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Urban History Review Revue d'histoire urbaine

Gordon, Robert B., and Patrick M. Malone. The Texture of Industry: An Archaeological View of the Industrialization of North America. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994. Pp. xi, 442. Illustrations, bibliography, place and site index, subject index. $72.50 (cloth) Dianne Newell

Volume 23, Number 2, March 1995

URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1016648ar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1016648ar

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Cite this review Newell, D. (1995). Review of [Gordon, Robert B., and Patrick M. Malone. The Texture of Industry: An Archaeological View of the Industrialization of North America. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994. Pp. xi, 442. Illustrations, bibliography, place and site index, subject index. $72.50 (cloth)]. Urban History Review / Revue d'histoire urbaine, 23(2), 66–67. https://doi.org/10.7202/1016648ar

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the nature of the as an emotion, a own work with the Crawling Kingsnakes Taken together, Barrio Rhythm and Go- musical and lyrical structure, a technique to demonstrate that the blues lives in Cin• ing to Cincinnati offer the urban historian and a "way of life". Dr. Tracy presents an cinnati. a wealth of individual experience to help excellent, accessible introduction to the comprehend the state of minority cul• twelve bar root, fourth, fifth musical form It is the story of King Records that is the tures in two 20th century American cities. and the repetitive lyrical patterns that are heart of the book, however. In founding On the larger scale, both are limited in the foundation of most blues songs. King in 1944, Sydney Nathan and his the scope of their analysis. While replete relatives began an enterprise that not with commentary on conditions for indi• The first three chapters proper are part only ensured the success of many per• viduals in their respective cities, neither history and part detective story, where formers, such as Roy Brown, Wynonie really makes the larger connections to through the limited recordings, docu• Harris, Bull Moose Jackson, Bill Doggett place, society and agency that would ele• ments and personal reminiscences avail• ("Honky Tonk"), Lonnie Johnson, The vate the analysis, although here Loza is able, Tracy deconstructs the work of Dominoes ("Sixty Minute Man"), Ivory Joe the more successful (although his use of early folk artists such as Stovepipe No. 1 Hunter, John Lee Hooker, Hank Ballard quotes from himself to begin chapters is and Kid Cole. Making extensive use of and the Midnighters, Little Willie John a bit off putting). Tracy's is the livelier lyrical comparisons of the often sexually- ("Fever") and Freddy King ("Hideaway"), read, although he could have been more implicit texts, he attempts to reveal the but was notable for being integrated considerate of his northern neighbours common threads among the street musi• both on the shop floor and in musical by spelling Winnipeg correctly. Given the cians and jug band artists whose work and management direction, when this focus on individual cities and the ethno• was not well documented and identities was not considered possible in a "border graphic techniques employed in both obscured by the variety of nicknames un• city" so close to the south. - studies, they are necessarily biased by der which they recorded. These chapters producer, arranger, songwriter - was the availability of subjects: other ap• will be of interest largely to students of only the second black executive hired by proaches could enable stronger state• the evolution of the blues, but also reveal a major US label and contributed much ments on the culture of urban music. the urban and social context of the West to the overall development of blues and End: the red light district on George R&B. As well as recording blues perform• Warren Gill Street which provided employment for ers, King had a stable of country artists Department of Geography black musicians in "sporting house" or• and interchange between them was en• Simon Fraser University at Harbour chestras; Court and Sixth Streets where couraged. Like Sam Phillips of Sun Re• Centre the street musicians performed. A fuller cords in Memphis, had picture of the life of early blues artists is country artists perform R&B tunes, but developed in ethnographic-style studies also, very successfully, had black artists Gordon, Robert B., and Patrick M. of piano players Pigmeat Jarrett and Big record country tunes. This cross fertiliza• Malone. The Texture of Industry: An Joe Duskin and harmonica player James tion of black and white helped produce Archaeological View of the Mays. Through these stories a powerful some remarkable records, although to Industrialization of North America. New sense of the locality is developed; col• Nathan it was simply smart business York and Oxford: Oxford University oured by youthful rebellion in playing the practice to cover both markets with good Press, 1994. Pp. xi, 442. Illustrations, "devil's music" in the face of parental songs. King Records helped develop a bibliography, place and site index, and religious admonition. Tracy's love of pool of professional sidemen in Cincin• subject index. $72.50 (cloth). the blues and dedication to its history nati who both played on the sessions serves him well, as from his teenage and contributed to a lively blues scene at This is, without question, the most ambi• years he had the good fortune to make venues such as the Cotton, Ebony and tious study of American industrial archae• connections with artists of earlier eras, 333 Clubs. Without King Records, the de• ology in print and the most sophisticated hearing their stories and music and giv• velopment of blues in Cincinnati would ever produced in any country. Given that ing many of them the opportunity to play have been far less dynamic, but the label interest in this relatively new, eclectic the blues once again. In the concluding and its subsidiaries were influential far field of history has already leveled off in chapters Tracy turns again to the ethnog• beyond the urban boundary. Dr. Tracy most countries, this book may stand as a raphy, profiling more contemporary art• should be encouraged to take up this final monument. Produced by a formida• ists H-Bomb Ferguson and Albert larger story. ble partnership of experienced, highly in• Washington and others, as well as his terdisciplinary researchers, it provides a

66 Urban History Review/Revue d'histoire urbaine Vol. XXIII, No. 2 (March, 1995 mars) Book Reviews I Comptes rendus

thorough overview of industrial and engi• history, historical archeology, historical can economic development and also neering sites in a major industrial nation. geography, urban studies, and the his• most familiar to the authors: New Eng• More importantly, it is an intelligent, tory of industry, labour, and technology. land, water-powered industries, and the lively, expert discussion of the changing The bibliography, for example, is ex• American factory system, characterized nature of work, workplaces, and indus• tremely comprehensive for the American by interchangeable parts and mecha• trial landscapes that will be useful for un• materials and also includes the more sub• nized manufacturing. Included are dis• derstanding the recent history of any stantial publications relating to industrial cussions of evolving methods of work in industrial country. It is not, however, about archaeology in other countries, including factories, looking at the complexity of Canada, despite the authors' claims to Canada. The illustrations, both modern change from hand-craft through mecha• cover North America—which they define and historic photographs, maps, dia• nized production, automation, and the ac• as "all the land north of Mexico." (7) Noth• grams, and plans, all of American sub• companying transformation of work and ing about the book suggests any serious jects, are appropriate, plentiful, and the goods produced. All of this occurs research into or understanding of Can• beautifully reproduced, although more at• within an approach that seeks to explain ada's experience with industry and technol• tention ought to have been paid to dating how this past human behaviour and ex• ogy, or Canadian landscapes, material the photographs, old and new. The notes perience can be "read" in the contempo• culture, or sites. are extremely informative and the "intro• rary remains and representations of duction" and introductory chapter, "In• machines, workplaces, and landscapes. The definition and practice of industrial dustrial Archaeology," are studies in However, with over a decade's worth of archaeology, which began in the UK in clarity and thoroughness that essentially solid American historical scholarship indi• the 1960s, differ from country to country, compensate for the missing conclusion. cating that in every area of technological but always involves site-based study of Next is a section on industrial landscapes, and industrial change, women's experi• the surviving physical remains, or mate• organized around natural resources. In• ences different from that of men, and that rial history—the "archaeology"—of past cluded is a wonderful chapter titled "Coal, space is gendered, Gordon's and engineering, industry, and technology in Canals, Railways, and Industrial Cities." Malone's discussion of major spatial and the industrial era. While field work neces• The concluding section, on industrial work• functional relations within workplaces, sarily forms a component of the research places, ends with two skillful chapters: such as "scientific management," strategy, the objects of study are primar• "The Factory," and "Work in Factories." "deskilling" even (or especially) the shop ily those which survive above ground. floor itself, might have included at least Seldom is excavation necessary. Gordon This emphasis on work reflects the some acknowledgment of gender, or for is an accomplished scholar of geophys• authors' desire to understand the every• that matter, race, as a category of analy• ics and applied mechanics at Yale Uni• day experiences of working people and sis. versity who also teaches in the areas of working places, rather than recount the archaeological metallurgy and surface sagas of the great captains of industry This is a superb study that makes a spe• geology and has published fascinating and engineering. Indeed, they are par• cial contribution. But clearly, the days industrial archaeological studies of early ticularly tough-minded about the socio- when US experience can be assumed to iron and steel making and metal working. environmental costs of wealth, which represent Canadian experience, or that Malone, formerly head of the Old Slater becomes an underlying theme of the "class" is the only social factor worth talk• Mill Historic Site, is an expert on early book, and, for me, a refreshing departure ing about in studies of the industrial past, New England textile mill architecture, from other publications in the field (in• are, with good reason, over. This book, technology, and water-power transmis• cluding my own). "A historical and ar• then, reflects the best of the previous sion systems who teaches in the Ameri• chaeological perspective is essential in generation's research into the "industriali• can Civilization Department at Brown studying the costs of wealth," they argue, zation of North America." University. "because many of these costs become evident only over a long period of time" Dianne Newell What they have produced here is "an ex• and can be detected in the industrial ar• Past President, Society for Industrial cellent read" that should appeal to lay chaeological record. (47) Archaeology readers and specialists alike. Undoubt• Department of History edly, it is an essential reference tool for The structure and emphases reflect the University of British Columbia anyone interested in researching or industrial settings and workplaces that teaching in the areas of material culture are both important in the history of Ameri•

67 Urban History Review/Revue d'histoire urbaine Vol. XXIII, No. 2 (March, 1995 mars)