Monday, December 10, 2012

References: Books, magazines, journals that mentioned Black Life in Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, or Pocahontas Counties, W.V.

1.  History of Monroe County, W.V. by Oren F. Morton - "The appearance of the Negro in Virginia was promptly followed by the appearance of the mulatto" ... (see pages 75, 168 - 172, 185, 186).  And there is a chapter about (Caucasian) Rev. Samuel R. Houston which has excerpts from his diary.  It would be instructive to find and read the actual diary.

2.  History of Greenbrier County by Otis Rice - "The first black Methodist Congregation to establish a church in Greenbrier ... was at Lewisburg ....".  (Many references to Black life in this book). 

3.  Come Walk With Me Through The Streets of Historic Lewisburg - by Dr. John F. Montgomery.  "I can still envision the old iron pump and its two iron dippers, one for each race". 

4.  Dr. John F. Montgomery's Papers - (These can be found at the Greenbrier Historical Society).  "Blind Mary was a fortune teller in Lewisburg". 

5.  Greenbrier County Pioneers and Their Homes - by Ruth Dayton Woods.  "The county court ... had the power to try slaves for various crimes". 

6.  Journals of the Greenbrier Historical Society (some of the old copies are available for sale from the GHS). 
Vol. 4, # 1, 1981, p. 10 - "Slaves trained and skillful were owned in small numbers by many inhabitants of the area" & p. 17 "Many freed men who needed and wanted work ....." & p. 24 "John Wesley Methodist Church ...  " & p. 25 "there were slaves skilled in preparing bricks and sawing and shaping wood ..."   & p. 29 "the Negro Baptists of Lewisburg ....." 
Vol. 4, # 1, 1981, p. 33 - "... on the edge of what was once a solid Negro neighborhood ...". 
Vol 4, # 1, 1981, p. 78-79 - The Great Lewisburg Fire by Kenneth D. Swope.  "Great credit should be given to the colored people of the town for the  ... splendid work ...."

7.  Larry Shuck's books - specifically Greenbrier County Court Records - indicted ... "Catherine Deem for harboring a slave". 

8.  The Lewisburg Historic District by C.E. Turley (pages 9 & 12)  - "labor of slaves was available" ... "some of the local slaves had been trained in brick making ... Virginia". 

9.  Historic Lewisburg's Original 64 Lots - by James E. Talbert (available from the GHS) - "a burial place for the Africans or Blacks" ... "public school for African American students ...".  (James Talbert has been a major contact and support for me in doing my work.  He is always appreciative of my efforts and often points me in the right direction). 

10.  Freedom is a Constant Struggle - pamphlet - May 2002 - Lewisburg - "One segment of the event was the reading of the names of Greenbrier County slaves and Free Blacks that ran from 9 a.m. to after midnight".  Also see West Virginia Life by Rusty Mays, p. 10, 5/19/2002.

11.  12/10/1931 - ?  what publication this came from but headline read THE STATE UPHOLDS ANTI LYNCHING LAW - (Look for the court case - might be helpful to add the word Legg to the query).

12.  Civil War In Greenbrier County by Tim McKinney - Numerous mentions of Black Life in this area.  A must read. 

13.  The Reverend James Haynes - Presbyterian Evangelist in Appalachia - 1862 - 1900 - A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Pacific University - in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree - Master of Arts - by Gladys Lowder Haynes, May 1970.    (Ms. Gladys Haynes was a very dear woman.  Although I never met her she, as an elderly woman, went up into her attic to find her father in laws papers regarding the Blacks in the area over whose weddings he had officiated.  She then transcribed the information and sent it to me.  I feel that she went far beyond the call of duty in helping me in this way.  So many people have contributed to this quest of mine.  Further, after Hurricane Katrina she called me until she finally was able to catch up with me (about 7 weeks after the storm) and ascertain that I was o.k.). 

14.  Earl Clay dissertation - 1946 - This dissertation (by a Black resident of Lewisburg) was entirely about Black Life in Lewisburg and the surrounding area.  (Will supplement with the name of the university in ? Virginia - I called them many years ago and they sent me a copy from their archives). 

15.  Lewisburg Landmarks - by Ruth Dayton Woods - "has its "slave house" still standing - best known as the Preston House". 

16.  APPALACHIAN SPRINGS - The Newsletter of the Greenbrier Historical Society, especially Vol. 10, Number 3, 3rd quarter, 2004, an article entitled Free People of Color by Larry Heffner & Vol 10, Number 4, 4th quarter, 2004 relative to Documents Found Among the Courthouse Papers by Jim Talbert. 

17.  Goldenseal Articles - West Virginia Division of Culture and History

(to be continued .....) 

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