Category: A – C

Biography: Historian; archivist; pharmacist. Born– August 30, 1882, Seale. Parents– George Thomas and Stephie (Greene) Brannon. Married– Frances Frazer, October 5, 1904. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Ph.G., 1900. Worked as a pharmacist chemist, 1900-1910; spent the remainder of his career with the Alabama Department of Archives and History, serving as curator, 1910-1941; archivist, 1941-1955, and…

Biography: Metallurgist.  Born– Birmingham. Source: Files at Birmingham Public Library and at Alabama Department of Archives and History. Publication(s): Nonce, a Novel. New York; Coward, 1944.

Biography: Writer, editor. Born– October 11, 1945, at Bridgton, Me. Parents– F. Leroy and Helen Louise (Gilmore) Bonnie. Married– Susan Marchant, June 22, 1967. Married– Ellen Sullivan, December 30, 1974. Married– Wendy Watts, September 21, 1984; married–Rhonda Carter.  Children– One. Education– University of Vermont, B.A., 1971; attended the University of Maine in Portland; the University…

Biography: University professor. Born– June 5, 1924, Nauvoo. Parents– Lee H. and Willie Ann (Baughn) Bonner. Married– Martha Sue Wilson, December 20, 1969. Children– Two. Education– Livingston University, B.S., 1948; University of Tennessee, M.S., 1953; Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1961. Served as assistant treasurer at Livingston University, 1948-1954; instructor at the University of Tennessee, 1954-1962; professor…

Biography: Historian; teacher; college professor of history. Born–July 25, 1898, Ramer. Parents–Benjamin Hartwell and Maud Cotrell Townsend Boyd. Education– Agnes Scott College; Columbia University, M.A., Ph.D. Worked as a high school teacher; served on the staff of Jacksonville State Teachers’ College; head of the History Department at Mississippi State College for Women. Died November 25,…

Biography: Union official, editor, historian. Born– December 6, 1922, Pearson. Parents– John Samuel and Mary Jane (Lucas) Boyd. Education– University of Alabama, 1941-1942, State University of Iowa, 1943-1944, Boston University, 1945-1947, and Empire State College of State University of New York, A.B., 1975. Served in the U.S. Army, 1942-1945. Member of Local 1-S of the…

Biography: Artist, cartoonist. Born–November 4, 1908,  Lineville. Parents–Oscar Arnold and Cora Strother Bonner. Education– Woodlawn and Minor High Schools in Birmingham; studied journalism and commercial art  by correspondence. Owner and president of Southeastern Decal and Nameplate Corporation; Gulf States Art School. Created and drew a comic strip, “They Died With Their Boots On”; created three other…

Biography: Musician; music teacher. Born– 1893, Birmingham. Parents–John Taylor and Ida Brooks Bradford. Married–Charles Boni.  Education– graduated from Florida State College for Women; studied music in Germany and at Julliard School of Music. Folk song instructor and conductor in the public schools of Pennsylvania and New York; director of the Music Department of the City…

Biography: Baptist minister; editor.. Born– March 9, 1874, Wilson County, Tenn. Parents– James Houston and Mary Catherine (Cason) Bond. Married– Ruth Pugh, December 20, 1898 (died 1914). Children–one. Married– Catherine Elizabeth Walmsley, October 7, 1925.  Education– University of Nashville in Tennessee, A.B., A.M., 1895; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Th.M, 1898; Florence State Normal School, D.D.,…

Biography: Baptist minister, college administrator. Born– September 9, 1863, Spartanburg, S.C. Parents– John Earle and Louise Nancy (Bomar) Bomar. Married– Nancy “Nannie”  Elizabeth Earle, September 6, 1888. Children– Five. Education– Wofford College, A.B., 1882; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lexington, Ky., 1888; studied at the University of Chicago, 1899; Howard College, D.D., 1902. Ordained to the…

Biography: Educator. Born– March 6, 1882, Beech Grove, Ky. Parents– Nathaniel Brown and Tommie (Robertson) Bohannon. Married– Ora Ella Daniel. Children– One. Education– Southern Normal College, Bowling Green, Ky., B.S, 1904, A.B., 1906; Indiana University, A.M., 1915; studied at the University of Chicago, 1916. Taught in the rural schools of Kentucky for two years; superintendent…

Biography: Autoworker, writer; social activist.  Born– May 28, 1919, Marion Junction. Parents–Ernest and Lelia Thomas Edwards Boggs. Married– Annie McKinley, 1938. Children–six. Married– Grace Lee, April 20, 1953.  Education– Public schools in Bessemer. Worked as a field hand; ice cutter; and for the Works Project Administration in Detroit, Mich.; and as auto worker in Detroit, 1941-1968. After…

Biography: University professor. Born– October 31, 1921, Birmingham. Parents– Joseph L. and Pansy Stewart Bell. Education– Howard College, A.B., 1942; Birmingham Conservatory of Music, B.M., 1948; Middlebury College, M.A., 1949; Columbia University, Ph.D., 1960. Served as a translator-interpreter for the U. S. Armed Forces in Europe; taught at Lycee Claude Bernard, Paris, 1949-1950; Columbia University,…

Biography: Publisher. Born– November 2, 1918, Birmingham. Parents– Alonzo Heath and Jennie Pearl (Johnson) Cather. Married– Virginia Ritchie, 1942. Children– Two. Married–Dorothy Farmer, 2001. Education– B.A., University of Alabama, 1941. U. S, Army pilot in World War II; rose to the rank of captain.  Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  Joined the A. H. Cather Publishing Company…

Biography: Business executive; economist. Born– September 6, 1879, Sewanee, Tenn. Parents– Silas Fly and Nora Belle (Waddill) Catchings. Married– Helen Werner, November 7, 1914. Children– Three. Married– May Francis, April 29, 1930. Education– Harvard University, A. B., 1901. Central Foundry in New York, president, 1911-1917; Platt Iron Works Company in Dayton, Ohio, president, 1913-1920; Sloss-Sheffield…

Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– December 9, 1930, Echola. Parents– A. M. and Ovella Clara (Sherrill) Cash. Married– Mary Lou West, December 26, 1952. Children– Two. Education– Mississippi State University, B.A., 1953, M.A., 1957; University of Alabama, Ph.D., 1973. Taught at the University of Alabama, 1959-1960; Alabama College (University of Montevallo), 1960-1962; Delta State University,…

Biography: Psychic healer; author; photographer.  Born– March 18, 1877, near Hopkinsville, Ky. Parents– Leslie B. and Carrie Cayce. Married– Gertrude Evans. Children– Three. Education– through eighth grade at local schools in Hopkinsville; widely read on his own. Trained as an apprentice in the photography studio  of W.R.Bowles in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Began psychic readings early in…

Biography: Farmer, businessman. Born–November 18, 1876, Pleasant Hill. Parents– John Smyly and Maude Mae (Caffey) Catts. Married– Mary Belle Northington, 1920. Employed in newspaper work, farming, industry, and with N.J. Bell Estates as manager of the Bell Building in Birmingham. Died November 18, 1960. Source: Files at the Alabama Public Library Service. Publication(s): What Call It,…

Biography: Historian and essayist. Born– April 24, 1868, Marion. Parents– William Richard and Mary Cogswell (Parish) Brown. Education– Howard College, A.B., 1886; Harvard University, A.B., 1891, A.M., 1892. Taught at Marion Military Institute, 1888-89. Assistant in the Harvard Library, 1893-1901; appointed Deputy Keeper of University Records, 1896; lecturer in American history, 1901-1902; editorial writer for…

Biography: Military officer; historian; university professor. Born– December 20, 1900, Beverly, Mass. Parents– Robert James and Margaret McAlden Brown. Married–Virginia Crosby Rourk, 1929; married Martha Stennis, June 2, 1949. Education– Phillips Andover Academy; University of Alabama, B.A., 1955, M.A., 1957, Ph.D., 1963. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1917-1953; served in World War I, World War II,…

Biography: Publicity director, editor. Born– March 22, 1922, Birmingham. Parents– Robert Edward and Annie Louis (Noyes) Carmichael. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1942; graduate study at Princeton University, 1944. Associate editor for Tricolor Magazine in New York City, 1944-46; Fascination magazine, 1946-48; Latin American correspondent for Holiday Magazine, 1948-49; director of advertising and public relations…

Biography: Poet. Born– 1936, Snow Hill. Education– Snow Hill Institute; attended Harvard for one summer. During World War I served in France with the 37th Regiment, “The Buffaloes.” After WWI worked as a postal clerk in Boston. His poetry included in several anthologies. Died 1936. Source: Black American Writers Past and Present. Publication(s): From the…

Biography: Historian; College instructor. Born March 6, 1926, Philadelphia, Pa. Parents– Frederick John and Freda Margaret Riess Boehlke. Education– University of Pennsylvania, A.B., M.A., Ph.D., 1958; Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bachelor of Divinity, 1952. Served as history professor and chairman of the Social Science Division of Judson College in Marion, Ala., 1958-70. Professor of history,…

Biography; Singer; songwriter; businessman; author.  Born– Pascagoula, MS, December 25, 1946.  Grew up in Mobile.  Parents– James Delaney and Lorraine Peets Buffett.  Married–Margie Washichek, 1969; Jane Slagsvol, August 27, 1977.  Children-two. Education–McGill Institute, Mobile; Auburn University; University of Southern Mississippi, B.S., 1969.  Writer for Billboard, Nashville, 1971-73.  Moved to Key West in 1973; worked as…

Biography: Football coach. Born–September 11, 1913,  Kingsland, Ark. Parents– Wilson Monroe and Ida (Kilgore) Bryant. Married– Mary Harmon Black, August 3, 1934. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1939.  U. S. Navy, WWII. Served as assistant football coach at the University of Alabama, 1936-1940; assistant football coach at Vanderbilt University 1940-1941; head football coach…

Biography: Pharmacologist, professor of pharmacology, university dean. Born– November 10, 1887, New York, N.Y. Parents– Andrew Richard and Frances Revue (Sutton) Bliss. Married– Loretta Ann Deering, August 20, 1918. Education–Howard College; B.S., 1910, A,M., 1919;  Columbia University, Ph.Ch., 1908, Ph.B., 1909;  University of Alabama, M.D., 1932. Taught at various schools in the South, including the…

Biography: Social worker, teacher, poet. Born– June 5, 1911, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Parents– Samuel and Annie Laurie Longshore Friedman. Married– William Blackshear, April 21, 1934. Children– Three. Education– Agnes Scott College, B.A., 1931; University of Alabama, M.A., 1932. Visitor for the Alabama Child Welfare Department in Montgomery, 1934-36; supervisor for the Tuscaloosa County Recreation Department, 1937-39;…

Biography: Attorney; U.S.Senator; Supreme Court Justice. Born– February 27, 1886, Harlan, Clay County. Married– Josephine Patterson Foster, 1919. Children–three.Married– Elizabeth Seay DeMeritte, 1957.  Education– Ashland College, Birmingham Medical College, University of Alabama Law School, LL.B., 1906. Practiced law in Ashland and Birmingham; elected solicitor (prosecuting attorney) in Birmingham, 1914. Served in the U.S. Army, 1917-1919; attained…

Biography: Syndicated columnist; novelist. Born– about 1900, Jacksonville, FL.  Parents–  A. Herbert Baker and Johnnie Niblo Baker. Married– William H. Oates. Married– William H. Kettig, Jr. Married– Howard E. Coffin. Married– Roy Leonard Patrick. Beginning in 1918, worked for the Jacksonville Metropolis. In 1926 moved to Birmingham and became a feature writer for the Birmingham…

Biography: Writer, editor. Born– April 1, 1891, Philadelphia, Pa. Parents– Herman Hoffman and Elizabeth Cherrill (Boude) Birney. Married– Marguerite Agnes Bovington, June 14, 1930. Children– One. Education– Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., 1908-1912. Served in the Army during World War I; attached to the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Office of War Sources, 1943-1947; technical writer…

Biography: Economist; university professor and administrator. Born– February 2, 1884, Norfolk County, Va. Married–Emily Mary Smith.  Children– Four. Education– Churchland Academy, Virginia; University of Virginia, B.A., M.A. Served as a fellow, assistant instructor, and instructor at the University of Wisconsin for four years; named professor of economics at the University of Alabama in 1913. Instrumental…

Biography: Clerical worker; public relations; journalist. Born–  July 23, 1897, Mobile. Parents– Stewart and Emma Connor Brooks. Education– Attended Shorter College, Randolph Macon Woman’s College, the University of Arizona, Columbia University and the New School of Social Research. Worked as a secretary in Mobile; Deputy clerk in the U.S. District Court in Mobile; worked in public…

Biography: College professor and administrator. Born– Hale County, August 1859. Parents– Aaron and Susan (Wayne) Beverly. Married–Mattie E. Dale. Children– Six. Education– Lincoln Normal School, B.S., 1882; Brown University, Ph.D., 1894. Principal of Tullibody Academy at Greensboro, 1882-1884. Taught at Lincoln Normal School, 1887-90; became its assistant principal in 1894; continued to serve the school after…

Biography: Attorney; military officer; professor of military law. Born–Huntsville, Alabama, June 9, 1890. Parents–Judge Tancred Betts and Maud Broun Betts.Married–Pleasant Hobbs.  Children–two. Education– University of Alabama, LL.B., 1911; graduated from the U.S. Army Infantry School, 1925. Practiced law with the firm of Betts and Betts in Huntsville; first man from Madison County to volunteer for…

Biography: Church and denominational administrator; secretary.  Born– January 6, 1905, Bellfactory, Madison County. Parents– Ephraim Jack and Martha Gemima Bouldin Berry.  Education– Howard College, A.B., 1930; Woman’s Missionary Union Training School in Louisville, Ky.  Church secretary for two churches; Birmingham Association WMU Young People’s secretary, 1933; Alabama WMU  Young People’s secretary, Alabama, 1934-1943; field worker, WMU, Missouri,…

Biography: Dramatist. Born– May 6, 1920, Birmingham. Parents– William and Louise (Claiborne) Berney. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1942; University of Iowa, M.A. in drama. Collaborated with Howard Richardson on a thesis in the form of a drama.  After graduation the thesis was produced and ran for nine months on Broadway in 1944 as “Dark of the…

Biography: University professor; administrator. Born– October 23, 1940, Philadelphia, Pa. Married– Anne Rosamund Shaw, February 3, 1968.  Children–one. Education– University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1962, LL.B, 1965, M.A., 1967 and Ph.D., 1971. Taught at Duke University, 1970-1975; University of Southern California 1975-1978; University of Alabama in Birmingham 1978-84; ;  chairman of the Department of Philosophy at…

Biography: Chemist. Born– May 29, 1862, Chapel Hill, N.C. Parents– Kemp Plummer and Martha Ann (Battle) Battle. Married– Alice M. Wilson, November 25, 1885. Children– Two. Education– University of North Carolina, B.S., 1881, Ph.D., 1887. Professor of chemistry at Leonard Medical School, 1886-1897; assistant chemist at the North Carolina Agriculture Experiment Station; state chemist and…

Biography: Literary scholar; university professor. Born– January 6, 1905, Shawnee, Okla. Parents– William Henry and Caroline (Barbour) Beatty. Married– Floy Ward, May 7, 1927. Education– Public schools of Birmingham; Birmingham Southern College, A.B., 1926, M.A., 1928; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1930. Taught at Tennessee State Teachers College in Memphis; University of Alabama; Vanderbilt University, 1937-56; literary…

Biography: Business executive. Born– May 28, 1881, Auburn. Parents– James G. Beasley, Sr. and Martha Goodwin Beasley. Married– Ethel Lou Teague, October 4, 1903  Children–six.  Education– Attended Auburn University. Resident of Montgomery and of Auburn for five years before his death. Employed with the United Fruit Company in Honduras in the 1920’s. Died September 24, 1971. Source:…

Biography: Attorney. Born– October 7, 1942, Birmingham. Parents– Sloan Young and Nelle Francis (Major) Bashinsky. Married– Jane Shea, June 14, 1975. Children– Two. Education– Vanderbilt University, B.A.; University of Alabama, J.D. Practiced law in Birmingham 1968-2000.  Moved to Key West, Florida; ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Key West in 2007 and 2009. Source: Sloan Bashinsky,…

Biography: Writer; University professor. Born– February 11, 1943, Macon, Ga. Parents– Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Barnwell. Married– Jo Ann Weeks.  Children–two. Education– Coffee High School in Florence; Florence State College  (now University of North Alabama), bachelor’s degree; University of Florida, Ph.D., 1972. Taught at the University of South Carolina, 1971-1977; Columbia College, writer-in-residence after 1977.…

Biography: Educational administrator; University professor. Born– September 18, 1942, Birmingham. Married–Hollinger F. Barnard, 1964. Children– Three. Education– Birmingham Southern College, B.A., 1964; University of Virginia, Ph.D., 1971. Taught at the University of South Alabama, 1968-1972; employed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education as research associate, 1972-1973, associate director of academic affairs, 1973-1977; assistant to the…

Biography; Teacher.  Born–May 12, 1926, Belle Mina, Alabama. Parents–Samuel Ward and Althea Tate Washington Roberts.  Married–Dick Christian, January 28, 1967.  Education– Florence State Teachers College,  B.S.; George Peabody College, M.A.; further study at the University of Alabama (earned AA Teaching Certificate).  Taught at Riverside Elementary School in Decatur and Verner Elementary School in Tuscaloosa (1953-1968). …

Biography: Chemist; University professor. Born– September 30, 1901, Fernbank. Married– 1937. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1922; M.S., 1930; Columbia University, M.A., 1931, Ph.D., 1934. Served in US Army, Quartermaster Corps, WWII.Employed as chemical engineer for the U. S. Bureau of Mines in Alabama, 1922-1927; staff geologist for the Alabama State Geological Survey,…

Biography: University professor of communications. Born– November 22, 1941, Wilmington, Ohio. Parents– Milford and Ruth Maxine Barker. Married– 1961. Children– Two. Education– University of Ohio, A.B., 1962, M.A., 1963, Ph.D., 1965. Taught at Southern Illinois University, 1965-1966; Purdue University, 1966-1969; Florida State University, 1969-1976; Auburn University, 1976-1995. President Spectra Inc., 1979-2000. Awarded emeritus status on…

Biography: Actress. Born– January 31, 1902, Huntsville. Parents– William Brockman and Adelaide Eugenia (Sledge) Bankhead. Married– John Emery, August 31, 1937, divorced June 13, 1941. Education– Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattanville, NY. Abandoned school to attempt an acting career. Had a few minor roles in New York, then was invited to appear on…

Biography: Beauty consultant; makeup artist. Born– August 9, 1941, Birmingham (name at birth–Ronald Duane Wright).  Education– Birmingham-Southern; Tennessee Technological University; Christine Valmy Beauty School. Taught American and English Literature in the public schools of Tennessee and Maryland for four years in the early 60’s; in 1967, moved to New York and worked until 1971 as salon and…

Biography: Clergyman; historian; teacher.  Born– February 16, 1826, Agawam, Mass. Parents– Hervey and Jane Ayrault (Horton) Ball. Married– Martha Caroline Creighton, April 19, 1855. Children– Two. Education– Franklin College in Indiana, A.B., 1850, A.M., 1853. Taught at Franklin Springs, Ala. in 1851 and began preaching there a short time later. Most of his life was…

Biography: Self-employed. Born– April 1, 1928, Etowah County. Parents– Jay W. and Thelma (Harbin) Ayers. Education– Etowah High School. Self-employed yard worker. Wrote letters, songs, short stories, and editorials published in periodicals, anthologies, and local newspapers. Lived in Attalla. Source: Files at Gadsden Public Library. Publication(s): Circles of Conquest. New York; Carleton Press, 1968. New Angels.…