Public History Commons^™

"The View From Old Lagrange", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A brief history of LaGrange Mountain and LaGrange College, the precursor to the University of North Alabama.

"The United States Post Office And Courthouse At Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Brief depiction of the architecture of the Florence, Alabama Post Office and Courthouse Building and the heritage of the architect that designed it, John Robie Kennedy, Jr. Images of the Florence Post Office and Courthouse can be accessed at the William Lindsey McDonald Image Collection. To find the images, simply search the gallery via the search bar located on the left side.

"Sweetwater: The Story Of East Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Research article that depicts the story of various portions of East Florence, Alabama industrial district, resulting from the resource of the "sweet water" spring. The subheadings that McDonald uses are as follows:

• Sweetwater Plantation, pg. 1
• A Second Plantation Called "Sweetwater", pg. 1
• Early Water Powered Mills on Sweetwater Creek, pg. 3
• The Industrial Section of Florence Called Sweetwater, pg. 3
• Early Iron Furnaces at East Florence, pg. 4
• The Florence Wagon Works, pg. 6
• The East Florence Cotton Industry, pg. 7
• Cherry Cotton Mill, pg. 7
• Ashcraft Cotton Mill, pg. 9
• The Broadus Mill, pg. 10
• Gardiner Warring Knitting …

"A Story Of The Beginning Of Old Brick Presbyterian Church", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article provides a general overview of the origins of the Presbyterian denomination and a history of the establishment of local Presbyterian churches in North Alabama.

"The Story Of The Shawnees At The Muscle Shoals", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A brief overview of the Shawnees in Northwest Alabama.

"History Of The Tennessee Valley Authority", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

Speech delivered by William Lindsey McDonald on April 13, 1978, at Cedar Grove in Knoxville, Tennessee on the history of the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). The speech begins with McDonald's personal recollections of the TVA in Muscle Shoals before broadening to its effects on the entire Tennessee River Valley.

"A Profile Of The Indians At Muscle Shoals, Alabama", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

An article that gives a brief overview of the indigenous people living in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, including key figures, such as Chief Doublehead and the Colbert family. The article is organized by indigenous group with subheadings, including the Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Moundbuilders.

"Our Heritage From The People", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

A lecture presented to a history seminar at the University of North Alabama in March of 1979. The lecture addresses the geography and geology of North Alabama, removal of indigenous people, cultural influence of settlers, and development of the Tennessee Valley into contemporary settlements.

"'Uncle' Tom Brannon And The Capture Of John A. Murrel", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

The speech recounts the capture of outlaw John A. Murrel by Tom Brannon, who was enslaved by the Oaks Plantation in Florence, Alabama.

"Lecture - Anne Newport Royall", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

Annotated speech outline about Anne Newport Royall, America's first female traveling correspondent, who traveled to Florence, Alabama from July to December 1821 and also visited other local Alabama cities, such as Huntsville. Royall published a book in 1830 entitled Letters from Alabama about her travels throughout the state.

"Lecture At Colbert Park," “Colbert Family,” And “The Colberts And Colbert County”, William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

The digital file is a compilation of a speech outline entitled "Lecture at Colbert Park, June 21, 1991," "Colbert Family," and an article "The Colberts and Colbert County." The nature of the typewriter ink used in the original document causes the file to be somewhat difficult to read.

“The Contributing Cultures Of Ancient Peoples At The Muscle Shoals”, William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

An article that addresses the ancient history of Muscle Shoals, Alabama with particular attention to the early cultures of influence, including indigenous tribes, such as the Cherokee and Chickasaws, and eventual European settlers of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic descent.

"Florence 175!", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

Speech given on the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of Florence's establishment on the Tennessee River by the Cypress Land Company on March 12th, 1818. The speech gives an overview of the geology and key sites in Florence, Alabama.

"General John Coffee", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

Speech outline delivered on February 22, 1999, at Coby Hall on the campus of the University of North Alabama. The speech discusses the life and accomplishments of General John Coffee one of the founders of Florence, Alabama, treasurer of the Cypress Land Company, and associate of Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812 and various other battles throughout the Southeastern United States.

"Lecture - Religions In The Shoals", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

A William McDonald annotated speech outline that details various early religions in the Shoals, Alabama from indigenous religious practitioners to the establishment of the first white and African American congregations. Faiths mentioned include Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Church of Christ, Catholicism, and Judaism.

"Local Civil War Sites", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

Outline of information on Civil War sites local to Lauderdale County, Alabama, including a Confederate Fort, Civil War hospitals, Happy Hollow, the Battle of Florence site, Four-Mile Branch (the site of two skirmishes), Hood's Retreat at the Bainbridge Ferry, Cypress Cotton Mill, the Forks of Cypress Plantation, Sweetwater Plantation, the skirmish at the Widow Ann Hough's Plantation, Peter's Plantation, Center Star, and Green Hill.

"The Worst Of War", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

The article recounts a specific instance of Civil War violence exacted near Cypress Creek and Parsonage Chapel Cemetery in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

"Sketches Of A Few Historic Footprints In Lauderdale County, Alabama", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

Brief accounts of frontier life in Lauderdale County, Alabama organized by subheadings, which include "The First White Child," "A Pioneer Lady," "The Lucky Blacksmith," and "A Famous Slave."

"A History Of The Florence-Lauderdale Public Library", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

A speech detailing the development of a local library in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama from early educational institutions to the present Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. The speech is organized by subheadings.

"A Historical Synopsis: The Muscle Shoals Area", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Writings

The speech offers a historical synopsis of Muscle Shoals, Alabama and surrounding areas in honor of Alabama Day. Alabama Day celebrates the Resolution of Statehood passed by Congress on December 14, 1819. The speech was given in observation of the sesquicentennial celebration of Alabama Day in the Shoals.