Publisher Description

Although he was a native of Bullock County, Alabama, Wade Hall—teacher, writer, poet, critic, interviewer, folklorist, and documentarian—spent most of his fifty-year career in Kentucky. But he was never emotionally far from his home as evidenced by his passion for collecting vintage Alabama postcards. In his lifetime he amassed 10,000, which he then graciously gave to the University of Alabama Libraries and Troy University in a large joint bequest that also included rare books, quilts, folk art, letters, and more.

These postcards date from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century and offer a fascinating and diverse picture of the state. The meaning of postcards that could be purchased as a travel souvenir is largely forgotten today when cameras are commonplace. But the value of Hall's stunning collection cannot be missed. The some 400 cards featured in Greetings from Alabama are revealing of scenes familiar and rare. From Birmingham's Vulcan to Mobile's Bellingrath Gardens, from Enterprise's boll weevil monument to Huntsville's rockets, from Helen Keller's home to William Rufus King's resting place, the scenes offer captivating glimpses of Alabama history.

Flap

Although he was a native of Bullock County, Alabama, Wade Hall -- teacher, writer, poet, critic, interviewer, folklorist, and documentarian -- spent most of his fifty-year career in Kentucky. But he was never emotionally far from his home as evidenced by his passion for collecting vintage Alabama postcards. In his lifetime he amassed tens of thousands, which he then graciously gave to the University of Alabama Libraries in a large bequest that also included rare books, quilts, folk art, letters and more. These postcards date from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, and collectively offer a fascinating and diverse picture of the state -- of places beautiful and iconic, historic and scenic, and some just off the beaten track.The meaning of postcards that could be purchased as a travel souvenir or for mailing to family and friends is largely forgotten today, when cameras are commonplace and instantaneous communication with loved ones is routine. But the value of Hall's stunning collection cannot be missed. The some 400 cards featured in "Greetings from Alabama" are appealing and revealing of some scenes that are familiar and others that are rare. Many are of historic sites and panoramas that have all but disappeared. From Birmingham's Vulcan to Mobile's Bellingrath Gardens, from Black Belt cotton fields to Sand Mountain rock formations, from Enterprise's boll weevil monument to Huntsville's rockets, from Helen Keller's home to William Rufus King's resting place, from the state capitol to numerous county courthouses, the scenes preserved on Hall's postcards cards offer captivating glimpses of Alabama history.

Author Biography

Christopher Sawula is a spatial art history librarian at Emory University. He specializes in user experience design, data visualization, and mixed methods research. He designs digital art history projects that make research more interactive and accessible.

Wade Hall (1934-2015) taught at colleges and universities in Florida and Kentucky, and was the author of many books, monographs, poems, and plays about the South and its people. He held degrees from Troy State University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Illinois. A native of rural Alabama, he lived and worked in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1962 to 2006, when he moved back to his family homeplace at Hall's Crossroads in Bullock County, Alabama, south of Union Springs, Alabama.

Review

Readers will be interested to see the changes in a place like Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, or Dauphin Street in Mobile or University Boulevard, then called Oak Street, in Tuscaloosa. And it is a treat to see photos of churches, statues, parks or government buildings which for one reason or another, fire or urban renewal, just aren't there anymore. I found this book a real pleasure to peruse.--Don Noble, Alabama Public Radio

Long Description

Although he was a native of Bullock County, Alabama, Wade Hall -- teacher, writer, poet, critic, interviewer, folklorist, and documentarian -- spent most of his fifty-year career in Kentucky. But he was never emotionally far from his home as evidenced by his passion for collecting vintage Alabama postcards.

Review Quote

"Readers will be interested to see the changes in a place like Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, or Dauphin Street in Mobile or University Boulevard, then called Oak Street, in Tuscaloosa. And it is a treat to see photos of churches, statues, parks or government buildings which for one reason or another, fire or urban renewal, just aren't there anymore. I found this book a real pleasure to peruse." --Don Noble, Alabama Public Radio

Details