Birmingham Public Library's Digital Collections

Sloss-Sheffield's Publication (1926-1960) Available Online

2012-01-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

In November, 1926, the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company began a monthly publication titled Pig Iron Rough Notes. It's primary goal was to contribute to the advancement of the foundry trade and serve as an educational and technical tool for the workers. Over 90 digitized issues (1926-1960) highlight the steel industry, the men involved, and new techniques in the trade.

Gee's Bend Oral Histories

2011-10-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

In the early 1980s, Kathryn Tucker Windham conducted oral histories with residents and former residents of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Transcripts of her interviews are now available online.

Jemison Real Estate's Magazine Online

2011-02-25T06:12:00.001-08:00

Jemison Real Estate and Insurance Company developed the cities of Fairfield (Corey) and Mountain Brook. The company also built several neighborhoods, hotels, apartments, and office buildings in Birmingham. In order to promote their real estate ventures the Jemison Company published Jemison Magazine. This fascinating serial is now available online and covers the years 1910-1914 and 1926-1930. It provides numerous photographs, architectural plans, biographies, and articles which will enhance the knowledge and appreciation of the Birmingham metro area.

First Annual Play Ground Day 1914

2011-02-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Now available online is the 1914 publication Play ground day: greater Birmingham play ground demonstration. It includes many photographs of children on local playgrounds, names of the children, and photographs of city officials and leaders.

New items added in January

2011-02-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Check out the more than 125 items added in January

Avondale Mills Newspaper

2010-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

The Avondale Sun, a newspaper published by Avondale Mills for its employees, ran from 1924-2006. Over its 82-year history, it published community and employee news, company information, and photographs.

G. Stephen Felker, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avondale Mills, Inc., donated the Avondale Sun newspaper collection to the B. B. Comer Memorial Library in 2006. The B. B. Comer Memorial Library digitized all available issues covering the period from 1924-2004, and in the summer of 2010 the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) and the B. B. Comer Memorial Library reached an agreement for BPL to catalog and host the digitized images.

This newspaper is a valuable resource for all of Alabama. Enjoy!

Norwood Neighborhood Articles Added

2010-11-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles about the Norwood neighborhood have been added to the Digital Collections database.

Elyton Newspaper Articles

2010-11-23T13:29:00.001-08:00

Newspaper articles about Elyton, former seat of Jefferson County (AL), are now available online.

Mayor Richard Arrington

2010-11-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles about Mayor Richard Arrington have been added to the Digital Collection.

Beautiful Homes and Buildings of Alabama

2010-08-12T13:47:00.001-07:00

George P. Turner and J. T. McPherson's architectural book Beautiful Homes & Buildings of Alabama is available online. The book includes drawings, plans, photographs, and advertisements.

Birmingham School Survery 1923

2010-07-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

The Birmingham School Survey published in 1923 is now available online. Information included in the survey: the condition of school buildings, the need for additional buildings, construction cost estimates, comparisons with other cities, statistical tables, maps, and photographs of school buildings.

Alabama Civil Rights, 1950-1969

2010-05-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

Over the years Birmingham Public librarians collected newspaper articles about the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama and arranged them in scrapbooks. The articles were clipped from several newspapers including The Birmingham News, Birmingham Post-Herald, and the Montgomery Advertiser. Covering the years 1950-1969, these scrapbooks are now available online.

Volume 1 (1950-1951, 1956-1959 )
Topics covered: Civil rights violations; bus segregation ordered halted by Interstate Commerce Commission; Montgomery bus boycott; attempts at school desegregation; Supreme Court rules bus segregation is unconstitutional; buses fired upon in Montgomery and Birmingham; Birmingham demonstrations; Montgomery bombings.

Volume 2 (1958-1960)
Topics covered: Shuttlesworth sues Birmingham for integration of schools and parks; Civil Rights Commission demands voting records of several counties; George Wallace defiance; President Eisenhower's "message" to Alabama; Registrars ordered to testify to Civil Rights Commission; Montgomery closes public parks.

Volume 3 (1960-1961)
Topics covered: Supreme Court upholds Civil Rights Commission hearings; Montgomery County ordered to release voting records; Mobile ordered to integrate municipal golf course; Macon County ordered to open voting registration to all; Bullock County voting registration declared unconstitutional; Jefferson County denies access to voter registration records; "Freedom Riders" violence in Birmingham and Montgomery.

Volume 4 (1961-1962)
Topics covered: Abernathy and Shuttlesworth arrested in Montgomery; Greyhound Bus Terminal court case; federal court orders halt to Freedom Riders.

Volume 5 (1962-1963)
Topics covered: Sit-in at Talladega; integration of Birmingham airport restaurant ordered; Montgomery Public Library desegregated; military reserve units to integrate; Birmingham voters registration; school desegregation suits filed by Justice Department; Birmingham sit-ins.

Volume 6 (1963-1965)
Topics covered: Rioting and lootin in Birmingham; President Kennedy and Governor Wallace confer; Gadsden marches; State Police sent to Birmingham; white mob attacks black ministers at Anniston.

Volume 7 (1965)
Topics covered: Mob violence at Marion; Wallace bans nighttime racial demonstrations in Dallas and Perry Counties; civil rights compliance forms signed by several state officials; violence in Montgomery; voter registration; Wallace requests U. S. Marshals; bombs are discovered in Birmingham.

Mississippi Civil Rights, 1948-1968

2010-05-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

Over the years Birmingham Public librarians collected newspaper articles about the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi and arranged them in scrapbooks. The articles were clipped from several newspapers including The Birmingham News, Birmingham Post-Herald, and the Montgomery Advertiser. Covering the years 1948-1968, these scrapbooks are now available online.

Volume 1 (1948, 1956-1957, 1960-1962)
Topics covered: Segregation "watchdog" committee; Parker lynching; "Freedom Riders"; Philadelphia black church burned; voting registration disputes; James H. Meredith; contempt of court charges sought against University of Mississippi officials; Governor Ross Barnett bars Meredith from "Ole Miss".

Volume 2 (1962-1966)
Topics covered: University of Mississippi rioting; mob threatens Meredith during second week of classes; federal injunction bars state from halting desegregation; Civil Rights Commission investigator arrested in Greenwood; second black enrolled at the University of Mississippi; Meredith graduates; Medgar Evers slaying.

Volume 3 (1966-1968)
Topics covered: Memphis to Jackson march; Philadelphia slayings reopened by Justice Department; eighteen charged with slayings; seven found guilty.

United States Civil Rights, 1947-1969

2010-04-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

Over the years Birmingham Public librarians collected newspaper articles about the Civil Rights Movement and arranged them in scrapbooks. The articles were clipped from several newspapers including The Birmingham News, Birmingham Post-Herald, Montgomery Advertiser, and The Tuscaloosa News. Covering the years 1945-1969, these scrapbooks are now available online.

Volume 1 (1945-1957)
Topics covered: Georgia "White Supremacy" Bill; Truman Civil Rights proposals; Southern reaction to Truman proposals; Shuttlesworth leads fight in Birmingham, Alabama; MacArthur speech to Congress; Eisenhower State of the Union Address.

Volume 2 (1956-1957)
Topics covered: racial violence in Tennessee; Kentucky racial problems; W. Wilson White named assistant attorney general for civil rights; bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama ends; Texas defies integration plans; Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas vow to continue segregation; Senator Lyndon B. Johnson supports civil rights.

Volume 3 (1957-1959)
Topics covered: jury trials voted into rights bill; civil rights bill approved; Georgia defies federal integration policy; Little Rock, Arkansas asks halt to integration; W. Wilson White to head Civil Rights Commission; Virginia and Arkansas to defy integration.

Volume 4 (1959-1960)
Topics covered: Governor John Patterson of Alabama warns Congress on civil rights; Atlanta, Georgia ordered to form integration plan; racial violence in Little Rock, Arkansas; peaceful integration in North Carolina and Virginia; Civil Rights Commission asks for federal voting registrars; new voting discrimination probe to begin in Alabama.

Volume 5 (1960-1961)
Topics covered: sit-ins, demonstrations continue throughout the South; Supreme Court defeats injunctions against Civil Rights Commission; New Orleans, Louisiana defies integration; racial violence in Greenville, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida racial violence; Atlanta, Georgia sit-ins; racial violence in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Volume 6 (1961-1962)
Topics covered: Freedom Riders assailed by MacDonald Gallion; U.S. Marshals ordered into Alabama; Freedom Riders linked to Communist Cuba; Civil Rights Commission extended for two year period; ICC orders interstate bus, terminal integration.

Volume 7 (1962-1963)
Topics covered: "Reverse Freedom Riders"; Albany, Georgia racial violence; school desegregation continues throughout the South; Albany Prayer Vigil; federal judge orders University of Mississippi to admit James H. Meredith.

Volume 8 (1963-1964)
Topics covered: Civil Rights Bill of 1963; Chicago Freedom March; Baltimore, Maryland rally at Gwynn Oak; Jefferson County Board of Registrars suit filed by Justice Department; Washington March.

Volume 9 (1964)
Topics covered: Senator Lister Hill's speech; NAACP boycott of Jacksonville, Florida stores; mother of Massachusetts governor jailed in Florida; Nashville, Tennessee demonstration; civil rights bill text.

Volume 10 (1964-1966)
Topics covered: Justice Department files suits against Tennessee and Louisiana; civil rights murder case in Mississippi; Lester Maddox cafeteria goes out of business; President's Council on Equal Opportunity created; Birmingham, Alabama bombings.

Volume 11 (1966-1968)
Topics covered: creation of Adult Education Program; new civil rights proposal; threats of national violence; Atlanta, Georgia violence; Grenada, Mississippi violence.

Volume 12 (1968-1969)
Topics covered: arrival of Poor People's Mule Train in Washington, D.C.; Supreme Court upholds 1866 civil rights law; "Resurrection City" leaders are jailed; violence in Washington, D.C.

Birmingham City Council Scrapbooks Online

2010-04-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

Sixteen scrapbooks created by the Birmingham City Council are now available online. The scrapbooks consist of newspaper articles about government related issues and cover the years November 1962 through December 1964.

v.1.1 November 1, 1962 - February 21, 1963
Topics covered: controversy between Commission or Mayor-Council form of city government; campaigns of candidates for Mayor and City Council positions.

v.1.2 February 21, 1963 - April 12, 1963
Topics covered: election controversy; campaigns of candidates; Boutwell-Connor run-off election for Mayor; platforms of mayoral candidates; election of Albert Boutwell; new era for Birmingham.

v.1.3 January 22, 1963 - April 13, 1963
Topics covered: bond issue; annexation proposals; Red Mountain Expressway; problems of transit system; "City of Fear" article, 2/25/63; "Bad Birmingham Image" article, 3/5/63; segregation-integration controversy; "Outside Agitators" article, 4/4/63.

v.1.4 April 13, 1963 - June 1, 1963
Topics covered: change in the form of city government; swearing-in of Mayor Albert Boutwell and City Council members; ouster of the City Commission and subsequent controversy.

v.1.5 April 13, 1963 - July 4, 1963
Topics covered: racial issues; transit strike ends; opposition to amendments to Council (Dominick Bill); reopening of municipal golf courses; budget problems.

v.1.6 July 5, 1963 - August 6, 1963
Topics covered: annexation proposals; budget; public schools desegregation controversy; formation of Community Affairs Committee; repeal of city segreationg ordinances, 7/23/63; "breach of peace law" adopted, 7/24/63; problems with transit system.

v.1.7 August 6, 1963 - September 23, 1963
Topics covered: budget problems; Dominick Bill; transit system problems; Loveman's "bombing"; threats on the life of Mayor Boutwell; Arthur D. Shores' home bombed, 8/21/63; annexation; school desegregation problems; bombing of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, 8/16/63; Royall-Blaik fact-finding team.

v.1.8 September 23, 1963 - November 16, 1963
Topics covered: representatives from Birmingham meet with President Kennedy; Royall-Blaik fact-finding team; black policemen controversy; transit system sale; overview of racial situation in Birmingham, 10/13/63; city seeking new sources of revenue.

v.2.1 November 17, 1963 - January 17, 1964
Topics covered: High school stadium issue; local reaction to assassination of President Kennedy; drive to return to city commission form of government; expressway problems; sales tax issue.

v.2.2 January 18, 1964 - March 4, 1964
Topics covered: tax plans; Legion Field; expressway problems; black policemen survey.

v.2.3 March 4, 1964 - April 28, 1964
Topics covered: airport expansion; "Birmingham Tomorrow" project; opening of community centers; "Sell Birmingham" program; city schools need improvements; April rainfall brings sewage problems.

v.2.4 April 28, 1964 - June 9, 1964
Topics covered: merger proposal; demand for the hiring of black policemen; visit by Governor George Wallace; Legion Field expansion; new postal facility; "Church Bombers in City", 5/30/64; budget requests.

v.2.5 June 9, 1964 - July 14, 1964
Topics covered: plan for a mayoral assistant; budget hearings; merger controversy; Legion Field expansion controversy; postal facility funding; new civil rights law in effect; proposed 20th Street mall.

v.2.6 July 14, 1964 - September 11, 1964
Topics covered: merger controversy; school integration plan; record budget sent to City Council; industrial site survey submitted; black protest of school integration plan.

v.2.7 September 11, 1964 - November 18, 1964
Topics covered: Connor vs New York Times trial; "Thrill Hill"; merger controversy in Homewood; sinkholes in Inglenook; cable television.

v.2.8 November 18, 1964 - December 20, 1964
Topics covered: merger controversy; fight to return to city commission government fails; plans for new civic center; medical center expansion.

Parker High School

2010-03-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

Over 70 newspaper articles about Dr. Arthur Harold Parker and Parker High School have been added to the Digital Collections.

Central High School 1923 Annual

2010-03-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

The 1922-1923 Mirror published by Central High School (Phillips High) is online.

1933-1934 Civil Works Administration Book Available

2010-03-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

The 371 page manuscript titled Report on Civil Works Administration of Alabama, Jefferson County Division, Nov. 19, 1933 - Mar. 31, 1934 is now available online. It documents the work of the CWA in Jefferson County and includes photographs, maps, and charts. Below is a list of the projects covered.

Alabama Boys' Industrial School
Alabama Girls Training School
Aviation Advisor
Aviation Marking
Birmingham District
Birmingham Homesteads
Bessemer
Birmingham Rifle Range
Brighton
Brookside
Cardiff
County Resurvey
County Roads
County Schools
County School Grounds
Disposal Plants
Fairfield
First Aid Stations
Geodetic & Coast Survey
Historic Building Survey
Homewood
Irondale
Jefferson County
Leeds
Lipscomb
Malaria Control
Miscellaneous Women's Projects
Rifle Range
Sanitary Survey
Sealing Coal Mines
Sewage Plants
State Archives
Tarrant City
Technical Laboratory
Tuberculosis Sanitorium
Warrior

Newspaper Articles Added

2010-02-05T14:51:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles covering baseball, Birmingham Barons, Birmingham Black Barons, Rickwood Field, Phillips High School, Highland Avenue, and Shiloh Baptist Church have been added to the Digital Collection.

The New Deal in Jefferson County, Alabama

2009-10-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

If you have viewed Birmingham from atop Vulcan, cheered for the Hueytown Golden Gophers at the Gilmore-Vines stadium, or admired East Lake library's mural, then you have experienced one of the legacies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.

If you have a New Deal story or memory to share, or a comment to make, add it in the comments below.

For more information about the New Deal in Jefferson County, go to http://www.bplonline.org/resources/exhibits/new_deal/

Shiloh Baptist Church Stampede 1902

2009-09-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

Now available online:

Trumpet blast: an interview with witnesses and the National Baptist Convention after more that one hundred persons had died in a stampede caused by a false alarm of fire during an evening session of the National Baptist Convention in Shiloh Baptist Church, southeast corner Nineteenth Street and Avenue G, Birmingham, Ala., September 19, 1902

Community Foundation Celebrates 50 Years

2009-05-21T04:59:00.000-07:00

The Archives Department of the Birmingham Public Library was honored to take part in the celebration of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham's 50th anniversary. Photos provided by the Archives were included in a fast-paced and uplifting video created by filmmaker Mark Hendren for the celebration. Check out the Foundation's blog to read more about the event and the video.

Birmingham Education 1921-1931

2009-03-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Report of Progress, Birmingham Public Schools: September 1, 1921 to August 31, 1931, a book published by the Birmingham Board of Education in 1931, is now available online. Coverage includes the administration, class instruction, school property, statistics, a school census, and finance.

One of the most interesting features of this publication is the numerous photographs of the school buildings, classrooms and students. Take a peek inside.

1911 Birmingham High School Yearbook

2009-03-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

Recently added to the Birmingham Public Library's Digital Collections database is Birmingham High School's 1911 yearbook, The Mirror.

Woodward family newspaper articles added

2009-03-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

Newspaper articles about the Woodward family, one of Birmingham's most prominent families, have been added to the BPL Digital Collections database. The Woodwards founded the Woodward Iron Company and were involved in several other companies and philanthropic endeavors. The best known of the Woodward family members, Rick Woodward, was the owner of the Birmingham Barons from 1909 to 1936 and Rickwood Field was named in his honor.

Photographs added

2009-02-11T05:49:00.000-08:00

Photographs of Birmingham's airport and Bruno's grocery store have been added.

Jones Valley High School Yearbooks

2008-12-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the kind generosity of Mr. Bob Roper who donated scanned images of 40 Jones Valley High School yearbooks, we have been able to index and make these yearbooks available as part of BPL's Digital Collections database.

Enjoy!

Photos of local churches online

2008-11-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

Several Jefferson County Board of Equalization photographs of local churches are now available available online in Birmingham Public Library's Digital Collection.

Happy Halloween from the Birmingham Jaycees

2008-10-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

In 1977 Mayor David Vann received a spooky surprise when characters from the Birmingham Jaycees haunted house showed up at his weekly press conference.

Woodlawn newspaper articles added

2008-09-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

Thirty-four newspaper articles about the Woodlawn community were recently added to the BPL Digital Collections database.

Birmingham newspapers 1874-1887 available online

2008-08-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

Birmingham's oldest microfilmed newspapers, The Birmingham Iron Age (1874-1884) and The Weekly Iron Age (1884-1887) are now available online in Birmingham Public Library's Digital Collection.

The Birmingham Iron Age began publication on February 12, 1874 when the city of Birmingham, Alabama was only 26 months old. The original publishers were Duval, Roberts and Persinger but during the early years ownership changed many times. On May 1, 1884 the name of the weekly newspaper was changed to The Weekly Iron Age.

The digital images in this collection were scanned from microfilm copies owned by the Birmingham Public Library.

Green Springs Neighborhood

2008-07-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

Newspaper articles about the Green Springs neighborhood have been added to the online digital collection.

Birmingham Magazine February 1916

2008-06-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

The Birmingham Magazine published by the Chamber of Commerce for February 1916 is now available online.

Table of Contents
Regulation of Birmingham Rates Through the Use of the Warrior River by J. T. Slatter p. 9
Benefits of Electricity to Birmingham Manufacturers by W. E. Mitchell p. 14
Birmingham's Office by T P. Hay, Jr. p. 15
Uniform Cost Methods by Charles Neville by p. 17
Birmingham The City of Lights by Frank Hammond p. 19
Editorial Comment p. 20
Business Men's League Notes by Sam H. Fowlkes p. 22
Woman Suffrage by Mrs. Oscar R. Hundley p. 23
The Phenomenal Growth of Birmingham by Robert N. Waldrop p. 25
Jefferson County—Its Road Problems by George H. Clark p. 27
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce p. 29
National Highways by Alma Rittenberry p. 31
The Birmingham Ad Club by H. D. Cullen p. 33
A Rich Mine by Emily Van Dorn Miller p. 35
Agricultural Notes p. 37
Without Malice But Without Compromise by the Editor and Publisher and the Journalist p. 41
Get Together, Stay Together; Then Advertise by E. B. Beason p. 45
Old Negro Songs of the South by Alma Rittenberry p. 47
What, the Press and Our Friends Think of Us p. 49
Palmistry by The DeBrooks p. 51
Interesting Statistics on the Country's Motor Car Industry by Alfred Reeves p. 52
Who's Who in Business Birmingham p. 53
Business Men, Firms and Corporations of Birmingham p. 57
Proceedings of the City Commission p. 65
Information p. 2

Glen Iris and Southside neighborhoods

2008-06-19T05:43:00.000-07:00

Several newspaper articles about the Glen Iris and Southside neighborhoods have been added to the Digital Collections database.

Birmingham Magazine January 1916

2008-06-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Birmingham Magazine published by the Chamber of Commerce for January 1916 is now available online.

Table of Contents
The Panama Canal and the Birmingham District C. M. Evans p. 9
What Concrete Has Done for Civilization P. E. Chalifoux p. 11
Bessemer Canal vs. Armor Plant W. P. Gunn p. 13
The Building Manager of Today T. P. Hay, Jr. p. 14
Some Business Blunders Franklin H. Tonsmeire p. 15
Business Men's League Items Sam H. Fowlkes p. 17
Editorial Comment p. 18
Woman Suffrage at the Alabama State Fair Mrs. Oscar R. Hundley p. 20
Library Talk Carl Milam p. 22
Good Roads and Highways Alma Rittenberry p. 25
New Phase of the Convict Question George H. Clark p. 27
Industries for Birmingham William Blanks Everett p. 30
The Birmingham District E. B. Beason p. 31
The Birmingham Ad Club H. D. Cullen p. 32
The Distributing Powers of Birmingham and Their Restricted Use J. P. Slatter p. 33
Agricultural Notes: Controlling Anthrax p.34
Sales of Old Products by Publicity Edward M. Hager p. 36
Woman of Today Maye Teressa Holder p. 36
Proceedings of the City Commission p. 51
The New Birmingham Chamber of Commerce p. 61
Palmistry DeBrooks p. 71
Information p. 4

Clayton Park

2008-06-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Newspaper articles about the creation and dedication of Clayton Park (1951-1952) were recently added to the Digital Collection.

La Paree photographs added

2008-04-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Three photographs of the exterior and interior of the 2013 5th Avenue North building that the La Paree restaurant occupied for many years have been added to the collection.

Photographs Added March 28

2008-03-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Photographs featuring President Roosevelt visiting Fairfield, street scenes, streetcars, libraries and more. Click here to view all the new photographs.

Photographs Added February 21

2008-02-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

Photographs of Consolidated Dairies, East Lake Atheneum, Florence Hotel, Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk Factory, Capitol Theatre, Galax Theatre, and Strand Theatre were recently added. To view the photographs click here.

Margaret Allen School 1915

2008-02-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

The 1915 yearbook for the Margaret Allen School was recently added to the online database.

"'A day in June' is an almost every-day affair in Birmingham, there is nothing at all rare about it. What about a day in February when it snows? Ah, that is rare indeed! So rare is it, that last year none of us who were ten, or twelve, or maybe fourteen, had ever seen snow that "stayed on the ground." And one of us, older than that, whose home was in Florida, had never even seen a snow fall! Is it any wonder that we ran eagerly to school to know what the others thought of it? So hurriedly did we come, and so unused were we to this experience, that we came in oxfords and without sign of overshoes, causing many wise and disapproving looks from the teachers, and much following up, by parents, with things that go with snows.

The "grown-ups," realizing at once that there was much fun in store for us out of doors; because they had seen one or two real snows in Alabama, gave us a half-holiday. They knew that we would be too old and too big to play in the next one. This is a picture of a crowd of the happiest of us, taken on the roof garden. The roof garden has been the scene of many good times in the sunshine, but only once have we stood on it with our feet deep buried in snow." ~ page 45

Photographs Added

2008-02-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

Photographs depicting the Birmingham Gun Club, Redmont Tire Company, women's suffrage, Henley School, Tutwiler Hotel, Fairfield Theatre, Royal Theatre, and the 1893 Avondale Croquet Club were recently added. Click here to view the images.

Barker School newspaper stories online

2008-02-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles about Barker School are now available online. Most of the articles cover the 1941 fire that destroyed the school.

Powell School Items Added

2008-02-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles and a typewritten letter about Powell School have been added to the Digital Collections database. Click here to view.

Boutwell Auditorium Photos

2008-02-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

Four photographs of Boutwell Auditorium were recently added to the Digital Collections database.

Schools, Airport, First National Bank and The Club

2008-02-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

Click on the links below to see the most recently added photographs to BPL's Digital Collections.

Birmingham Airport Terminal
Birmingham Airport Terminal Front View
Bush School
The Club dance floor
Council School
Elyton Elementary School
Ensley High School
Fairview School
First National Bank of Birmingham Board of Directors
Gibson Elementary School
Lee Elementary School
Lewis School
North Birmingham School
Norwood School
Washington School
West End High School construction
West End High School exterior
Wylam Elementary School

227 Photographs Of Birmingham From 1923

2008-01-30T07:04:00.000-08:00

Over 200 photographs covering a wide-range of topics were published in 1923 as photographic plates in a nine-part portfolio titled Art Work of Birmingham, Ala. This entire work has been digitized and added to Birmingham Public Library's Digital Collections database. Photographs included in the portfolio depict parks, homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and churches. To see all nine parts click here.

Eleanor Roosevelt Program 1938, Birmingham, AL.

2008-01-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

The sixteen page program of Eleanor Roosevelt's lecture visit to Birmingham, Alabama is available online. Almost all of the content is made up of advertisements. Roosevelt's presentation was held in Birmingham's Auditorium and the title of her lecture was "The Individual's Relationship to the Community".

Click here to view the program.

Birmingham Public Library Reports Online

2008-01-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

Several years of reports by the Birmingham Public Library (Alabama) are available online.

1934-1937
1937-1947
1947-1953
50th Anniversary (1960)
1977-1987

George Ward For Sheriff In 1910

2008-01-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

The 48 page pamphlet published in 1910 by Birmingham Mayor George Ward titled George Ward Made A Business Mayor, George Ward Will Make A Business Sheriff, Help Him Win has been digitized and is available online. There is much statistical and historical information about Birmingham featured in this work. As George Ward states on the back cover of his pamphlet:

"The primary object in sending out this little book is, of course, to present to the people of Jefferson County whatever claims and qualifications I may have for the office of Sheriff. By way of atonement, however, for inflicting so much matter, purely personal, on their attention, there is also set forth much interesting data concerning the County Government, its voting strength, duties of Sheriff, Etc., Etc. It is hoped this information will prove of enough permanent value, and in form sufficiently attractive, to justify its being preserved for future use."

Click here to view this pamphlet.

Ensley High School Yearbooks

2008-01-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

The 1917, 1923, and 1924 Ensley High School yearbooks are available online and are full-text searchable. Click here to browse through the three annuals.

Phillips High School Pen and Brush Club

2007-10-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Two Phillips High School calendars featuring the beautiful artwork of the Pen and Brush Club are now available online for viewing.

1937 Calendar & 1938 Calendar

Birmingham Magazine October 1915

2007-10-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

The Birmingham Magazine published by the Chamber of Commerce for October 1915 is now available online. Click here to view the entire issue.

Table of Contents

"Economy and Efficiency in Business" by Franklin H. Tonsineire

"Legendary Shades Mountain" by C. Bryant Schaefer

"Bessemer End of the Canal" by W. P. Gunn

"Buildings and Business by F. W. Fitzpatrick

"The Leeds Highway" by Geo. H. Clark

"Purposes of the Weather Bureau" by F. C. Horton

"Woman Suffrage and the Legislature" by Mrs. O. R. Hundley

"The Present Business Outlook" by W. T. Gentry

"Accumulative Value of Advertising" by F. J. Holberg

"The Rotary Club" by May Teressa Holder

Early 20th Century Movie Theaters in Birmingham

2007-09-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

In the early twentieth century, Birmingham was home to numerous movie theaters. O. V. Hunt, Birmingham's well known photographer, captured the exteriors of many of these buildings. 26 of his photographs were recently added to our Digital Collections Database and the descriptions are below.

3rd Avenue North and 18th Street
Alcazar Theatre advertising Peggy Hyland in Persuasive Peggy
Alcazar Theatre's While New York Sleeps movie display
Birmingham Theatre
Boy Scouts at the Odeon Theatre
Construction of the Alabama Theatre
Erlanger Theatre
Galax Theatre's The Kentuckians movie display
Heliotrope at the Galax Theatre
Law of the Yukon at the Galax Theatre
Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre advertising The Iron Horse
North Birmingham Theatre and Waters Theatre Co.
Odeon Theatre and The Riddle Rider
Pantage Theatre
Ritz Theatre
Royal Theatre
Silk Hosiery at the Galax Theatre
Strand Theatre advertising Alarm Clock Andy
Strand Theatre and Fatty Arbuckle
Strand Theatre's Black Is White movie display
Strand Theatre's The Round Up movie display
Streetcar employees going to the Lyric Theatre
Trianon Theatre advertising Anne of Green Gables
Trianon Theatre's Charlie Chaplin in The Kid movie display
Watts Building and Empire Theatre

Click here to see the recently added photographs.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

2007-09-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Three issues of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce's publication Birmingham are now available online.

October 1, 1919

November 1919

January 1920

Birmingham architecture and church directory

2007-09-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Two books that may be of interest to local architects, historians and genealogists are now available online.

Architectural work, Wheelock, Joy & Wheelock, Birmingham, Ala. Published in 1905, this book consists mostly of engraved images of homes and businesses within the city.

Birmingham Church Directory of Birmingham, Alabama containing a full and accurate history of each church represented, together with a complete list of the societies of each church, their officers and objects. This directory contains the membership of nine of the leading churches in the city of Birmingham. This directory was compiled by Fred W. Green in 1896.

Tuxedo Junction and three local parks

2007-09-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Newspaper articles covering Tuxedo Junction, Tuxedo Heights neighborhood and three parks (Inglenook, Jemison and Jordan) are available online.

Cruikshank's History of Birmingham, volume 2

2007-08-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

The second volume of A History of Birmingham and its environs: a narrative account of their historical progress, their people, and their principal interests published in 1920 by George M. Cruikshank is available online.

Comprised of short biographies, this volume provides a glimpse into the lives of prominent Birmingham citizens. A sampling of some of the more well-known names include Yielding, Ward, Tutwiler, Ruffner, Rushton, Ramsay, Pratt, Pizitz, O'Neal, Mudd, Messer, Loveman, Jemison, Ingalls, Henley, Hanson, Estes, Edwards, Drennen, Carraway, and Caldwell. To view an index of all of the names included in volume 2 click here.

A special thanks goes to our volunteer librarian, Carole Castine who made this online version possible.

New photographs online

2007-08-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Twenty-five photographs have been added to the Birmingham Public Library's Digital Collections database.

Subjects include:

A. G. Gaston
Alabama Boys Industrial School
Alabama Theatre
Blach's
Cascade Plunge
David Vann
Downtown Leeds
Eleventh Avenue Methodist Church
Emory O. Jackson
Empire Theatre
Ensley High School
Erskine Ramsay
Etheridge Brothers Barber Shop
Fair Park Swimming Pool
Highland Court Apartments
Homewood Theatre
Hunter Street Baptist Church
Messer Field
Nina Miglionico
Parisian
Powell Elementary School
Roberts Field Whisky Stills
Take a look.

1911 History of the Jews of Birmingham, Alabama

2007-08-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

In 1911, The Reform Advocate published a lengthy article titled "The History of the Jews of Birmingham". The entire article is available and searchable in Birmingham Public Library's online digital collections database.

Contents include:
Temple Emanuel history by Rabbi Morris Newfield
The Ladies Benevolent Society
The Ladies Aid Society
The Temple Chapter
The Council of Jewish Women
Temple Kindergarden
Young People's Study Club of Temple Emanuel
Phoenix Club
Birmingham B'Nai B'rith Lodge
The Young Men's Hebrew Association
Birmingham the Pittsburgh of the South by Benjamin S. Gross

Short biographies (many include photographs):
Rabbi Morris Newfield
M. V. Joseph
Gustave Rotholz
Adolph Bernard Loveman
Simon Klotz
Burghard Steiner
Samuel Ullman
Issac R. Hochstadter
Jacob Fies
Morris Adler
Benjamin Moses Jacobs
Elias Gusfield
Samuel Adler
Bertram Jacobs
Emil Lesser
Mrs. Morris Adler
Mrs. Ben Weil
Mrs. Maurice Lenk
Benjamin Samuel Gross
Leo K. Steiner
Chester G. Bandman
Benjamin Franklin Ezekiel
Joseph Beitman
Isadore Shapiro
Samuel Marx
B. Wellman
Emanuel Rubel
Samuel Stern
Aaron Stern

Woman's suffrage in Alabama

2007-07-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

On Febrary 3, 1912, William H. Sims presented a paper before Birmingham, Alabama's Quid pro Quo Club titled Why Not Woman's Suffrage In Alabama? His entire paper is now available online. To read his stance on female voting, click here.

Cruikshank's History of Birmingham

2007-06-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

The first volume of A History of Birmingham and its environs: a narrative account of their historical progress, their people, and their principal interests published in 1920 by George M. Cruikshank is available online. The entire text (441 pages) may be read and searched electronically. Chapters in volume one include:

Chapter I Meaning of the Birmingham
Chapter II The story of coal
Chapter III Corporate development of iron fields
Chapter IV Alabama iron, Confederate backbone
Chapter V Consolidated iron interests
Chapter VI Planning and building of Birmingham
Chapter VII Newspapers and editors
Chapter VIII Corporate history of Birmingham
Chapter IX Birmingham as it is
Chapter X Jefferson County matters
Chapter XI Professional things and people
Chapter XII The City beautiful
Chapter XIII Cultural agencies
Chapter XIV Religious and charitable institutions
Chapter XV Secret, benevolent and social bodies
Chapter XVI Banks and financiers
Chapter XVII Military and war record
Chapter XVIII Bessemer etchings
Chapter XIX Historical background

A special thanks goes to our volunteer librarian, Carole Castine who made this online version possible.

New photographs available

2007-05-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Twenty-seven photographs covering subjects such as grocery stores, dental clinics, bicycles, downtown buildings, Barons baseball, funeral homes and Coca-Cola are now available online. Take a look.

Ramsay High School photographs

2007-04-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Six photographs of Ramsay High School have been added to the collection. Take a look at the athletic field, an outdoor assembly, and the groundbreaking ceremony for Ramsay's auditorium here.

Birmingham magazine 1925-1927

2007-04-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

June 1925, December 1925, September 1926 and December 1927 issues of the magazine Birmingham are now available online in BPL's Digital Collections database.

Some of the subjects discussed in these four issues include the history of Jemison & Company, Hercules Powder Company, Augusta Friedman Shop and Liberty Life Assurance Society. Industrial activities, civic events, state income tax and the city's growth are also highlighted.

Social interpretation of Birmingham in 1912

2007-04-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

The weekly publication The Survey published a report about conditions in Birmingham, Alabama in January 1912. Topics included in the report cover the city's civic front, water and waste, health, childhood, labor, and religion. Numerous photographs documenting conditions in Birmingham are included in this report and make this social survey an interesting and sometimes shocking read. Local responses to the January 1912 publication were published in February 1912 and are located at the end of this document. The complete report is here.

Birmingham Magazine 1919

2007-03-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

March and September issues of the magazine Birmingham published in 1919 were recently added to the Digital Collections' database.

1913 social directory

2007-03-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

The names of citizens who participated "in the social and prominent life" of Birmingham in 1913 are found in the directory titled Blue Book Birmingham 1913. This book has been digitized and is available for viewing and searching. Names, addresses and phone numbers make up the majority of this book but there are also a few photographs of buildings and local advertisements included as well.

Birmingham Magazine 1915

2007-03-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

We recently added the v.1, no. 1 edition of Birmingham Magazine to BPL's Digital Collections Database.

Table of Contents

A Letter of Appreciation From E. H. GARY.

The Industrial Situation By E. H. GARY.

Social Service Work of City Commission By GEORGE B. WARD, President City Commission.

The Diversified Farming Association, What it is Doing By MARIE BANKHEAD OWEN, Secretary Central Association.

Education in Birmingham By DR. J. H. PHILLIPS, Superintendent of Education.

Woman Suffrage in Alabama By MRS. BOSSIE O'BRIEN HUNDLEY.

Editorial Comment Business Men's League Item By SAM H. FOWLKES, Secretary.

Roads and Highways By ALMA RITTENBERRY.

Birmingham Permanent Manufacturers' Exhibit By J. H. EDMUNDSON. Secretary-Manager.

Library Talk By CARL MILAM, Director Public Library.

Proceedings of City Commishion By the Board of Commissioners.

Building Up a City

Invitation to Alabama Merchants

Loveman's 1934 fire

2007-02-22T10:19:00.000-08:00

In 1934, Birmingham's Loveman, Joseph & Loeb department store caught fire and burned. First-hand accounts from firemen, policemen, medical personnel and radio broadcasters were compiled and issued for the benefit of the Birmingham Firemen's Relief Association. This compilation, Illustrated Souvenir : Birmingham's $3,000,000 fire, March 10, 1934 is now available online.

1893 Birmingham book

2007-02-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

The Birmingham, Alabama, September, 1893 : plain statement for the homeseeker, the investor and the manufacturer book is now available for viewing. There are 33 pages of text, drawings and photographs highlighting the advantages of living and working in Birmingham.

1906 Views of Birmingham pamphlet online

2007-02-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

The 1906 pamphlet Views of Birmingham: the Iron Center of the World is available online for viewing. There are 32 pages of photographs depicting businesses, schools, churches, industry, and hospitals in the Birmingham area.

Ensley newspaper articles available

2007-01-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles about Ensley, Alabama are available for viewing. These 27 articles include the full text and cover such topics as Ensley's Chamber of Commerce, Christmas, schools, shopping, and construction. Additional items covering Ensley will be available soon.

1887 Pocket Business Directory available

2007-01-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

The 1887 Pocket Business Directory and Guide to Birmingham, Ala. is available online with full text searching capabilities. The suburbs of Avondale, Elyton, Pratt Mines, and Woodlawn are included as well as information about city and country government, schools, churches, newspapers, and labor organizations.

Archives Will Digitize Birmingham's Founding Documents with New Overhead Scanner

2006-12-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

Birmingham Public Library
Press Release
December 19, 2006

Celebrating 30 years of service to the Birmingham community, the Birmingham Public Library’s Archives will embark on an ambitious project to make its extensive collection more accessible to teachers, students, researchers, and the general public. With a state-of-the-art overhead scanner—purchased with grants from the community—the Archives will scan Birmingham’s founding documents including the original survey for the city. The 133-year-old volume contains the original maps and field notes of the survey team that laid out Birmingham's streets in 1872. The Archives will also now be able to digitize atlases such as the Beers and Ellis Atlas of Birmingham—a rare 1887 atlas containing full color maps of downtown Birmingham; Baist's Property Atlas of Birmingham—a rare 1902 atlas of full-color maps of downtown Birmingham; and other historic maps and illustrations of early Birmingham.

“With this type of overhead scanner, the Archives can safely scan materials that are too fragile or too cumbersome for a standard scanner,” said Head Archivist Jim Baggett. He anticipates that a high-quality scanner will allow the Archives to digitize many one of a kind historic documents and make them available on the Internet.

The Archives will share the scanner with Oak Hill Cemetery, which holds an estimated 10,000 burials and associated interment records from the city’s founding to the present. The Cemetery, which is the burial place for many of the city’s founding families, will use the scanner to digitize interment records, providing the public with important information about Birmingham’s founders.

According to Library Director Barbara Sirmans, “this equipment will enable the Library to push forward with several of our key goals. It will provide adequate and appropriate technology for users to access the information they need. It will also greatly accelerate our effort to offer outstanding online content drawn from the Library’s own special collections.” Using current technology for the benefit of patrons is crucial to the Archives. The number of files Archives staff retrieve for researchers has gone up more than 60 percent in the last six years, and placing fragile items online is imperative for original documents to remain in-tact for generations to come.

The Birmingham Public Library Archives holds over 30,000,000 documents and over 400,000 photographs on subjects ranging from local to international significance. Subject areas of particular strength include local government, urban and economic development, industry and the labor movement, women's history, religious history, art, music, literature, sports, and the largest collection in existence relating to the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham.

The collection is open to the public and draws researchers from the U.S. and around the world. In 2005 the Archives served nearly 2,000 local, national, and international researchers with a record 95,000 files. In 2004, the work of one researcher won an Academy Award, adding to works researched in the Archives that have earned an Emmy, a Peabody, and three Pulitzer Prizes.

The scanner purchase was made possible with very generous support from the Birmingham Public Library Foundation, Vulcan Materials Company, Glenn Ireland, William Ireland, Energen, David Herring and the Oak Hill Memorial Association, the Birmingham Historical Society and the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library.

History of Parker High School

2006-12-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

The full text of Arthur Harold Parker's autobiography A Dream That Came True is available online. Parker, who was principal of Industrial High School (later renamed Parker High School), details the history of African American education in Birmingham, Alabama from 1888 through 1920.

Trucks photographed by O. V. Hunt

2006-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

15 of Oscar V. Hunt's delivery trucks photographs have been added to the BPL Digital Collections database. Drive on in and check it out.

McElwain School, Krystal in Woodlawn & many more photos

2006-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Twenty-six additional photographs from the Jefferson County (AL) Board of Equalization were recently added to our BPL Digital Collections database. Images include businesses, churches, and schools in Birmingham.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce publication (May 1925)

2006-10-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce's Birmingham publication for May 1925 is now available. Contents include:

A story of the Wofford Oil Company
Industrial Birmingham, survey and outlook
Junior Chamber of Commerce activities
Birmingham's Safety Council functions
Early history of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

20 photographs of businesses, schools and theaters online

2006-09-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Jefferson County (AL) Board of Equalization was responsible for photographing all structures within Jefferson County for the purpose of taxation. BPL's Archives Department is responsible for preserving 1500 boxes of the Board's files (including photographs) covering the years 1938-1977. Twenty of these photographs were recently added to our BPL Digital Collections database. Images include businesses, churches, and schools in Birmingham and Homewood.

Birmingham’s Victorian Bicycle Craze

2006-09-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Bicycles, known colloquially in the nineteenth century as “wheels,” offered a new kind of mobility that many women embraced. While some worried that having women riding about on bicycles would lead to moral decay, bicycle manufactures catered to the new clientele and Victorian era women found freedom on their bikes....(read more)

Newspaper Articles, Photograph and Postcard

(Part of Birmingham Magazine's monthly feature on Birmingham history highlighting items from the Archives’ collections)

Structures in Jefferson County (AL)

2006-09-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Jefferson County (AL) Board of Equalization was responsible for photographing all structures within Jefferson County for the purpose of taxation. BPL's Archives Department is responsible for preserving 1500 boxes of the Board's files (including photographs) covering the years 1938-1977. Forty-nine of these photographs were recently added to our BPL Digital Collections database. Images include businesses, churches, and schools in downtown Birmingham, Center Point, and Ensley.

Birmingham's Vintage Service Stations

2006-09-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

Birmingham's Vintage Service Stations
It seems unlikely that today’s American roadside architecture will ever inspire a sense of nostalgia. Big box discount stores and fast food restaurants are interchangeable from one location to the next. Gas stations, or to be precise, convenience stores, are distinguishable only by the color of the trim on the square, flat buildings. But the builders of gas stations, or to be precise, service stations, once used popular architectural styles and whimsy to catch the eye of passing motorists. More...

Five Points West newspaper articles added

2006-08-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

An additional 39 Five Points West newspaper articles have been added to collection.

More Photographs by Charles Preston

2006-07-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

36 images photographed by Charles Preston are now available for viewing. Some of the subjects depicted are from the 1940s and 50s and include: bellhops, Barons, businesses, Bob Hope, Booker T. Washington Insurance Co., Bingle, Betbeze, Burns, and beans.

Charles Preston's Photographs

2006-07-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

24 images photographed by Charles Preston are now available for viewing. Some of the subjects depicted are from the 1950s and include: Dale's Cellar, Bankhead Hotel, Loveman's, Alabama Theatre, Jim Burke Buick, Krystal Hamburgers, Duke Rumore and WSGN.

Birmingham's Tourist Courts

2006-07-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

As automobiles became affordable and reliable in the early 20th century, many Americans ventured out on long vacation trips into areas of the country not served by rail. Finding few places to stay, early auto travelers often slept in their cars or camped in tents. Enterprising residents along highways rented camp spaces in their yards or rooms in their homes. Towns and cities opened green spaces for camping, and some provided amenities like toilets, showers, drinking water and fire wood. By the 1930s, tourist courts lined American highways. Offering the comfort and privacy of small one-room cabins, tourist courts were a significant step up from sleeping on the ground or in the back seat. More...

W. Cooper Green and H. M. Caldwell resources online

2006-07-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Learn more about the man behind the name Cooper Green through newspaper clippings and documents.

See a detailed engraving of H. M. Caldwell and read his pamphlet History of the Elyton Land Company and Birmingham, Ala.

Mountain Terrace pamphlet available

2006-07-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

The pamphlet Mountain Terrace: the Residence Park of Birmingham (1907) is now available online. The entire text is included and is searchable.

History of Birmingham and the Elyton Land Company

2006-06-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

H. M. Caldwell's book History of the Elyton Land Company and Birmingham, Ala. (1892) is now available online. The entire text is included and is searchable.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing

2006-06-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

33 additional newspaper articles about the bombing, investigations, and trial of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing are available.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing Investigation

2006-05-25T06:22:00.000-07:00

Newspaper articles about the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing investigation and trials are now available for viewing. To see all the photographs and newspaper articles about the bombing and the investigation click here.

Wild West comes to Birmingham

2006-05-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Founded during America’s westward migration, early Birmingham shared numerous traits with towns from the notorious Wild West. A nineteenth-century boomtown populated by many young, unattached men, Birmingham was once a place of dirt streets, wooden sidewalks, saloons and occasional gun fights. Read contemporary news stories here.

Birmingham's Turn-of-the-Century Lake Resorts

2006-04-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

The streetcar brought tremendous changes to the everyday lives of Americans. Beginning in the late 1800s, the streetcar encouraged the growth of suburbs by allowing people to live miles from their work. The streetcar also opened new avenues for amusement that led to the development of Birmingham’s turn-of-the-century lake resorts. More...

Collection Included in Index

2006-03-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

BPL's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing Collection was recently added to the
Librarians' Internet Index: Websites You Can Trust.

Five Points West

2006-03-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

Thirty-two newspaper articles about the Five Points West neighborhood have been added to the database.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing

2006-02-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

On September 15, 1963, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and killed four little girls. These powerful images, newspaper clippings, and documents show the immediate and widespread destruction of the tragedy and heartbreak that inspired a movement.

Birmingham's Semi-Centennial

2006-02-17T05:22:00.000-08:00

Newspaper articles and photographs depicting the 50th anniversary of Birmingham's founding are now available for viewing

2006-02-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Birmingham’s Ill-Fated Mardi Gras
Around 1900 Birmingham celebrated Mardi Gras with kings, queens, parades and balls. See contemporary accounts, photographs, and invitations to a short-lived part of Birmingham's history here.

Avondale photographs

2006-01-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

14 photographs of the Avondale community were recently added. Check it out.

Photographs of Birmingham added

2006-01-25T04:52:00.000-08:00

31 photographs from The Birmingham News Collection are now available online.