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J. D. Barron research material on Native Americans

 Collection
Identifier: W-0088
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This collection contains J. D. Barron's research materials and correspondence relating to Alabama place names with roots in Native American languages.

Barron's notes are contained in one notebook of handwritten definitions of Native American place names. Initial entries are written in pen, while later edits are written in pencil. The notebook includes definitions of Creek, Chickasaw, and Choctaw words.

The collection also includes six letters written between 1887 and 1906 related to his research. Most of the letters discuss dictionaries, journal articles, and other published resources related to Native American languages.

Barron's research on Native American languages appears to have never been published.

Dates

  • Creation: 1887-1906

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Biographical / Historical

Newspaper editor and legislator J. D. (Joseph Day) Barron was born on March 19, 1833, in Upson County, Georgia. Barron's family moved to Alabama when he was a child, first living in Russell County and later moving to Randolph County. He was educated in local public schools and was trained as a mechanic.

On April 13, 1854, Barron married Rebecca Wood in Randolph County; the couple had four sons and five daughters.

In 1856, Barron became the editor of the Louina Eagle. He edited the publication, later titled the Southern Mercury, until 1861. In 1864, he joined the Sixth Alabama Calvary and served in the regiment until the end of the war.

Barron's political career began in 1874, when he was elected to represent Clay County in the state legislature. From 1878-1887, he served as the chief clerk in the Secretary of State's office. In 1889, he was elected to serve as the Alabama secretary of state; he served in the position until 1894.

After retiring from political service, Barron worked as a member of the Montgomery Advertiser's editorial staff, writing for the newspaper between 1878 and his death in 1910. Barron wrote poems and short stories for several publications, and he also researched and wrote historical articles on Native American law and culture. He died on June 11, 1910, in Montgomery.

Source: Thomas McAdory Owen, History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Research notes and correspondence related to J. D. Barron's research on native American place names in Alabama.

Physical Location

The A. S. Williams III Americana Collection, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, The University of Alabama

Provenance

Gift of A. S. Williams III, 2010

Related Materials

The A. S. Williams III Americana Collection holds other material on place names in Alabama. Please see staff for assistance.

Physical Description

Manuscript is fragile.

General

Title on Spine: J. D. Barron's Manuscript on Alabama Indian Place Names, Montgomery ca. 1890

Processed by

Haley Aaron, 2013

Source

Title
Guide to the J. D. Barron research material on Native Americans
Status
Completed
Date
December 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513