In the following essay by Chuck Shoemake, we learn about the wretched conditions at Camp Morton, Indiana’s federal Civil War prisoner of war camp. In the course of telling the story, Chuck […]
Camp Morton: “A Black and Damning Trail”
renegadesouth
I'm a historian of the nineteenth century South who taught U. S. history at Texas State University, San Marcos, for almost 25 years. My research interests center on people who lived outside the law--not necessarily "outlaws" as we might imagine them, but outside the law nonetheless. The South's Civil War home front, including Unionists and other men and women who fought against the Confederacy, mixed race communities, and the history of racial identity are my special interests.
The Free State of Jones in Virginia, Mississippi—and China!
This past week in Virginia, I discussed legendary, historical, and cinematic versions of the story of The Free State of Jones for Lynchburg College’s Civil War and Reconstruction Lecture Series. Adding immeasurably […]
“Free People of Color” in Slaveholding North Carolina: The Andersons of Granville County
By Vikki Bynum Late last year, I was contacted by Raymont Hawkins-Jones, a descendant of a family I’d written about many years earlier: the Andersons of Granville County, North Carolina. The Andersons […]
Announcement: My upcoming Presentation on the Free State of Jones at Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virginia
Civil War and Reconstruction Lecture Series: Dr. Victoria Bynum Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virginia When: April 5, 2017 @ 6:00 pm Where: Snidow Chapel 1501 Lakeside Drive Lynchburg, VA 24501 Cost: Free […]
My Upcoming talks about The Free State of Jones
I’m pleased to announce my forthcoming spring 2017 presentations on The Free State of Jones! 1. McCallie School 500 Dodds Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37404 Chapel: Guest Speaker: Victoria Bynum, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, […]
Dorothy Knight Marsh, “From Cotton Fields to Mission Fields: The Story of Anna Knight”
Accomplishing what others could not with so little, this woman of courage and determination, too white to be black and too black to be white, stood up against the moonshiners who threatened […]
Ian McDowell on the true historical heritage of Civil War North Carolina
by Vikki Bynum Politics is a particularly nasty business these days at the state as well as national level. Take North Carolina, a state I dearly love. In recent years, the right-wing […]
Italian Edition of The Free State of Jones released by Edizioni Piemme, SpA.
By Vikki Bynum I just received my complimentary copies of Edizioni Piemme’s Italian edition of The Free State of Jones! It’s a beautiful production, translated by Sara Puggioni, and includes color photos […]
Do Labels Determine Our Racial Identity? A Guest Post by Chuck Shoemake
By Chuck Shoemake In the dark fens of the Dismal Swamp The hunted Negro lay; He saw the fire of the midnight camp, And heard at times a horse’s tramp […]
Revisiting Mississippi’s “Free State of Jones”: A Photo Essay
Some highlights from last month’s week in Mississippi, which began with my deliverance of the first-of-the-year University Forum address at Southern Miss. There are way too many photos of me below, but […]
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