of Alabama.


Old Autauga Historical Society Brings History to Autauga County Courthouse
... formation of Alabama in 1819.” The Old Autauga Historical Society officially formed January 1, 2020 and they currently have about 300 members.

The Rosenbaum House Is the Only Frank Lloyd Wright-Designed Building in Alabama
Florence, Alabama, is home to many historic structures, but one in particular has become a destination for those interested in architectural ...

Comeback Town: Birmingham may have lost historic Terminal Station, but... - al.com
But where are the historically rich buildings they replaced? ... We saved our Alabama and Lyric Theatres—unreplaceable gems.

Alabama singer-songwriter Rock Killough bringing new book to Fairhope - al.com
Alabama native Killough is singer-songwriter whose writing and co-writing credits include songs recorded by a long list of stars: The Oak Ridge Boys ( ...


Laura Hunter's new novel is based on awful eugenics scandal | DON NOBLE
It opens in a sweltering, dry July of 1968 in the fictional hamlet of Hyssop, Alabama, not far from Eufaula. The teller of this tale is Margaret ..


Hundreds of renowned naturalist E.O. Wilson's books donated to Alabama nature research center
Finch, founder of the Paint Rock Forest Research Center in north Alabama's Trenton area, had known the acclaimed Harvard naturalist and biologist ...


Alabama researchers discover 'gigantic' 83 million-year-old turtle species - al.com
The turtle was officially named this week from fossils found in the collection at the Alabama Museum of Natural History.


Ryan Baptist in Joppa celebrates 100 years
Joe Teal (left) of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission presents a ... years of church history to add to the history of the first 75 years.


How you can help restore the Red Mountain Cut Geologic Walkway - Bham Now
In early April, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and a public/private ... History of the Red Mountain Cut Geologic Walkway.


The small cemetery is easily accessible and located just north of Bob Wade ... Patriot Powell was a first generation settler in north Alabama who ...


New director of Sloss Furnaces named - Alabama Political Reporter
It operated from 1882-1970, making it the longest continually running blast furnace in Birmingham's history. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark ...


Mooresville Post Office: Oldest Post Office In Alabama - Only In Your State
There are many historic buildings located throughout Alabama. In fact, some of them are even among the oldest buildings in the U.S. One of these ...


Alabama event to exhibit rare Spider Martin photos at Beth El Civil Rights Experience
“We're building this project to provide a thorough, historical perspective on our local Jewish community's actions and attitudes within the larger ...


Meet William King, the only Alabamian ever elected as vice president | WHNT.com
(Photo: Alabama Department of Archives and History). (Photo: Alabama Department of Archives and History) Read Less. by: Zach Hester.


An Alabama boy is taking on the Nazis in new WWII-era Savannah Theatre show, 'We'll Meet Again'
The World War II-era play follows an Opelika, Alabama, resident who ... set to make its world premiere on Friday at The Historic Savannah Theatre.


Indian who led attack on local fort topic for historical society meeting - Thomasville Times
He is also well-known for both his You Tube channel and app called “Two-Egg TV” which explores the history of Alabama and the Florida panhandle.


Opinion | Legendary Alabamians: Howell Heflin - Alabama Political Reporter
The longer I continue to write about Alabama politics, ... In this article:Alabama history, Featured, Howell Heflin, Judge, Legendary Alabamians.


Community Hero Steve Murray: Keeper of the Alabama's true history - Montgomery Advertiser
Alabama Department of Archives and History director Steve Murray is telling the complete story of the state's history, not just the Confederate ...


New user-friendly website highlights Alabama Department of Archives and History resources - WTVY
The “Alabama History Hub” is a one-stop resource for K-12 educators in the classroom. The new website includes robust databases for conducting ...


How you can help restore a historic, fire-damaged Alabama house - al.com
A fire earlier this month at an Alabama landmark did extensive damage but it wasn't fatal. The St. Clair Historical Society is accepting donations ...


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Monday, August 15, 2022

Alabama History & Culture News: August 15 edition

 




Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!


Iconic Huntsville hardware store closing after nearly 100 years | News | waaytv.com
... down in just a few months, leaving behind an iconic landmark in downtown Huntsville with nearly one hundred years of hardware history.


William Earl Campbell [William March], Sergeant, U.S Marine Corps, WWI Distinguished ...
The novel was the first of his “Pearl County” series of books and short stories set in south Alabama, using fictional town names.


In 'Filthy Animals,' essayist Brandon Taylor reflects on his Southern roots and the joys of analog
"FILTHY ANIMALS" by Brandon Taylor (Riverhead Books, 288 pages, $16). Brandon Taylor, the Alabama-born writer whose 2020 debut novel, "Real Life," ...


Local mayors to discuss Civil Rights Trail revitalization, preservation - WSFA
(WSFA) - Four Alabama mayors will be meeting in the capital city Saturday to ... to preserve history so it does not die with the next generation.


Graves of early settlers in Magnolia Cemetery, pictured left is the site of A.J. Fletcher ... One of the first settlers of Alabama and Covington, ...

Novelist Andrew Sean Greer on Exploring Alabama for "Less Is Lost" - Esquire
Andrew Sean Greer has traveled the world, but to research his latest novel, he went to one of the most foreign places he could imagine: Alabama.


Alabama archives transferring Native American remains to Indian tribes with ties to state
The Alabama Department of Archives and History has closed and plans to redesign its exhibit on indigenous cultures.

Alabama's Historic Looney House severely damaged by fire—how you can help
... the historic Looney House near Ashville suffered severe fire damage—now, locals are mobilizing to save the beloved structure. #Alabama ...


Frank Franz, longest-serving president in UAH history, dies - AL.com
Frank Franz, whose 16-year tenure as president at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is the longest in the school's history, has died.

Africatown, Alabama - The Architects' Journal
An open international contest is being held to re-imagine a series of historic sites in Africatown, Alabama [Deadline: 19 September 2022].


Irish priest who stood up to the KKK to be remembered 101 years later in Alabama
An Irish-born priest who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama in ... with other history buffs in the IrishCentral History Facebook group.


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