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INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6a x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. UMI' Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APOCRYPHAL GRANDEUR: BELLE GROVE PLANTATION IN IBERVILLE PARISH. LOUISIANA by Robert Mark Rudd A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Early American Culture Spring 2002 Copyright 2002 Robert Mark Rudd All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1408637 UMI UMI Microform 1408637 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APOCHRYPHAL GRANDEUR: BELLE GROVE PLANTATION IN IBERVILLE PARISH, LOUISIANA By Robert Mark Rudd Approved: ( dVg- Brock Jobe, ^*vNLA. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: dL . James/uurtis, Ph.D. Director of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture Approved:_ Mark W. Huddleston, Ph D. Acting Dean of the College of Arts and Science Approved:, Conrado M. Gempfcsrfw H, Ph.D. Vice-Provost for Academic Programs and Planning Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project has been in a reality a group effort. I am especially indebted to my thesis advisor Brock Jobe, to Neville Thompson of the Winterthur Library, and to Jeanie Solenski in Winterthur’s Downs Collection for their encouragement, assistance, guidance, and humor. Several classmates have been influential in shaping my arguments, and have along the way challenged many of my initial assumptions. They are Erin Eisenbarth, Sarah Fayen, Collin Gleason, and Amanda Glesmann. In addition, Dr. David Ames at University of Delaware was helpful early on in my research. Finally, Dr. Ritchie Garrison and Dr. James Curtis provided timely and challenging questions that shaped the direction of this study. Louisiana deserves great thanks. I am grateful for the support of Sally Stassi at the Historic New Orleans Collection, and for her exceptional hospitality during my visit there. Dr. Gary van Zant at Tulane University’s Southeastern Architectural Archive also assisted greatly in the research of this topic. James Sefcik and Kara Schneiderman of the Louisiana State Museum were exceptional and extremely helpful, and I thank as well the Museum for its help with the costs of photographic reproduction. Jesse Poesch was a great help early on as I began to formulate my ideas about Belle Grove. 1 am also grateful to the staff at Louisiana State University Library for their help in the midst of Tropical Storm Allison. People at Ashland Plantation, Destrehan Plantation, Houmas Plantation, Laura Plantation, Parlange Plantation, San Francisco Plantation, Shadows-on- the-Teche, Nottoway Plantation, and in Historic Natchez, were all greatly helpful in studying and documenting these plantations and their houses at a time when the Lower iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Mississippi was in the midst of record flooding. They lent credence to the notion of Southern hospitality. My greatest thanks go to Christine and Mrs. Marshall at Madewood Plantation for a most remarkable overnight stay in this original plantation house. Mrs. Patricia Ware, whose family owned Belle Grove Plantation, was an early promoter of this project and provided invaluable information, family records, and pointed the way to a number of little-known sources about Belle Grove House. Perhaps most of all, her enthusiasm for this project was exceptional. I also appreciate all the people who have somehow found me and who shared their interest in this project and their information about the plantation. Several people played roles in working my drafts into this final thesis. Susie Ellicott dedicated a major amount of time and talent to editing the text, and provided sharp insight and much-needed criticism of my work. Christine Sears also provided editing and suggestions on sharpening my arguments. I thank as well Professor David Johnson at Portland State University for his direction and friendship at the time I first thought of coming to Winterthur. Lauren Arena. Kathryn Bourn. Jonathan Taggart, and Anne Witty deserve credit as well for having started me on this journey. Finally, I should thank my parents, as they were never too tired to stop and look at another abandoned old house. It was as a result of a book I was given for high school graduation 23 years ago that my interest in Belle Grove began. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..............................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT......................................................................................................xi INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1 THE HOUSE THAT CANE BUILT................................................................ 3 PLANTATION DESIGN AND LAYOUT...................................................19 BELLE GROVE PLANTATION DESIGN................................................... 27 BELLE GROVE HOUSE................................................................................ 45 BELLE GROVE HOUSE DESIGN................................................................62 BELLE GROVE HOUSE INTERIORS......................................................... 81 FURNISHING BELLE GROVE...................................................................133 BELLE GROVE ENDS.................................................................................139 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................153 BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................................................156 APPENDIX A: 1850 UNITED STATES CENSUS IBERVILLE PARISH LANDOWNERS WITH PROPERTY VALUED OVER $50.000................................................................169 APPENDIX B: 1860 UNITED STATES CENSUS IBERVILLE PARISH LANDOWNERS WITH PROPERTY VALUED OVER $50,000 OR PERSONAL PROPERTY VALUED OVER $10,000, BY VALUE OF PROPERTY.............................. 171 APPENDIX C: I860 UNITED STATES CENSUS IBERVILLE PARISH LANDOWNERS WITH PROPERTY VALUED OVER $50,000 OR PERSONAL PROPERTY OVER $10,000, BY VALUE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.................... 176 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPENDIX D: 1860 UNITED STATES CENSUS IBERVILLE PARISH MARRIAGEABLE MEN AND WOMEN IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH PROPERTY VALUED OVER $100,000, BY VALUE OF REAL ESTATE.................................... 181 APPENDIX E: BELLE GROVE PLANTATION INCOME FROM SUGAR AND MOLASSES: 1850-1860 .............................185 APPENDIX F: BELLE GROVE PLANTATION INCOME 1850-1860 ...........................................................................................186 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES 1.1 Belle Grove House ............................................................... 2 2.1 Belle Grove House at Completion .....................................11 3.1 Evergreen Plantation .........................................................