Archival Resources

Ullman, Samuel
From the Summit of Years, Fourscore, "Youth", and Related Material

Samuel Ullman was born in Germany in 1840 and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1852. They settled in Mississippi where nine years later Samuel Ullman served in the Confederate Army. He later married, started a business, and began what became a pattern of civic and religious activism that continued the rest of his life. In 1884, Ullman and his family moved to Birmingham, where he became a progressive leader during the city’s formative years. He served in numerous civic and community capacities, including eighteen years of service on the Birmingham Board of Education. As member and later chairman of this board, Ullman earned a reputation as an advocate for improved educational opportunities for the city’s children, black and white. Throughout his life, but particularly during his retirement, Ullman pursued an avocation as a poet. While in his seventies he wrote a poetic essay entitled "Youth" which became a favorite of General Douglas MacArthur. The General displayed a framed copy of the poem in his Tokyo office during the post-World War II administration of Japan. Through General MacArthur’s influence, "Youth" gained popularity in Japan. Samuel Ullman died in Birmingham in 1924. His home has been turned into a museum operated by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Source:

Armbrester, Margaret E. Samuel Ullman and "Youth." Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, c1993.

This collection includes a Japanese translation of From the Summit of Years and Fourscore; an undated reprint of the poem "Youth"; a videocassette of festivities in Japan in association with the publication of Summit and Fourscore in Japanese; a copy of Aunt Sister's Book containing letters from Ullman; and a few miscellaneous items of related material. Additional material relating to Ullman may be found in the Morris Newfield Papers.

File level guide available in the Archives Department.

American poetry -- Appreciation -- Japan.
Birmingham (Ala.).
Board of Education.
Businessmen -- United States.
Ullman, Samuel, 1840-1924.
Youth.
Ullman, Samuel, 1840-1924.
Poets, American -- 20th century.

Collection Number: 973

Size: ¼ linear foot (2 boxes)

Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions.