Archival Resources

Randolph, Ryland
Scrapbook, 1890s

Ryland Randolph was born October 28, 1835, in Mesopotamia, Alabama, near present-day Eutaw. His father, Victor M. Randolph, was a commodore in the United States Navy and later in the Confederate States Navy. Ryland's mother died when he was young, and he was brought up by various relatives in Alabama. He also accompanied his father on several naval expeditions.

Randolph attended the University of Alabama in the late 1850s. The owner of over fifty slaves, Randolph bought a plantation near Montgomery in 1858. He later sold his land for Confederate bonds and joined the Montgomery Mounted Rifles. Randolph served throughout the war, rising to the rank of colonel.

During Reconstruction Randolph developed a reputation as a Southern apologist and outspoken newspaper editor. He started his first newspaper, the Tuskaloosa Independent Monitor, in 1867. Randolph’s newspaper and brief legislative careers were studded with duels and other altercations with people he either offended or who offended him. His frequent editorial targets included Reconstruction leaders, carpetbaggers, the leadership of the University of Alabama, and the Alabama Democratic party.

In the final days of Reconstruction, Randolph moved to Birmingham where he continued to write commentary for area newspapers. He died in Birmingham on May 7, 1903.

Sources:

Ward, Gladys. "Life of Ryland Randolph." Master's thesis, University of Alabama, 1932.

Wiggins, Sarah Woolfolk. "The Life of Ryland Randolph as Seen Through his Letters to John W. DuBose." Alabama Historical Quarterly. 30:3-4 (1968) 145-180.

This volume of largely undated newspaper clippings covers the early-to-mid 1890s. In addition to miscellaneous clippings by what appears to be a variety of authors, the scrapbook contains both signed and pseudonymous writing of Colonel Ryland Randolph published in several Alabama newspapers including the North Birmingham Argus, The Age-Herald, The Eutaw Whig, The Montgomery Advertiser, The Huntsville Democrat, Evening News, The Bessemer, The Tuskaloosa Times, and The Fernandina Mirror. Also included in the scrapbook are recipes for various dishes and home remedies.

Not available.

Authors -- Alabama.
Journalists -- Alabama.
Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.
Randolph, Ryland, 1835-1903.
Recipes.

Collection Number: 413

Size: 1/3 linear foot (1 box)

Source/Provenance: Birmingham Public Library Staff

Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions. Access limited to microfilm copy.

RA/9-24-01