Spring 1997, Number 44

Spring 1997, Number 44
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Alabama's "Bengal Tiger": Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont. Chatelaines. Jefferson's "Academical Village." The Alabama Rotunda. Barn Again! Read article excerpts below. Alabama’s “Bengal Tiger”: Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont By John Sledge Mrs. Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont was a force to be reckoned with. John Sledge traces the life of the ferocious woman from her early childhood in Mobile to her high society life in New York. Her final days were spent lobbying for women’s suffrage, which she lived to see in 1920 with the adoption of the 19th Amendment. Through two marriages and travels around the world, Alva lived her life to the fullest. Fiercely determined, Alva thought little of the feelings of those around her. She once proclaimed, “I always do everything first…I blaze the trail for the rest to walk in.” Leaving behind several architectural masterpieces, including the famed Marble House in Newport, as well as the legacy of her life, Alva is not an Alabamian to be forgotten. Chatelaines By Marion Ruth Yount Sams Up until the twentieth century, chatelaines were an important part of women’s fashion. The word chatelaine means “lady of the castle,” but the word also became associated with the object that the lady of the house hooked over her belt. From these objects dangled multiple chains attached to keys and other items necessary for managing her household. Southern women would have been familiar with chatelaines in the nineteenth century. Domestic manuals of the day advised women to lock away their valuables to prevent petty thievery by servants, so there were always a number of small keys to manage. However, with the advent of short skirts and numerous variations of handbags that could hold more, the chatelaine gradually disappeared. Bits and pieces of them can be found at antique markets, but rarely does one find an intact chatelaine. Although few modern examples remain, the word lives on; Hilary Rodham Clinton was once referred to as the chatelaine of the White House. Jefferson’s “Academical Village” By Delos D. Hughes It has often been said that the University of Alabama and the University of Virginia bear a striking resemblance. Delos D. Hughes explores the possible influence of Thomas Jefferson and his academic village on the construction and planning of the University of Alabama. Although there are no direct links between Jefferson and the Alabama governor at that time, Israel Pickens, Jefferson’s Virginia certainly inspired at least some of the architecture on the University of Alabama campus. Hughes discusses several possible theories that support the relationship between Jefferson and Alabama. Although the mystery has never been solved, Jefferson’s academical village clearly had a profound impact on the University of Alabama architects. The Alabama Rotunda By Robert O. Mellown The University of Alabama campus originally featured a dominating rotunda, grandly situated in the center of the mall, or quadrangle as we know it today. A prominent campus landmark, it was modeled after the Pantheon in ancient Rome, and inspired by the Renaissance engravings of Andrea Palladio. Unfortunately, Alabama’s campus burned to the ground during the final days of the Civil War, leaving nothing but debris. For over a century, the only evidence of the rotunda’s existence lay in one lone photograph and a few sketches. Then in 1984, workers laying computer cables stumbled upon the foundation of the Rotunda buried only inches below the surface. Today the foundation is preserved and serves as reminder of what was once the heart of a campus. Barn Again! By Harvey H. Jackson III The Alabama countryside is dotted with dilapidated structures that were once the heart of rural life. Epicenters of Alabama agriculture, the barns have evolved over the years and adapted to different uses. Harvey Jackson III explores the origins of the Alabama barn and the types of barns found in rural Alabama. Tragically, these rustic icons are disappearing at an alarming rate. Farm buildings are a vital part of Alabama’s heritage, and preserving their legacy is important in remembering the state’s past.

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