Thomas Perkins Abernethy (August 25, 1890 – November 12, 1975) was an American historian and academic. He served as a professor of early American history at a number of universities throughout the South and Southwest United States. He mainly taught early American colonial history that concentrated on southern states, their notable figures, frontier life, the move westward, and how it impacted the social, economic and political fabric of colonial America and its transition into an independent nation.
Thomas Perkins Abernethy was born on August 25, 1890, in Collirene, Alabama. His parents were Thomas Hines Abernethy and Anne (Rast) Abernethy. He married Ida Erckman Robertson of Birmingham on December 6, 1917. Abernethy's father was a Confederate soldier. His great-grandfather, Thomas Smith Abernethy, was a pioneer Methodist minister and one of the founders of the Alabama conference.[1][2]
Abernethy attended various public schools in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated high school in 1905. He attended the agricultural school Sylacauga, then attended one year at Marion Military Institute, and became a cadet sergeant; he also played on the institution's football team.[2]
Upon completion of his graduate studies at Harvard, Abernethy began his career as a professor and historian of the southern colonies and states. He returned to the Marion Military Institute and taught there from 1912 to 1914. When World War I broke out, he set aside his teaching career and joined the U.S. Army. After the war he again returned to Marion Institute and taught there for another year in 1919. Abernethy continued his teaching career and taught at the Women's College of Alabama, from 1916 to 1917, at Vanderbilt University in 1921, at the University of Chattanooga from 1922 to 1928, at the University of Alabama from 1928 to 1930, at the University of Virginia as Richmond Alumni Professor of History from 1930 to 1961, at the University of Texas from 1961 to 1962, and at the University of Arizona from 1963 to 1964. Abernethy also contributed to numerous professional journals and anthologies. He was a member of the American Historical Society and Virginia Historical Society and founder and president of the Southern Historical Society and served as its third president. In 1947 he received a Litt. D. from Washington and Lee University and the Phi Beta Kappa Award for best historical work in 1961. He was also honored by a Festschrift titled The Old Dominion; Essays for Thomas Perkins Abernethy, edited by Darrett B. Rutman.[1][3][7]
About 1970 Abernethy donated his private library, a collection of about 950 books, to the Marion Military Institute. His library included rare and first editions works, the oldest of which was printed in 1779, along with seven works written by Abernethy himself.[2]
"Abernethy, Thomas Perkins, 1890–1975". The University of Alabama, University Libraries. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
Abernethy, Thomas Perkins (1922). The formative period in Alabama, 1815–1828. Montgomery, Alabama, The Brown printing company.
—— (1961). The South in the New Nation, 1789–1819. Louisiana State University Press. ISBN978-0-8071-0004-2.
Bybee, Dennia L. "Thomas Perkins Abernethy". Virginia History Series. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
Causey, Donna R. "Biography: Dr. Thomas Perkins Abernethy born August 25, 1890". Alabama Pioneers. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
"History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
Monroe, Alden (2003). "Thomas Owen and the Founding of the Alabama Department of Archives and History". Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists. Alabama Department of Archives and History. 21 (1). Retrieved July 28, 2019.
March 04, 2023
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Thomas Perkins Abernethy August 25 1890 November 12 1975 was an American historian and academic He served as a professor of early American history at a number of universities throughout the South and Southwest United States He mainly taught early American colonial history that concentrated on southern states their notable figures frontier life the move westward and how it impacted the social economic and political fabric of colonial America and its transition into an independent nation Thomas Perkins AbernethyBorn 1890 08 25 August 25 1890Collirene Alabama U S DiedNovember 12 1975 1975 11 12 aged 85 Charlottesville Virginia U S Resting placeUniversity of Virginia CemeteryOccupationHistorian civil servantSpouseIda Robertson RobertsonSignature Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 Works 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life and education EditThomas Perkins Abernethy was born on August 25 1890 in Collirene Alabama His parents were Thomas Hines Abernethy and Anne Rast Abernethy He married Ida Erckman Robertson of Birmingham on December 6 1917 Abernethy s father was a Confederate soldier His great grandfather Thomas Smith Abernethy was a pioneer Methodist minister and one of the founders of the Alabama conference 1 2 Abernethy attended various public schools in Birmingham Alabama and graduated high school in 1905 He attended the agricultural school Sylacauga then attended one year at Marion Military Institute and became a cadet sergeant he also played on the institution s football team 2 Abernethy earned his associate degree at the College of Charleston in 1912 He then attended Harvard University and earned his master s degree in 1915 and his Ph D in 1922 1 3 Abernethy s work The Formative period in Alabama 1815 1828 published in 1922 was submitted as a doctoral dissertation to the faculty of Harvard University and was prepared under the direction of Professor Frederick Jackson Turner the archives and manuscripts collected were made available by Thomas M Owen founder of the Alabama Department of Archives and History 4 a which made the depth of Abernethy s research possible 6 Career EditUpon completion of his graduate studies at Harvard Abernethy began his career as a professor and historian of the southern colonies and states He returned to the Marion Military Institute and taught there from 1912 to 1914 When World War I broke out he set aside his teaching career and joined the U S Army After the war he again returned to Marion Institute and taught there for another year in 1919 Abernethy continued his teaching career and taught at the Women s College of Alabama from 1916 to 1917 at Vanderbilt University in 1921 at the University of Chattanooga from 1922 to 1928 at the University of Alabama from 1928 to 1930 at the University of Virginia as Richmond Alumni Professor of History from 1930 to 1961 at the University of Texas from 1961 to 1962 and at the University of Arizona from 1963 to 1964 Abernethy also contributed to numerous professional journals and anthologies He was a member of the American Historical Society and Virginia Historical Society and founder and president of the Southern Historical Society and served as its third president In 1947 he received a Litt D from Washington and Lee University and the Phi Beta Kappa Award for best historical work in 1961 He was also honored by a Festschrift titled The Old Dominion Essays for Thomas Perkins Abernethy edited by Darrett B Rutman 1 3 7 Abernethy co founded the Southern Historical Association and served as its third president He also served on the executive board of the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond for more than twenty five years 7 About 1970 Abernethy donated his private library a collection of about 950 books to the Marion Military Institute His library included rare and first editions works the oldest of which was printed in 1779 along with seven works written by Abernethy himself 2 Abernethy died in Charlottesville Virginia on November 12 1975 He is buried in University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium in Charlottesville 1 Works Edit Abernethy s works include 3 8 The South in the New Nation 1789 1819 1961 Western Lands and the American Revolution 1959 The Burr Conspiracy 1954 Three Virginia Frontiers 1940 Historical Sketches of the University of Virginia 1937 Appleton Century From Frontier To Plantation In Tennessee A Study in Frontier Democracy 1932 The Formative Period in Alabama 1815 1828 1922 See also EditCharles Henry Ambler specialized in frontier history and a contemporary of Thomas Abernethy History of Alabama History of Virginia James Kendall Hosmer American historian and librarianNotes Edit Owen authored the four volume work History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography 5 References Edit a b c d Abernethy Biography University of Alabama a b c Alabama Pioneers Historical Association Abernethy biography a b c Abernethy 1961 author profile on book cover Louisiana State University Press Provenance Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists21 no 1 2003 title page History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography Thomas M Owen Abernethy 1922 p 8 a b Virginia History Series Thomas Perkins Abernethy Biography University of AlabamaSources Edit Abernethy Thomas Perkins 1890 1975 The University of Alabama University Libraries Retrieved July 27 2019 Abernethy Thomas Perkins 1922 The formative period in Alabama 1815 1828 Montgomery Alabama The Brown printing company 1961 The South in the New Nation 1789 1819 Louisiana State University Press ISBN 978 0 8071 0004 2 Bybee Dennia L Thomas Perkins Abernethy Virginia History Series Retrieved July 27 2019 Causey Donna R Biography Dr Thomas Perkins Abernethy born August 25 1890 Alabama Pioneers Retrieved July 27 2019 History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography Alabama Department of Archives and History Retrieved July 29 2019 Monroe Alden 2003 Thomas Owen and the Founding of the Alabama Department of Archives and History Provenance Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists Alabama Department of Archives and History 21 1 Retrieved July 28 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Perkins Abernethy amp oldid 1123574230, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
