The Year of Jefferson Davis:

Though it is now almost over, and I don’t receive MPB channels, I was excited to learn that a Jefferson Davis film is to debut on MPB. “Jefferson Davis: An American President” will debut on MPB television at 8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, June 9-11. The documentary covers the man who led the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. That story includes footage from Rosemont Plantation in Woodville, where Davis grew up, and Beauvoir, his home in Biloxi, as well as sites in Alabama, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Percival Beacroft of Woodville produced the documentary, which will be rebroadcast at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to this site, this information appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 6/8/2008, section D , page 2. I hope to own copies of this documentary someday. Ruth Murdock, whom I met at the Children of the Confederacy Convention in Greenville last weekend, said that Mrs. Crist, in charge of the Jefferson Davis papers at Rice University, mentioned Jim Limber during one of the Broadcasts.

Thinking Like a Yankee

I think I’m adapting my Civil War program so that I can vary it according to the state I go to. Even if I have to take on a Federal/Yankee persona for states north and west, I can teach the students about the true causes and issues of the War Between the States. For example, I’ve got plenty of Yankee quotes about the War not being caused over slavery, and certainly plenty of songs. More on this later.

Recent Read:

I just finished reading a prepublication manuscript of The Bright Mason: An American Mystery by Robert Berry. Absolutely fascinating story of murder and intrigue in the early 19th century that involved the Masons. When it comes out, you’ll want to catch this one. Berry is a journalist, and the quality of his writing indicates that he is a good one. When I have publication information, I’ll post it on this blog.