Skip to main content

Joseph B. Graham speeches and letter

 Collection
Identifier: W-0095
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This collection contains four speeches written by Talladega educator Joseph B. Graham. The earliest speech is dated 1884, while later speeches are undated. Most of Graham's speeches address the role of education and the commemoration of the Civil War. The collection contains two copies of a particularly interesting speech on the education of women; while Graham argues that both men and women should receive an equal level of physical, intellectual, and moral training, he argues that women should avoid political activism and denounces the "petticoat government" of states such as Kansas, which had granted women suffrage.

This collection also contains one letter dated July 29, 190,2 and signed by Edmund Pettus, who asked for information about possible opponents in an upcoming Senate campaign.

Dates

  • Creation: 1884-1902

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Brown Graham was born on March 18, 1864, in Cherokee County, Alabama. He attended Spring Garden High School and Oxford College, where he received his AB in 1880. Graham taught at Spring Garden from 1883 to 1889. After a brief move to Union City, Tennessee, Graham returned to Talladega and served in a variety of administrative roles within the educational systems of Talladega and Cherokee counties. He served as the superintendent of Talladega City Schools from 1887 to 1893, a member of the Cherokee County board of examiners from 1884-1886, and the Talladega County superintendent of education from 1889 to 1903.

Graham also studied law, reading under Charles C. Whitson; he was admitted to the bar in 1893. Graham also served as a delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Convention of 1901 and vice-president of the 1900 state Democratic Convention.

Graham married Lera Jones on December 12, 1900; the couple had one son, Joseph Brown, Jr. Graham died on July 6, 1903. following a railroad accident.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Contains copies of four speeches written by Talladega educator Joseph B. Graham and presented to various civic and social clubs; also contains one letter signed by Selma politician Edmund Pettus

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

Joseph B. Graham papers, W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama

General

Title on Spine: Papers and Speeches of J. B. Graham, Talladega, Alabama

Processed by

Haley Aaron, 2013

Source

Title
Guide to the Joseph B. Graham speeches and letter
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