History Commons^™

"The Grave Of A Patriot's Widow", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The widow of Revolutionary War veteran, Brigadier General Levi Casey, Elizabeth Duckett Casey is buried in a Lauderdale County cemetery. The article offers a brief overview of her and her husband's lives, as well as information on the degradation of the cemetery she rests in.

"Interesting Facts About Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A quick fact sheet about Florence, Alabama, including its infrastructure, notable figures, history, and natural features

"It Was Big News When The Whistles Blew", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article presents a brief history of the rise of factories and industries in East Florence, Alabama in the late 19th Century through the lens of the experience of locals Charlie "C.D." and Melvin Brown.

"Lauderdale County Named For War Of 1812 Hero", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

As the article's title suggests, Lauderdale County, Alabama was named after a veteran of the War of 1812 named Lieutenant Colonel James Lauderdale. The article offers a brief historical overview of the colonel.

"Man Buried Underneath Tennessee Street", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article relates the brief narrative of local outlaw, "Mountain" Tom Clark, who is buried beneath Tennessee Street in Florence, Alabama.

"Green Hill", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The community of Greenhill in Lauderdale County, Alabama was named after Captain Green Berry Hill. The article relates a brief history of the community and its industries. In celebration of Green Hill's heritage, a historical marker honoring the industry of the Kennedy Gun Factory was unveiled with McDonald's delivery of the information. Information on the historical marker can be accessed here.

"The Forks Of Cypress", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article is organized by headings and is concerned with the Forks of Cypress, James Jackson family, and thoroughbred horses. The headings are as follows:

• The Forks of Cypress, pg. 1
• The Plantation and Manor House, pg. 1
• James and Sarah Moore Jackson, pg. 1
• The Thoroughbred Farm, pg. 3
• James Jackson's Training Watch, pg. 4
• The Currier & Ives Prints and the Copy of the Historic Painting of the World Famous Glencoe, pg. 4

"History Of Wildwood Park", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A brief overview of the history of one of Florence, Alabama's oldest parks, Wildwood.

"The Merchant Prince", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article gives an overview of the life of Richard Rapier, who McDonald refers to as "the merchant prince," one of the most prominent businessmen in 19th Century Florence, Alabama and his descendants. Rapier's exploitation of Suson, an enslaved woman, resulted in several children. Rapier's grandson, by way of his son John, James Rapier was elected to the US House of Representatives during Reconstruction.

"The Historic Indians Of Alabama And The Muscle Shoals", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article presents a brief overview of the indigenous people who dwelt in Alabama and the Muscle Shoals region of the Tennessee River Valley. The article's content is organized by headings as follows:

• The Early Indians in Alabama, pg. 1
• The Alabamas, pg. 1
• Choctaws, pg. 2
• The Creek Nation, pg. 2
• Cherokees, pg. 3
• Chickasaw, pg. 4

"A Jewish Merchant Who Helped Rescue A Christian Church", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

During the Great Depression, the first United Methodist Church of East Florence, Alabama was at risk of being sold. However, local merchant, Louis B. Rosenbaum aided in the negotiation of the mortgage and ultimately ensured the community retained the church.

"The Mysterious Disappearance Of Parson Dick: A Civil War Story", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Parson Dick was enslaved on the Forks of Cypress plantation in Florence, Alabama. The article relates a brief history of his life including his marriage to an unnamed woman enslaved on the nearby Woodlawn plantation, his conversion to Christianity and decision to preach, and eventual escape from slavery, which the Jacksons (his enslavers) and McDonald refer to as "his disappearance."

"I Will Not Hear The Melody Of Thy Viols": Opposition To Instrumental Music In Historic Presbyterian And Puritan Worship, Sean Patrick Michael Mcdonald

Masters Theses

The parallel movements of Presbyterianism in Scotland and Puritanism in England began and developed in the 1500s. Early on, both of these movements established their opposition to musical instruments in the public worship of God. This was not merely incidental to their worship, as though instrumental music could be added without any significant alteration to Presbyterianism or Puritanism as such. Rather, the rejection of musical instruments (usually organs) was essential to their worship, and inseparably tied to key theological principles.

Stigmatic History: The Advancement Of Accessibility In U.S. Museums, 1960-2010, Misty A. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation represents an overlap between disability history and public history by examining how museums in the U.S. became more accessible between 1960 and the early twenty-first century. Utilizing an expansive cross-section of primary and secondary sources, this study unravels the complexities of social and legal pressures that resulted in accessibility becoming a priority in museums. Changes in social expectations, new legal measures, and activism contributed to a shift in the status and treatment of people with disabilities. With these changes came a need for public spaces to adapt and provide disabled peoples with the same access and experiences as …

The Sword And The Pen: How America’S Way Of War Escaped Constitutional Restraint, Daryl Lee Posey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how changes in military technology and institutional design shifted practical control over war initiation from Congress to the presidency between the founding era and the end of the Cold War. The Constitution vests the power to declare war in Congress, and the framers rejected proposals to give that authority to the president alone. This study argues that advances in communication, transportation, weapons lethality, and government secrecy compressed the time available for congressional deliberation, concentrated war-relevant information inside executive institutions, and made presidential initiative the default rather than the exception. The study traces this pattern across six chapters, …

Newsclipping, The Old And New

Eartha M. M. White Textual Material

News clipping: James H. Lewis (left), Afro-American Life Insurance Company, Jacksonville, Florida, shaking hands with M. C. Clark (right), president of Dunbar Life Insurance Company, Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Lewis congratulating his successor, Mr. Clark, as president of NNIA (National Negro Insurance Association). Undated.

Border Fascism And The Fascistization Of Society, Nicholas P. De Genova

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

The massive destruction and social dislocation wrought by capitalist crisis has culminated, historically, in the brutal cataclysms of fascism and other forms of authoritarian rule. Today, across the globe, we are confronted with the aggressive advance and entrenchment of a variety of such authoritarian political projects. Anxious discourses about ascendant fascism have become perfectly mainstream. These developments command our acute attention and critical analysis. This essay addresses these dire questions and the conceptual vexations surrounding the concept of fascism, particularly as it has been elaborated in various Marxist analyses.  Specifically, much of the debate around fascism as an analytical category …

Una Magazine, Office Of Alumni Relations- University Of North Alabama

Documents

"50 Golden Years"-UNA Magazine, Spring 1999

"The Courtview Diary", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article offers an excerpt and overview of the diary of Sally Independence Foster, a young girl from Florence, Alabama who recorded her experiences during the Civil War. Foster lived in Courtview, now known as Rogers Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama. Additional photographs of Courtview (Rogers Hall) are available in the University Architecture and William Lindsey McDoanld Image Collections by searching the side bar located on the left.

Additional information about Sally Independence Foster, can be found in this LibGuide, the digital archival collection, or the finding aid to the physical collection.

"The Builder Of Wilson Dam", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article presents a brief overview of the people responsible for the construction of Tennessee Valley Authority Dam Number Two, later known as the Wilson Dam. The dam was designed by C. M. Hackett, while a team of engineers directed by General Lansing H. Beach oversaw the project's construction. McDonald places particular emphasis on district engineer Col. Hugh L. Cooper, "a self-educated engineer in hydroelectric energy" whom he recognizes as the "builder" of the Wilson Dam.

"Deibert Park: A Place Of Beauty And Legacy", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article discusses the history of Deibert Park and the benefactors Dr. Kirk and Lillian Deibert. The Deibert Park historical marker can be found in the national historical marker database.

McDonald recounts the history of the historic African American Posey Community that the Florence, Alabama park is located in.

"Brandon School", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The Brandon School was established in the East Florence industrial area of Florence, Alabama in 1893 as Florence's Sixth Ward School. Due to lack of funds, the school was closed before being reopened by Charles Brandon, a proponent of educational efforts among the children of factory workers of the Cherry Cotton Mill.

Photographs of the Brandon School's faculty and second and third grade classes are available in the William Lindsey McDonald Image Collection.

"Building The Bridge", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

After the Civil War, the reconstruction of the Florence, Alabama railroad bridge proved vital to local commerce. William Lindsey McDonald briefly describes the ferries used prior to the construction of the bridge as well as the infrastructural significance.

"The Blockade Runner", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

During the Civil War, Mary Nail Blair of Florence, Alabama organized a secret operation to bring essential supplies into Florence and the surrounding area from behind enemy lines.

"Celts In The Valley", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The Tennessee Valley of North Alabama retains linguistic and cultural influences from the languages of its inhabitants. Scot Irish inhabitants of Celtic origin produced a dialect that McDonald claims as a "Celtic character" through tracing common regional expressions back to their roots in the original Gaelic.

"Chief Tuscumbia", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Chief Tashka Ambi, or Tashkambia, meaning "the warrior who kills," was a Chickasaw chief in North Alabama. The article offers a brief overview of Chief Tashkambia's life.

The name for the present-day city of Tuscumbia, Alabama is derived from the anglicized version of his name. The city's first name Cold Water was incorporated on December 20, 1820, then six months later it was changed to Big Spring, before retaining its present name on December 31, 1822.

"The Civil War Years At Florence And Lauderdale County", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article is organized by headings and presents a brief overview of the effects of the Civil War in Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Headings

• Gunboats at the Florence Port
• Florence Bridge over the Tennessee Burned
• Local Presbyterian Minister Sent to Union Prison
• The First Battle of Florence
• General William T. Sherman Occupies Florence
• Battle of Center Star
• Capture of the White Horse Company
• The Two Skirmishes at Four Mile Branch
• Second Battle of Florence
• Federal Cavalry Encampment Near Florence
• A Civil War Medical Center

"Early Times Around Muscle Shoals City", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A paper presented to the Muscle Shoals City Kiwanis Club on March 14, 1963, about the establishment of the city of Muscle Shoals. The article includes mention of the indigenous tribes that dwelt in the area as well as the Marion Land Company and associated figures which advertised lots in 1819.

"The Early Beginnings Of Weeden Heights", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Weeden Heights, a subdivision development east of Florence, Alabama on Old Huntsville Road, was named for John D. Weeden Jr. The origins of the development are briefly discussed in the article.

"The Early Development Of Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The city of Florence, Alabama was officially founded on March 12th, 1818, with the signing of the Articles of Agreement in Huntsville, Alabama. The article briefly discusses the founding of the city, including the impact of Generals Andrew Jackson and John Coffee, as well as the development of integral roads, such as Circular and Military Road.