Southern Memory
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996
From: Carlos Dews
Subject: Southern memory
One of my graduate students and I are writing an essay about the importance of memory, the autobiographical nature of much of southern creative writing, and the historical/social reasons that southern writers write autobiographically. Does anyone know of any sources where autobiography, southern history/culture, and the importance of memory to southerners, is discussed? Thanks.
Carlos L. Dews
Dept. of English
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL 32514
(904) 474-2923
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996
From: Jeff Richardson
Subject: Re: Southern memory
Carlos, you might look at Bertram Wyatt-Brown's "The Literary Percys" and "The House of Percy," which address just the points you raise. Also, check out Joel Williamson's "William Faulkner and Southern History."
Jeff Richardson, UNC-Chapel Hill
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996
From: David Canfil
Subject: Re: Southern Memory
You might want to play a recording of that old song 'Precious Memories' in the background, whilst contemplating this matter.
I don't know the extent to which Southern writers think and write from an "autobiographical" perspective. Bear in mind, some of them are simply using their home terrain as a source of concepts, plot logic, and geographical terrain, but they might be doing it somewhat like ethnographic researchers, rather than autobiographically.
I assume you are aware of the 'American Memory' collection that may be accessed on the WWW, at the Library of Congress web site. It doesn't contain papers about the "importance of memory", but there is a lengthy compilation of 19th century memories that were recorded by the WPA federal writers' project during the 1930s. Several Southern States, and Texas (which I think is listed under the "Western" States) are listed as places where the "memories" were obtained - some other States are also included.
Do Anglo Southern writers and American Jewish writers have anything in common, do both types of writers often rely upon "autobiographical" approaches, in one sense or another? If so, why, and how?
Rgds.
David Canfil
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996
From: Michael L. Lanza
Subject: Re: Southern memory
You might contact Harry Watson at Chapel Hill. He's running an NEH summer institute for teachers on the topic of Southern memory.
Michael L. Lanza
mlanza@neh.fed.us
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996
From: James Ivy
Subject: Re: Southern memory
Carlos Dews might want to take a look at Richard Gray's _Writing the South: Ideas of an American Region_(Cambridge U.P., 1986).
James Ivy
jivy@lonestar.jpl.utsa.edu
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996
From: David Alsobrook
Subject: Re: Southern Memory
This posting is in response to Carlos Dews's query about works in which "Southern memory" is discussed. I suggest that he consult Lewis Baker's THE PERCYS OF MISSISSIPPI: POLITICS AND LITERATURE IN THE NEW SOUTH (LSU Press, 1983).
David Alsobrook
Bush Presidential Materials Project
College Station, TX 77840-1899
email: david.alsobrook@bush.nara.gov
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