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  1. Boll Weevils and the Destruction of Cotton Crops
    date September 27, 1895map AUSTIN, Texastags Agriculture, Economy

    Cotton: it was one of the most valuable crops in the agricultural South, and it was under attack by a seemingly indestructible new beetle known as the boll weevil. On September 27, 1895, an announcement ran in the Chicago Daily Tribune explaining the recent arrival of the boll weevil population to the United States. The species moved up from Mexico into certain areas of Texas and was wreaking havoc...

  2. The Emergence of Oil
    date June 7, 1894map PAGE, Virginiatags Economy, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    The Emergence of Oil For several decades leading up to the 1900's, the coal and iron industries had grown to become the backbone of the southern economy. Places such as Luray, Virginia, located in Page County, and other Appalachian mining areas became large centers of industry, attracting workers, railroads, and Northern investors. However, with the depression of the 1890's still looming above their...

  3. Judge Douglas' Loss
    date May 10, 1837map ST JOHNS, Floridatags Economy, Law, Politics

    Three thousand five hundred dollars gone. In 1837, 3,500 dollars was a lot of money. Converting the sum to real 2005 terms, it would yield almost 69,000 dollars. The Panic of 1837 rendered every penny worthless. Judge Thomas Douglas of the Florida Supreme Court had been one of the wealthy class sponsoring the flurry of charters that brought unstable banks into existence, and now their failure meant...

  4. Augusta County and the Election of 1840
    date March 5, 1840 to May 23, 1840map AUGUSTA, Virginiatags Government, Politics, Slavery

    It is not hard to fathom why Augusta County, Virginia showed overwhelming support for the Harrison/Tyler ballot in the Election of 1840. One of the newspapers that circulated in Augusta County, the Staunton Spectator, commented on the results of the county's nomination for president. The Spectator was certain that their nomination of William Harrison and John Tyler would receive a hearty response from...

  5. Charles Manigault Complains of Slave Labor in 1844 Journal
    date 1844map CHATHAM, Georgiatags African-Americans, Agriculture, Economy, Slavery

    For at least four generations, Charles Manigault and his family had owned plantations in the Island region of Chatham, Georgia and the Charleston District of South Carolina. In Chatham County, they invested a lot of money in growing rice, as did many planters across the lowcountry regions of both states. However, in 1844 Charles began to be slightly disgruntled with the labor production of his slaves...

  6. Son Writes to His Mother from School in Baltimore
    date October 14, 1878map BALTIMORE, Marylandtags Arts/Leisure, Economy, Education, Urban-Life/Boosterism, Women

    Shirley, going to school in Baltimore, Maryland, wrote his mother about his life in Baltimore and also reflected on how he wished to take care of her. He talked about how he was in the fourth grade, and depending on his examination grades, he would move to the third, second, and first grades. He then mentioned that he could go on to Baltimore College. He liked this idea but he also quickly stated that...

  7. Texas Homestead Law and the Economic Depression of the 1890s
    date 1890 to 1891map BEXAR, Texastags Government, Race-Relations, Women

    From her ranch in Texas, Jane Maverick wrote that the early 1890s were sad years for families throughout the nation as the country was undergoing an economic depression. The depression started in the North, Maverick reflected, and worked its way down the coast, finally hitting Texas. Prior to this time, the country was undergoing a post-war boom and Maverick explained ...there had been a perfect orgie...

  8. Raleigh State of the Art
    date November 16, 1835map WAKE, North Carolinatags Health/Death, Women

    The Raleigh Theatre was the grandest in the land. After attending the grand-opening, all the men and women of the city agreed that they had never seen their own theatre surpassed in beauty and style. The curtain drapery over the hollow wooden windows and stage doors was fitted with precision, and the walls were no longer glum and drab but instead featured variegated colors trimmed in gold. The Ladies'...

  9. A Call to the Free-Holders of Rowan and Davie Counties
    date June 22, 1844map DAVIE, North Carolinatags Economy, Government, Law

    People in town were gathered around a newspaper with the political platforms for the upcoming Presidential election. The candidate that seemed to care the most about the people of the county, especially the farmers was A.G. Carter. He had been the Senator here for twelve years so if he anything he had the experience to make the best politician. He promised to not burden people with taxes anymore...

  10. Twenty Dollar Reward for Return of Slave
    date February 3, 1829map HENRICO, Virginiatags African-Americans, Migration/Transportation, Race-Relations, Slavery

    In February of 1829, WM. F. Wickham put out a notice in the Richmond Enquirer of a twenty dollar reward for the return to him of his slave Cyrus. He described Cyrus as a dark mulatto, between 25 and 30 years of age, rather below ordinary height, prominent cheek bones... He also said that Cyrus had a large scar under one of his eyes, and that he owned a new suit of brown cloth... and a striped waistcoat,...

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