King Cotton in Alabama: A Brief History

By Thomas W. Oliver
Beginning in the early nineteenth century, cotton flourished in Alabama, drawing thousands of pioneers who hoped to prosper from the "fleecy white staple." (From Harper's, courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History)

Dear Friends:

There's no better time than the dog days of summer for our latest
release of Alabama Heritage: From the Vault. For your enjoyment and
education, we have resurrected what we consider to be one of our most
important articles ever: Thomas Oliver's "King Cotton in Alabama: A
Brief History." Since it first appeared in the winter of 1995, this
story of the 130-year lifespan of the king-turned-tyrant has been a
favorite.

Please enjoy this treat, and pass it along to friends who might not be on our email list yet. If you have suggestions for old favorites that should be resurrected, you can contact me at Donna.Cox@ua.edu.

May the temperatures drop and the creeks rise wherever you are,

Donna Cox
Editor, Alabama Heritage

Alabama Heritage
325 Hackberry Lane
Box 870342
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487

to read "King Cotton in Alabama: A Brief History.'