My Books

A Mosaic of People and Events in the History of Valdosta State University’s Business Operations, 1906 to 2006

This reference work is a brief account of the business operations of Valdosta State University, emphasizing past and present employees in the Division of Finance and Administration. He began this project in September, 2004 and concluded it in July, 2006; its publication coincides with the beginning of VSU’s Centennial celebration. With over 270 pages and 300 pictures, the first section, organized according to the division’s current administrative structure, concentrates on staff and departmental history. The second section contains many employees’ recollections about their experiences, their departments, and their coworkers at Valdosta State. These individuals not only have contributed technical and professional expertise, they have given of themselves in ways which have enriched and left lasting impressions on their fellow employees, students, and faculty. Copies are available at the Valdosta State University Library, Lowndes County Historical Society Library, and South Georgia Regional Library.

Sincerely, Frank; Frank R. Reade: Professor, President, and Camp Director

On August 18, 2006, Valdosta State University reached the 100th anniversary of its charter. It is my pleasure to write a brief account of the life and career of our institution’s third president, Frank R. Reade, as a contribution to this Centennial. This 171-page biography is a referenced, brief account of the family, life, and career of Dr. Reade, who served from 1934 until 1948. An English professor by training, Reade left innumerable written records of his activities which are a part of the Frank R. Reade Collection at Valdosta State University. Information from the collection helped this researcher discover more about his humor, interactions, and attitudes; one of his customs was signing each piece of correspondence warmly and simply “Sincerely, Frank.” This book continues my personal commitment to assist in the preservation of Valdosta State University’s history by documenting those individuals who have enriched lives and left lasting impressions on our institution and its culture. Historical aspects of the University’s growth are a significant portion of this work which began in December 2006 and concluded in January 2008. Copies are available at the Valdosta State University Library, Lowndes County Historical Society Library, South Georgia Regional Library, the Episcopal High School of Virginia Library, and the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

Dear Sister: 46 Letters by Dale Family Siblings in Middlemore’s Children’s Emigration Homes with Supporting Documentation

Among the dozens of rich family stories which I heard as a boy, none impressed me more or brought more wonder and curiosity to my mind than the story of how Lily Dale (Maxwell) (1889-1991) arrived in Canada as a teenager, married, migrated to the United States, and ultimately became the amazing woman and great-grandmother I knew. I could never have imagined then what set of unfortunate circumstances set in motion a chain of events which eventually separated four of nine children from their home in England and sent them across the Atlantic Ocean to an orphanage in Canada from which they were separated from each other and placed in foster homes. It was not until as an adult and my interest in genealogy developed into a serious avocation that I learned just how poignant and important this story is. This 340-page book is the story of tragedy and heartbreak which tore apart the Dale family, separating its members by an ocean, and the courage, determination and love that bound them together. My great-grandmother Lily Dale and three of her siblings (Elsie, Daisy, and Sydney) were separated from their widowed father and five of their brothers and sisters and sent to Canada as young children. It was not until 2003 that I learned that they were part of John T. Middlemore’s Children’s Emigration Homes. Their story is partially revealed in this book through numerous public records and a series of forty-six private letters. This book is privately printed for my family; however, should you have a special connection to or interest in the Dale family and would like to purchase a copy, send me a message using the Contact Me form.

Mr. Taylor Goes to Washington

Determination, deception, pathos, politics, greed, and corruption come together to place the story of the Taylor family among the most interesting in United States History. The Taylors fought for three generations to advocate for the Cherokee Nation and to gain what they believed to be rightfully theirs as the descendants of Cherokee Indians. The story begins with David Taylor, a white man, who on September 11, 1817 married Mary Ann “Polly” Bigby, a one-half blooded Cherokee Indian. They had nine children. Taylor believed he was due money and land from the US government by treaty because he was married to a Cherokee. He set out to get what he thought was rightfully his, and that fight continued through three generations of descendants. It included dealings with congressmen, high government officials, litigation in the US Supreme Court, and appeals that reached the president of the United States. In the process of this fight, David Taylor and his son James became relentless and effective advocates for the Cherokee Nation. This book is primarily a collection of source documents about James Taylor (1821-1907), his father David Taylor (1791-1877), and other Taylor relatives. Each chapter contains a brief introduction followed by documents selected to provide the reader with an understanding of the extent to which James Taylor was involved in Washington politics. This book is privately printed for my family; however, should you have a special connection to or interest in the Taylor family and would like to purchase a copy, send me a message using the Contact Me form.

A Perry Family Portrait

Assembled with the assistance of my grandmother and her sister, this family history discussed the ancestry and descendants of Luke Henry Perry (1888-1978) and his wife Mellie Elizabeth Norris (1894-1981), of Madison County, Ga., along with recollections from their children and grandchildren. This book is privately printed for my family; however, should you have a special connection to or interest in the Perry family and would like to purchase a copy, send me a message using the Contact Me form.

Little Stories of Local Events 

This is a collection of news clippings from the late 1700s to mid-1900s of the Lane, Overton, McAfee, and Winchell families from Marion County, Missouri. This book is privately printed for my family; however, should you have a special connection to or interest in the family and would like to purchase a copy, send me a message using the Contact Me form.

E. C. Winchell: Letters Home (1849-1912)

This is a collection of letters (images and transcriptions) from Elisha Cotton Winchell, a pioneer to California in 1849 to his parents (Elias and Fanny Winchell) in West Springfield, Missouri. This book is privately printed for my family; however, should you have a special connection to or interest in the Winchell family and would like to purchase a copy, send me a message using the Contact Me form.