James F. Doster papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-0447
Scope and Contents
The James F. Doster papers include materials this Tuscaloosa native and history professor at The University of Alabama created and collected. During his career, Doster researched and published on railroads and Alabama politics; settlement of the Upper Tombigbee Valley; and Native American history, particularly that of the Creeks. His collection includes research files and various drafts of both unpublished and published manuscripts relating to these broad subjects. He retained extensive, detailed resource notes for each library, archives, and museum in which he conducted research. Unpublished manuscripts include The Mission of David Taitt: 1772 (1992) and Gun Merchant and the Three Wolfs.
As a consultant for the Creek Nation on claims with the Indian Claims Commission, Doster conducted research in archival repositories in the Americas, England, and Spain. Doster’s research helped substantiate their case against the government by documenting the Creek Nation’s history. His wide-reaching investigation and vast documentation shows the Creek’s history and how colonization by European countries and later the United States affected the Creek Nation and other Native Americans in the area. These research materials and his final reports make up the bulk of the collection. His collection therefore offers rich resources on the history of the Deep South in general and Alabama and the Creeks specifically. These people, events, and subjects include the following: figures in early Alabama and Creek Indian history including Henry Stiggins and David Taitt; Edmund Atkin, superintendent for the southern district of the British Indian Department; brothers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville (Iberville founded the French colony of Louisiana; his brother Bienville founded the cities of Mobile, New Orleans, and Biloxi); relations between the French and the Natchez Indians on the Mississippi River in the early 1700s; and colonial South Carolina governor James Moore's attacks against Christian Indians north of the Florida line in 1702 and 1704.
In addition to his own research and writings, the collection contains notes and other teaching materials he used during his long career as a professor of history.
As a consultant for the Creek Nation on claims with the Indian Claims Commission, Doster conducted research in archival repositories in the Americas, England, and Spain. Doster’s research helped substantiate their case against the government by documenting the Creek Nation’s history. His wide-reaching investigation and vast documentation shows the Creek’s history and how colonization by European countries and later the United States affected the Creek Nation and other Native Americans in the area. These research materials and his final reports make up the bulk of the collection. His collection therefore offers rich resources on the history of the Deep South in general and Alabama and the Creeks specifically. These people, events, and subjects include the following: figures in early Alabama and Creek Indian history including Henry Stiggins and David Taitt; Edmund Atkin, superintendent for the southern district of the British Indian Department; brothers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville (Iberville founded the French colony of Louisiana; his brother Bienville founded the cities of Mobile, New Orleans, and Biloxi); relations between the French and the Natchez Indians on the Mississippi River in the early 1700s; and colonial South Carolina governor James Moore's attacks against Christian Indians north of the Florida line in 1702 and 1704.
In addition to his own research and writings, the collection contains notes and other teaching materials he used during his long career as a professor of history.
Dates
- undated
Creator
- Doster, James Fletcher (Person)
Biographical / Historical
James Fletcher Doster was born on December 8, 1912, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to James J. and Mabel Cowart Doster. His father was dean of the University of Alabama School of Education. He attained the following degrees: AB, The University of Alabama, 1932; MA, Columbia University, 1936; and PhD, University of Chicago, 1948. From 1936-1983, Dr. Doster was a faculty member in the history department at The University of Alabama. During that time he also worked for the Danforth Foundation Association and as a consultant for the Creek Nation on claims with the Indian Claims Commission.
His research focused on railroads in Alabama and southeastern Native Americans, particularly the Creek Nation. Dr. Doster married Nina Hall in Tuscaloosa on December 22, 1936. They had two children, James Hall and Nina Katherine Stoddard.
Dr. Doster died on April 15, 2016, in Tuscaloosa.
His research focused on railroads in Alabama and southeastern Native Americans, particularly the Creek Nation. Dr. Doster married Nina Hall in Tuscaloosa on December 22, 1936. They had two children, James Hall and Nina Katherine Stoddard.
Dr. Doster died on April 15, 2016, in Tuscaloosa.
Extent
61.1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
Materials this Tuscaloosa native and history professor at The University of Alabama created and collected.
Physical Location
W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama
Physical Location
These materials are stored at our off-site Archival Facility (AF) and may require up to two business days for retrieval and delivery for use in our Hoole Library reading room. Please email archives@ua.edu or call 205-348-0500 for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Unknown
General
To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.
- Alabama -- History
- Alabama -- Politics and government
- Atkin, Edmund
- Bienville, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, sieur de
- Creek Indians
- Florida--History--English colony, 1763-1784
- Le Moyne d'Iberville, Pierre
- Louisiana -- History
- Native Americans
- Railroads
- Stiggins, Henry
- Taitt, David
- Tombigbee River Valley (Miss. and Ala.)
- United States. Indian Claims Commission
- University of Alabama
- University of Alabama -- Faculty/Staff
Creator
- Doster, James Fletcher (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the James F. Doster papers
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- April 2016
- 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