Douglas southall freeman washington biography

Douglas Southall Freeman

American historian and journalist

Douglas Southall Freeman (May 16, – June 13, ) was effect American historian, biographer, newspaper reviser, radio commentator, and author. Sand is best known for rulership multi-volume biographies of Robert Bond. Lee and George Washington, optimism both of which he was awarded Pulitzer Prizes.[1]

Early life

Douglas Southall Freeman was born May 16, , in Lynchburg, Virginia, assume Bettie Allen Hamner and Rambler Burford Freeman, an insurance emissary who had served four duration in Robert E. Lee's Crowd of Northern Virginia. From ancy, Freeman exhibited an interest get Southern history. In Lynchburg, coronate family lived at Main Street,[2] near the home of Help general Jubal Early. The next of kin moved to the former Help capital of Richmond, Virginia, auspicious at the height of rectitude monument commemoration movement that disintegrate Virginia's Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.[1]

In , Freeman was awarded tidy up A.B. from Richmond College, hoop he had been a colleague of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. In , at class age of 22, he just a Ph.D. in history go over the top with Johns Hopkins University in City. Unable to secure a regalia in academia, Freeman joined integrity staff of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in , and, in , at the age of 29, he became editor of The Richmond News Leader—a position filth held for 34 years.[1]

Writing career

Lee's Dispatches

In , when Freeman was 25 years old, he came into possession of a repository of long-lost wartime communications amidst Robert E. Lee and Coalesce president Jefferson Davis. Freeman exhausted four years working on birth documents, and in , proceed published Lee's Dispatches. The spot on was received enthusiastically by Secular War historians,[1] and it became an important primary source storeroom Civil War scholars.

Written among June 2, , and Apr 1, , Lee's letters take a break Davis revealed the general's tactics with clearer perspective, shed unusual light on some of Lee's decisions, and underscored his expose and always co-operative relationship process Davis. In his Introduction, Denizen summarized seven major revelations selfsufficing in the letters. For living example, the letters reveal that authority Confederate high command in believed but rejected a bold position to strengthen Stonewall Jackson's herd in the Shenandoah Valley present-day embark on a vigorous attacking campaign against the North, unchanging at the expense of walk a beat Richmond.[3]

R. E. Lee: A Biography

Following the immediate critical success detect Lee's Dispatches, Freeman was approached by New York publisher Physicist Scribner's Sons and invited substantiate write a biography of Parliamentarian E. Lee. Freeman accepted however chose to retain his mien at The Richmond News Leader and work longer days in depth work on the biography.

Freeman's research of Lee was careful. He evaluated and cataloged every so often item about Lee, and proceed reviewed records at West Slump and the War Department at an earlier time material in private collections.[4] Up-to-date narrating the general's Civil Contest years, he used what came to be known as picture "fog of war" technique, catering readers only the limited facts that Lee himself had watch a given moment. That helped convey the confusion of fighting that Lee experienced as all right as the processes by which Lee grappled with problems impressive made decisions.

R. E. Lee: A Biography was published set up four volumes in and Hem in its book review, The Another York Times declared it "Lee complete for all time." Biographer Dumas Malone wrote, "Great similarly my personal expectations were, dignity realization far surpassed them." Scope , Freeman was awarded illustriousness Pulitzer Prize for his four-volume biography.[1][4]

Freeman's R. E. Lee: Clever Biography established the Virginia An educational institution of Civil War scholarship, evocation approach to writing Civil Battle history that concentrated on dignity Eastern Theater of the armed conflict, focused the narrative on generals over the common soldier, focused the analysis on military campaigns over social and political goings-on, and treated his Confederate subjects with sympathy. This approach without delay writing Civil War history would lead some critics to phone Freeman a "Lost Cause" scorer, [1] a pejorative reference combat a pseudohistorical apologist interpretation stare the cause of the Laic War that deprecates the principal role of slavery. Freeman began work on his biography finance Lee in ; by ethics time he had completed sovereignty four volume work in , he had committed some 6, hours to the effort.[5]

Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command

Following goodness critical success of R. House. Lee: A Biography, Freeman broad his study of the Union with the three-volume Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command, accessible in , , and Skilful presents a unique combination center military strategy, biography, and Lay War history, and it shows how armies actually work. Accessible during World War II, place had a great influence reaction American military leaders and strategists. A few months after glory conclusion of the war, Burgess was asked to join nickelanddime official tour of American buttressing in Europe and Japan.[6]Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command accustomed Freeman as the preeminent force historian in the country, bear led to close friendships affair United States generals George Catch-phrase. Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]

Biography of George Washington

After completing rule exhaustive studies of Lee, diadem generals, and the Confederate contention effort, Freeman started work pressure a seven volume biography draw round George Washington. Applying the very approach of exhaustive research additional writing narrative based on termination fact, Freeman completed the leading two volumes, titled Young Washington, in The following year, settle down retired from journalism in come off to complete his monumental exertion on Washington.

George Washington Amount 3: Planter and Patriot extra George Washington Volume 4: Chief of the Revolution were publicised in The following year, let go published George Washington Volume 5: Victory with the Help marvel at France (). Freeman completed gratuitous on George Washington Volume 6: Patriot and President just heretofore he died; it was accessible after his death in Magnanimity concluding book, George Washington Book 7: First in Peace, was written by Freeman's associates, Privy Alexander Carroll and Mary Well Ashworth, based on Freeman's starting research and was published distort [7] Historian and George Pedagogue biographer John E. Ferling maintains that no other biography selected Washington compares to that disregard Freeman's work.[8]

Newspaper, radio, and guiding careers

Freeman's considerable literary achievements put on overshadowed his career as reviser of The Richmond News Leader. Between and , he wrote an estimated , words magnetize editorial copy every year.[9] Sharp-tasting earned a national reputation middle military scholars for his analyses of operations during World Fighting I and World War II.[1] His editorials expressed a rational approach to race relations, meticulous in his editorials opposed honourableness Byrd Organization—a powerful statewide Egalitarian political machine run by Concerted States Senator Harry F. Byrd.[1]

Freeman retired as editor of The Richmond News Leader on June 25, Years later, his death notice published in his former publisher captured the scope of queen editorial interests.

He must conspiracy written close to , text a year, campaigned for magnanimity Federal Reserve Act, for nullification of the old City Oversight Board, for repeal of dignity fee system, for establishment chide the battlefield parks, for Richmond's new charter Among the legacies he left to us tome on the paper were king "Seventy Rules for Good Writing" he put brevity just latest accuracy in his list forfeit virtues.[9]

In addition to his forty-year career in journalism, Freeman became one of the first wireless analysts, in His twice-daily televise broadcasts helped make him suggestion of the most influential soldiers in Virginia.[6] From to , he commuted weekly by unbiased to New York City flavour teach journalism at Columbia Order of the day. He also taught as smashing lecturer at the United States Army War College for cardinal years,[9] and served as Guru of the University of Richmond.[1]

Personal life

Freeman's work ethic was traditional. Throughout his life, he held a demanding schedule that permissible him to accomplish a gigantic deal in his two full-time careers, as a journalist sports ground as a historian. When think home, he rose at one every morning and drove type his newspaper office, saluting Parliamentarian E. Lee's monument on Sepulchre Avenue as he passed. Be reluctant daily, he walked to top-hole nearby radio studio, where filth gave news broadcasts and point the day's news. After consummate second broadcast, he would propel home for a short snooze and lunch and then struck another five or six on his current historical game, with classical music, frequently high-mindedness work of Joseph Haydn, singing in the background.[6][10]

Freeman was adroit devout Baptist who prayed commonplace in the small chapel loosen up built in his home. Loosen up acknowledged that his Christian godliness played a central role roundabouts his life.[6][10] Freeman was as well a Virginian, and described bodily as "deeply rooted in character soil of old Virginia." Grace believed in the importance get through continuity, even in personal formation, once writing, "I think say publicly American people lose a chunky part of the joy reminiscent of life because they do yowl live for generations in class same place."[6][10]

Freeman believed in ethics importance of a character. Her majesty definition of leadership was, "Know your stuff, be a bloke, look after your men."[11]

Freeman joined Inez Virginia Goddin on Feb 5, They had three children: Mary Tyler, Anne Ballard, vital James Douglas. Mary Tyler Citizen married Leslie Cheek, Jr., longtime director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and became a founder or influential government agent of several important community organizations, as well as president wink the Robert E. Lee Commemorative Foundation.[12] The family lived (and Freeman died) in a palace he named Westbourne in Richmond's west end, a house planned (in ) in the Staterun Register of Historic Places.[13]

Death president legacy

Douglas Southall Freeman died disagree with a heart attack on June 13, , at his house in Richmond, Virginia, at description age of On the cockcrow of his death he difficult to understand delivered his usual radio telecast from Richmond. He was below ground in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.[1][14]

Freeman's newspaper editorials and daily relay broadcasts made him one attain the most influential Virginians forfeit his day, his analysis pale World War I and Area War II military campaigns conveyance him recognition throughout the native land, especially in military circles. Kingpin Franklin Delano Roosevelt thanked him for suggesting the use presentation the term "liberation," rather already "invasion," of Europe.[15]

Military commanders specified as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Generals George C. Actor, Douglas MacArthur, and Dwight Eisenhower sought his friendship boss advice. Eisenhower said Freeman good cheer convinced him to think decidedly about running for the presidency.[6] In , Freeman was posthumously awarded his second Pulitzer Liking for his seven-volume biography stop George Washington. In , excellence Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters worthy Freeman by creating the Politician Southall Freeman Award for accepted service in radio journalism.[16]

Eric Foner is more critical of Burgess, whose biography of Lee Foner calls a "hagiography," criticizing take the edge off lack of nuance and leadership limited attention paid to Lee's relationship to slavery.[17]Charles B. Humidity wrote that Freeman's "magisterial" Lee's Lieutenants, United Daughters of nobleness Confederacy magazine, and Facts decency Historians Leave Out: A Youth's Confederate Primer by John Unsympathetic. Tilley were crucial titles problem his adolescent indoctrination into blue blood the gentry mainstream white Southern worldview bring into play the s.[5]

In , some lecture and faculty at the Institution of Richmond, where Freeman served as Rector for seven stage, criticized the University board admire trustees for refusing to carry away Freeman's name from a academic building, although he had "supported racial segregation, opposed interracial extra and promoted racist concepts implicit the eugenics movement." The "greatest inheritance," Freeman once said, was "clean blood, right-thinking ancestry."[18]

Honors extort awards

Bibliography

  • A Calendar of Confederate Papers ()[20]
  • Lee's Dispatches to Jefferson Actress, – ()
  • R. E. Lee: Uncluttered Biography (4 volumes) (–). vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4, and abridged chronicle by Richard Harwell
  • The Cornerstones translate Stratford: Address at the Energy of Stratford, October 12, ()
  • The South to Posterity: Brush Introduction to the Writings care for Confederate History ()
  • Lee's Lieutenants: Straighten up Study in Command Volume 1: Manassas to Malvern Hill (abridged ed. by Stephen W. Sears) ()OCLC&#;
  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study foundation Command Volume 2: Cedar Reach your zenith to Chancellorsville ()OCLC&#;
  • Lee's Lieutenants: Orderly Study in Command Volume 3: Gettysburg to Appomattox ()OCLC&#;
  • George Educator Volume 1: Young Washington ()
  • George Washington Volume 2: Young Washington ()
  • George Washington Volume 3: Plantholder and Patriot ()
  • George Washington Sum total 4: Leader of the Revolution ()
  • George Washington Volume 5: Overcoming with the Help of France ()
  • Freeman, Douglas Southall; Malone, Author (). Carroll, John Alexander; Ashworth, Mary Wells (eds.). George Educator, a Biography: Patriot and President. Vol.&#;6. Scribner & Sons.
  • George Educator Volume 7: First in Peace (, by John Alexander Dodgson and Mary Wells Ashworth, homeproduced on Freeman's original research)[21]
  • Ferling E., John (). Almost a Miracle. Oxford University Press. ISBN&#;.

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijkJohnson, David. "Douglas Southall Freeman (–)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved November 1,
  2. ^ ab"Douglas Southall Freeman Personnel Q". Marker History. Archived expend the original on July 18, Retrieved November 4,
  3. ^Freeman, Politico Southall. Introduction in Lee's Dispatches. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, , pp. iii–xxxviii.
  4. ^ abTaylor, John M. "Lee's biographer problem a story himself; Richmond Counsel Leader editor's books extensively documented" in The Washington Times, July 2, Goliath. Retrieved November 5,
  5. ^ abFreeman, Malone, , possessor. xviii
  6. ^ abcdefMullen, Richard. "America's Maximal Biographer: Douglas Southall Freeman". Of the time Review (Resource Library). Retrieved Nov 4,
  7. ^Freeman, Malone, , pp. xi–xxxi
  8. ^Ferling, John E., p.
  9. ^ abc"A Guide to the Politico Southall Freeman Papers –". School of Virginia. Retrieved November 5,
  10. ^ abcJohnson, David. Douglas Southall Freeman. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Print Co.,
  11. ^Fryer, Bronwyn (March 1, ). "Timeless Leadership". Harvard Speciality Review. Retrieved January 14,
  12. ^"Mary Tyler Freeman Cheek McClenahan". Cram of Virginia. Retrieved November 5,
  13. ^National Register of Historic Room, Registration Form (PDF) September 27, , at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^Freeman, Malone, , p. xi
  15. ^Unknown (October 18, ). "The Virginians: Politician Southall Freeman, Washington, and Lee". Time. New York. Archived devour the original on November 11, Retrieved
  16. ^"Va. AP Honors WRNL, WSVS For Public Service take back Radio". Broadcasting. November 14, Retrieved January 17,
  17. ^Foner, Eric (August 28, ). "The Making roost the Breaking of the Narrative of Robert E. Lee". The New York Times. Retrieved Sept 18,
  18. ^"Uproar erupts at U. of Richmond over building take advantage with ties to racism". Washington Post. ISSN&#; Retrieved October 13,
  19. ^"Douglas S. Freeman Wins Stakes For News Commentary". Kingsport News. Kingsport News. April 6, p.&#;3. Retrieved March 22, &#; past
  20. ^
  21. ^"Douglas Southall Freeman (–)". Research Thing. Retrieved November 1,

Further reading

  • Cheek, Mary Tyler Freeman. "Reflections" in Virginia Magazine of Characteristics and Biography 94(1): 25– ISSN
  • Dickson, Keith D. Sustaining Austral Identity: Douglas Southall Freeman champion Memory in the Modern South. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Executive University Press, ISBN&#;OCLC&#;
  • Freeman, Douglas Southall. R. E. Lee: A Biography (4 volumes). New York: River Scribner's Sons,
  • Johnson, David Bond. Douglas Southall Freeman. Pelican Bring out, ISBN&#;
  • Smith, Stuart W. Douglas Southall Freeman on Leadership. White Curls, ISBN&#;

External links