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I.G. Farben's Petro-Chemical Plant And Concentration Camp At Auschwitz, Robert Simon Yavner

History Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the history of the petrochemical plant and concentration camp run by I.G. Farbenindustrie (the dominant German chemical company during World War II) at Auschwitz to decide upon the degree of Farben’s involvement with Hitler and the Holocaust. The study traces the construction of the plant to determine Farben's participation at Auschwitz. The main sources consulted were the transcripts of the postwar Farben trial at Nuremberg along with eyewitness accounts of members of the prosecution staff. Based on the court's verdict, one might conclude that I.G. Farben operated in a state of coercion during the war and could …

Walter Heron Taylor And His Era, Emanuel Meyer

History Theses & Dissertations

This biography examines Colonel Walter Herron Taylor’s involvement in the development of Norfolk, Virginia, into a modern urban seaport. Although this thesis depicts Taylor’s role as Robert E. Lee’s adjutant and Civil War historian, it clearly demonstrates that his civic accomplishments in the post-war era considerably outweighed his efforts for the Confederacy.

Colonel Taylor's lifetime career in banking and commerce reflected the changing society of the South from a backward province into a modern industrial and sophisticated section. The author illustrates the Colonel’s participation in Norfolk's growth from the stormy Reconstruction period to the eve of World War I. Throughout …

The Shenandoah National Park: Its Impact On A Mountain People, Scott Shelton

History Theses & Dissertations

The creation of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia during the 193Os profoundly affected the lives of hundreds of mountain people who had eked out an existence to the region for generations. While removing these people naturally caused inconveniences and disrupted a way of life, the positive results outweighed the negative. Higher standards of living generally accompanied the change, and few former residents expressed discontent over their new way of life.

This removal of the mountaineers was simply one of many episodes in American history where the federal government has played a role in moving people, thereby changing their lifestyle. …

Princess Anne County: A Study In Material Wealth, Todd Grant Duncan

History Theses & Dissertations

This is a study of material culture in Princess Anne County, Virginia, from 1691 to 1823, based on court records. These documents allow the historian to determine the economic worth of a group of individuals, analyze the types of people comprising this group, categorize the types and quantities of possessions owned, and differentiate between economic groups according to possessions and currency listed. Trends of ownership for the whole period, the determination of individual occupations, and the occupational content of the people of the county at large are also discussed. Other areas focused on included the level of literacy, the role …