Category Archives: Publications

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Book Sale, Book Signing, Coal Mines, family history, Genealogy, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods, Publications, Research

Before Quinlan Castle

Historic Quinlan Castle was demolished earlier this year to make way for a new Southern Research building. But prior to Quinlan Castle, this was the location of the Roberts’ home, parents to author Anne Roberts Gayler of One Hundred Years, a memoir released by Birmingham Historical Society in September 2023.

Prominent early residents of Birmingham, David Roberts and his bride, Belle Sumter Yates Roberts, moved their family from Charleston first to Bessemer and then to Birmingham in 1894. Roberts had successfully raised capital for the formation of DeBardeleben Coal & Iron Company and took an ownership role in the new firm that was formed in 1886. At the time of his death in 1909, he was associated as a director of several banks and leading industrial and commercial interests in Birmingham. He was 63, his widow, 48, his daughter and the author of this book, only 27 years old.

They later moved to Altamont Road and the author states, “I went to Birmingham for (my sister’s) wedding, a home affair, in Mother’s great house. There was only one difficulty. The minister had some trouble getting to the house on the Altamont, for the automobiles of that era lacked edurance.”

The story of this remarkable Birmingham family as written by Anne Roberts Gayler at the age of 100, is available October 1st, 2023, 4:00PM at a Publication Celebration, 2827 Highland Avenue. The public is invited! Now available on Amazon HERE

Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Churches, City of Birmingham, Historic Preservation, Publications, Trustees

Birmingham’s Philip A Morris Fund supports preservation projects

Local Birmingham leader, preservationist, architectural historian, editor, and design enthusiast, Philip A. Morris, established a fund via the Community Foundation to perpetuate the good design for which he continually advocated during his lifetime. The first grants were only recently funded and included such notable preservation projects as Main Street Alabama, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Railroad Park, and Freshwater Land Trust.

Click image above to visit Community Foundation website

Morris was a strong supporter of the efforts to restore Vulcan, as well as a contributor to BHS publications below:

A long time member and supporter of the Birmingham Historical Society, his life long contribution will now live on through his Design Arts legacy fund. Thank you Philip!

Birmingham Historical Society, BOOK, Farming, Gardening, Grandmothers Garden, Highland Avenue, Neighborhoods, Publications

For the Heirloom Gardeners

It’s been almost a year since Birmingham Historical Society moved from a free-standing shotgun house at Sloss Quarters with a period garden to a mid-rise residential building in the historic urban neighborhood of Southside. While we love the new space and especially our new neighbors, it’s no longer possible to keep Grandmother’s Garden. But we have preserved some of the best parts of that 15 year experience.

A popular medicinal herb book, Pretty Posies Powerful Healing – an Herbal Primer, featured watercolor illustrations of plants grown in what was called Grandmother’s Garden.

And the Facebook page is archived with photos and information gathered over the 15 year period by both master gardeners and volunteers. Both sources are a wealth of information for those interested in heirloom plants, organic herbs, fruits, and vegetables, as well as decorative period plants and the way in which they were historically used.

There are lots of reasons to rediscover heirloom plants including their disease resistance, flavor, pollination without pesticides, and even the memories that they evoke. Be sure to take a look at the links above and if you’d like to try this yourself, here are a few useful tips!

Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, family history, Publications, Research, Tall Tales, TRUE TALES, True Tales of Birmingham

Back to School History of Birmingham

Published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992 in the comic pages of the Birmingham News were TRUE TALES of Birmingham’s earliest pioneers. A project of the Birmingham Historical Society, these stories were then assembled in a book entitled True Tales of Birmingham. We will periodically be recapping these stories here! But if you want them all (and they make great children’s gifts), check out the book! Or subscribe to the blog if you don’t want to miss one. Here’s the story about one of Birmingham’s early educators. And you may recall that James R. Powell donated his salary as Birmingham’s mayor to establish the first school.

Birmingham Historical Society, BOOK, Book Sale, Book Signing, family history, Hoover, lecture, Meetings, Membership, Neighborhoods, Publications, Research, Shades Crest Road, shades mountain

New Fall Events Added to Calendar~

School is starting and fall is just around the corner. We’ve added a few new events to the calendar that should be interesting. Please mark your calendars.

September 19, 6:30 p.m., Bluff Park: Then & Now, hosted by the Hoover Historical Society at the Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive.

October 1, 4:00 p.m., 100 Years Publication Celebration, 2827 Highland Avenue.

October 3, Members’ Books to be mailed to those not receiving them at the reception. Please let us know if your book does not arrive.

October 29, 3:00 p.m. Christine Putman & Big Jim Folsom, Talk & Book Signing with Folsom’s grandson Jamie Putman, 2827 Highland Avenue.

A Guide to Architectural Styles, Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, BOOK, Book Sale, Historic Preservation, Housing, Neighborhoods, Publications, Research

The Simplicity of the Two Room House

Numerous examples of this style of construction existed in the antebellum South as slave quarters and later as company housing. This is a twentieth century example.

Find out about this and numerous other popular home building styles with Birmingham Historical Society’s book, A Guide to Architectural Styles featuring Birmingham Homes. It features the drawings of Auburn University’s Professor of Architecture, Cheryl Morgan, with descriptions by BHS Director, Marjorie White.
Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Book Sale, City of Birmingham, family history, Publications, Research, Tall Tales, TRUE TALES, True Tales of Birmingham

The TRUE TALE of James R Powell

Published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992 in the Birmingham News were TRUE TALES of Birmingham’s earliest pioneers. A project of the Birmingham Historical Society, these stories were then assembled in a book entitled True Tales of Birmingham. We will periodically be recapping these stories here! But if you want them all (and they make great children’s gifts), check out the book! Or subscribe to the blog if you don’t want to miss one.

Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, City of Birmingham, Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Month, lecture, Planning, Engineering, and Permits, Publications, Research

Historic Preservation Month!

May is Birmingham’s Historic Preservation month, and the City of Birmingham will be hosting a series of events to showcase the economic and social benefits of historic preservation with walking tours and lectures. Please plan to attend! Select the image below to download a pdf file of events. Or download brochures below for more information on policies and federal incentives regarding Historic Districts.

Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, BOOK, Book Sale, Historic Preservation, Publications

What is the architectural style of your home?

Curious about whether your home fits the classic description of a particular architectural style? This was the focus of the BHS book, A Guide to Architectural Styles, featuring Birmingham Homes. Line drawings are accompanied by details to look for when determining architectural characteristics. Forty-five popular Birmingham styles include the Bungalow, Cottage, Ranch, Split-Level, Classical Revival, Shotgun, Tudor, Prairie, and Craftsman. An example of the ever popular Craftsman Style home is pictured below:

Birmingham Historical Society, BOOK, Book Sale, family history, Genealogy, Publications, Research, Tall Tales, TRUE TALES, True Tales of Birmingham

Who were Birmingham’s early pioneers?

The last printed copy of The Birmingham News has now come and gone, but does anyone remember the special section, True Tales, published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992? A project of the Birmingham Historical Society, these stories were assembled in a book entitled True Tales of Birmingham and published in 1992. Here are a few pages…