Literature in the Louisiana Plantation Home Prior to 1861: a Study in Literary Culture
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1937 Literature in the Louisiana Plantation Home Prior to 1861: A Study in Literary Culture. Walton R. Patrick Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Part of the English Language and Literature Commons Recommended Citation Patrick, Walton R., "Literature in the Louisiana Plantation Home Prior to 1861: A Study in Literary Culture." (1937). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 7803. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/7803 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MANUSCRIPT THESES Unpublished theses submitted for the master^ and doctor*s degrees and deposited in the Louisiana State University Library are available for inspection* Use of any thesis is limited by the rights of the author* Bibliographical references may be noted, but passages may not be copied unless the author has given permission# Credit must be given in subsequent written or published work* A library which borrows this thesis for use by its clientele is expected to make sure that the borrower is aware of the above res trictions * LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LITERATURE IN THE LOUISIANA PLANTATION HOME PRIOR TO 1861 A STUDY IN LITERARY CULTURE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH Walton Richard Patrick M. A.» Louisiana State University, 1954 1 9 5 7 UMI Number: DP69181 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI DP69181 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Earl L. Bradsher, Professor of American Literature at the Louisiana State University, under whose direction this study was written. To the following I express my thanks for their kindness in permitting me to make bibliographies of of collections used In this study: Miss Susie Smith, Innls; Dr. M. 0. Becnel, New Beads $ Miss Eva Scott, Jackson; Mrs. Gene Campbell, Vidalla; Mrs. Cainmie Garrett Henry, Melrose; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dimmlok, Opelousas; Mr. Jack Lester, St. Franclsville; Mr. S. L. Winston, Vidalla; and Mrs. Willie A. Beard, Vidalia. I express my appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Farlange, New Roads, for permitting me to use a portion of the inventory of the estate of Vincent Ternant; to Garrel Seal for a bibliography of the Doniphan collection; to Mr. Rufus Mcllhenny, Avery Island, for a bibliography of the A. B. Henshaw collection; to Mrs. Ethel C* Dameron, Port Allen, for a bibliography of the Claiborne collection, to Mrs. Alphonse Frudhomme, Bermuda, for a bibliography of the Prudhomme collection; and to Mr. Herd Campbell, Morganza, for a bibliography of books formerly belonging \ Q to Dr. Bains* X am especially indebted to A* H* Seouten, whose aid in securing bibliographies was invaluable* To M* D. Horne* to Miss Grey Hughes* to Miss Lois Morris* I express my appreciation for their generous aid* For general assistance X am Indebted to Iyle Saxon* Judge W. 0* Carruth* Dr* J* D. Sewell* John T* Burner* Olet A* Girard, and the late Judge Charles Kilboume* X wish also to thank those people throughout the State who have supplied information regarding the location and ownership of various ante-bellum collections. Particularly, X wish to thank Dr* 0* W* Pipkin* Bean of the Louisiana State University Graduate School, for his generous assistance* Mr* James A* McMillan, Librarian., has Shown me many courtesies by placing at my disposal bibliographies of ante-bellum libraries purchased for the Hill Memorial Library* Finally, X owe a special debt of gratitude to Miss Miriam Morris* i&o* by her constant assistance* has loads lighter the most tedious parts of this study* W. H. P* CONTENTS Acknowledgments i Abstract . • . lii CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. GENERAL A3P1CT3 OF LITERARY CULTURE IN ANTE-BELLUM LOUISIANA ............. 18 i. The Plantation System Before 1861 ii. Evidence of Interest in Literature: Booksellers and Public Libraries iii. Plantation Libraries III. THE RANGE AND GENERAL NATURE OF READING INTERESTS AS SEEN IN BOOKSELLERS ’ ADVERTISEMENTS 46 i. Popular and Standard Works ii. Literary Annuals and Gift Books Iii. Standard Sets: Cabinet and Family Libraries, Encyclopaedias, and other reference works iv. Scientific Literature v. Periodical Literature IV. r e a d i n g t a s t e as e v i d e n c e d b y c o n t e n t s o f LIBRARIES............ 84 i. Doniphan Collection ii. Smith Collection Hi. Kilbourne Collection Iv. Scott Collection v. Kenshaw Collection vi. Butler Library ▼II. Ternant Collection viii. Prudhomm© Collection ix. Becnel Collection V. PERIODICAL LITERATURE.........................119 VI. THE MAIN CURRENTS OF READING INTERESTS .... 133 1. Romanticism li. History and Biography VII. C O N C L U S I O N ................ ..... 153 APPENDIX A; Partial Collection of Franklin Circulating Library . ......... 159 AFFENDIX B: Library of Vincent Ternant........ 170 APPENDIX C: Doniphan Collection .................. 175 APPENDIX D: Smith Collection....................... 180 APPENDIX E: Kilbourne Collection................... 18© APPENDIX Fi Scott Collection....................... 189 BIBLIOGRAPHY............... ...................... 192 BIOGRAPHY ........................................ 197 ABSTRACT Southern ante-bellum plantation life has been the focusing point of an increasingly large body of writing during the past several decades* Much of this writing has dose little more than add to confused and exaggerated conceptions already existing regarding various phases of the plantation regime* Specifically, on one aspect of this life, the culture of the members of the plantation elasst there has bees more tacit acceptance of heresay evidence than factual investigation* The purpose of this study is to show the nature of the literary culture of the plantation class of ante* bellum Louisiana* This problem Is approached from two angles: from the reading Interests as reflected by booksellers9 advertisements appearing in Louisiana news papers and periodicals during the period; and from the reading Interests as indicated by contents of plantation libraries* From the combined evidence afforded by these two sources, it is possible to draw fairly accurate conclusions regarding the literary culture of the plantation class* introduction There is always a close connection between the social and economic life of any class of people and their cultural life. Therefore, it is important to consider the peculiar characteristics of the society which the plantation system fostered* The dominant ideal of southern life was the large plantation, and thus it m e the plant era ae a class who molded the eooial and intellectual life of the populate* With one ruling, arlstoeratlo olass netting the standard for the whole population, and with outside forces limited to a fairly close contact with England, traditionalism and conservatism naturally became firmly established traits of the southern personality* These led to certain distinct attitudes toward life, such as exaggerated courtesy, refinement in social life, and open-handed hospitality. Because the plantation owner was also a leader in his community, he centered interest on law, politics, and governmental affairs* The Plantation The cultural background of Louisiana System in Louisiana is unusually rich and varied. The plantation system as it existed In Louisiana before 1861 did not differ in its essential features from that of other atatee of the Lower South* One difference has an Important bearing on the Immediate problem: there was a strong French element in the population of South Louisiana. Evidence of various kinds points to a widespread interest In literature, not only among the plantation olass, but also among the yeomanry. Newspapers tad Toward the middle of the century almost Books ellere every town lied at least one newspaper* many of the larger having two or three; some newspapers maintained reading rooms for the convenience of their patrons in connection with their regular establishments* Likewise9 almost every town of any else whatever had a booksellerf and many had two or three* The majority of these evidently enjoyed a flourishing business* indleatlng that large quantities of books were being sold* naturally the planters» because they composed the wealthiest portion of the population, were the largest buyers* limitation How many plantation libraries existed in libraries Louisiana during the period under consideration end what their sixes