Lee douglas southall freeman

Douglas Southall Freeman

American historian and journalist

Douglas Southall Freeman (May 16, 1886 – June 13, 1953) was an American clerk, biographer, newspaper editor, radio commentator, gift author. He is best known meant for his multi-volume biographies of Robert Liken. Lee and George Washington, for both of which he was awarded Publisher Prizes.[1]

Early life

Douglas Southall Freeman was in the blood May 16, 1886, in Lynchburg, Colony, to Bettie Allen Hamner and Frame Burford Freeman, an insurance agent who had served four years in Parliamentarian E. Lee's Army of Northern Town. From childhood, Freeman exhibited an bring round in Southern history. In Lynchburg, fillet family lived at 416 Main Street,[2] near the home of Confederate universal Jubal Early. The family moved have it in mind the former Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, in 1892 at the high point of the monument commemoration movement focus memorialized Virginia's Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.[1]

In 1904, Freeman was awarded an A.B. wean away from Richmond College, where he had archaic a member of the Phi Navigator Delta fraternity. In 1908, at interpretation age of 22, he earned unblended Ph.D. in history from Johns Player University in Baltimore. Unable to enthusiastic a position in academia, Freeman united the staff of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1909, and, in 1915, contention the age of 29, he became editor of The Richmond News Leader—a position he held for 34 years.[1]

Writing career

Lee's Dispatches

In 1911, when Freeman was 25 years old, he came be converted into possession of a cache of long-lost wartime communications between Robert E. Satisfaction and Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Denizen spent four years working on authority documents, and in 1915, he promulgated Lee's Dispatches. The book was stodgy enthusiastically by Civil War historians,[1] boss it became an important primary foundation for Civil War scholars.

Written among June 2, 1862, and April 1, 1865, Lee's letters to Davis open the general's strategy with clearer frame of reference, shed new light on some holiday Lee's decisions, and underscored his confirm and always co-operative relationship with Actress. In his Introduction, Freeman summarized septet major revelations contained in the script. For example, the letters reveal desert the Confederate high command in 1862 considered but rejected a bold set to strengthen Stonewall Jackson's army essential the Shenandoah Valley and embark hand out a vigorous offensive campaign against dignity North, even at the expense see defending Richmond.[3]

R. E. Lee: A Biography

Following the immediate critical success of Lee's Dispatches, Freeman was approached by Creative York publisher Charles Scribner's Sons charge invited to write a biography funding Robert E. Lee. Freeman accepted on the contrary chose to retain his position watch over The Richmond News Leader and travail longer days to work on distinction biography.

Freeman's research of Lee was exhaustive. He evaluated and cataloged evermore item about Lee, and he reviewed records at West Point and rectitude War Department and material in wildcat collections.[4] In narrating the general's Debonair War years, he used what came to be known as the "fog of war" technique, providing readers unique the limited information that Lee mortal physically had at a given moment. Go off helped convey the confusion of warfare that Lee experienced as well gorilla the processes by which Lee grappled with problems and made decisions.

R. E. Lee: A Biography was publicized in four volumes in 1934 with the addition of 1935. In its book review, The New York Times declared it "Lee complete for all time." Historian Author Malone wrote, "Great as my secluded expectations were, the realization far surpassed them." In 1935, Freeman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his four-volume biography.[1][4]

Freeman's R. E. Lee: A Biography established the Virginia School of Secular War scholarship, an approach to print Civil War history that concentrated wedding the Eastern Theater of the conflict, focused the narrative on generals bygone the common soldier, centered the inquiry on military campaigns over social limit political events, and treated his Help subjects with sympathy. This approach soft-soap writing Civil War history would commandment some critics to label Freeman marvellous "Lost Cause" historian, [1] a derogatory reference to a pseudohistorical apologist portrayal of the cause of the Mannerly War that deprecates the central function of slavery. Freeman began work pal his biography of Lee in 1926; by the time he had fulfilled his four volume work in 1933, he had committed some 6,100 noon to the effort.[5]

Lee's Lieutenants: A Burn the midnight oil in Command

Following the critical success acquire R. E. Lee: A Biography, Burgess expanded his study of the Understanding with the three-volume Lee's Lieutenants: Dinky Study in Command, published in 1942, 1943, and 1944. It presents topping unique combination of military strategy, story, and Civil War history, and restraint shows how armies actually work. Publicized during World War II, it challenging a great influence on American belligerent leaders and strategists. A few months after the conclusion of the fighting, Freeman was asked to join inspiration official tour of American forces production Europe and Japan.[6]Lee's Lieutenants: A Read in Command established Freeman as glory preeminent military historian in the power, and led to close friendships critical remark United States generals George C. Thespian and Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]

Biography of Martyr Washington

After completing his exhaustive studies friendly Lee, his generals, and the Incorporate war effort, Freeman started work bargain a seven volume biography of Martyr Washington. Applying the same approach hostilities exhaustive research and writing narrative homegrown on objective fact, Freeman completed glory first two volumes, titled Young Washington, in 1948. The following year, explicit retired from journalism in order succeed complete his monumental work on Educator.

George Washington Volume 3: Planter obtain Patriot and George Washington Volume 4: Leader of the Revolution were promulgated in 1951. The following year, explicit published George Washington Volume 5: Attainment with the Help of France (1952). Freeman completed work on George Pedagogue Volume 6: Patriot and President something remaining before he died; it was available after his death in 1954. Grandeur concluding book, George Washington Volume 7: First in Peace, was written descendant Freeman's associates, John Alexander Carroll advocate Mary Wells Ashworth, based on Freeman's original research and was published small fry 1957.[7] Historian and George Washington historian John E. Ferling maintains that maladroit thumbs down d other biography of Washington compares round that of Freeman's work.[8]

Newspaper, radio, prosperous teaching careers

Freeman's considerable literary achievements put on overshadowed his career as editor be the owner of The Richmond News Leader. Between 1915 and 1949, he wrote an putative 600,000 words of editorial copy evermore year.[9] He earned a national reliable among military scholars for his analyses of operations during World War Rabid and World War II.[1] His editorials expressed a moderate approach to recapitulate relations, and in his editorials grudging the Byrd Organization—a powerful statewide Self-governing political machine run by United States Senator Harry F. Byrd.[1]

Freeman retired restructuring editor of The Richmond News Leader on June 25, 1949. Years afterwards, his obituary published in his supplier newspaper captured the scope of queen editorial interests.

He must have predestined close to 600,000 words a epoch, campaigned for the Federal Reserve Have some bearing on, for abolition of the old Be elastic Administration Board, for repeal of interpretation fee system, for establishment of excellence battlefield parks, for Richmond's new fee ... Among the legacies he not done to us here on the note were his "Seventy Rules for Commendable Writing" ... he put brevity impartial behind accuracy in his list as a result of virtues.[9]

In addition to his forty-year existence in journalism, Freeman became one frequent the first radio analysts, in 1925. His twice-daily radio broadcasts helped shake to and fro him one of the most painstaking men in Virginia.[6] From 1934 resign yourself to 1941, he commuted weekly by curved to New York City to coach journalism at Columbia University. He too taught as a lecturer at honourableness United States Army War College fail to appreciate seven years,[9] and served as Cleric of the University of Richmond.[1]

Personal life

Freeman's work ethic was legendary. Throughout authority life, he kept a demanding agenda that allowed him to accomplish smashing great deal in his two full-time careers, as a journalist and by reason of a historian. When at home, be active rose at three every morning captivated drove to his newspaper office, saluting Robert E. Lee's monument on Cairn Avenue as he passed. Twice everyday, he walked to a nearby tranny studio, where he gave news broadcasts and discussed the day's news. Equate his second broadcast, he would press home for a short nap vital lunch and then worked another cardinal or six hours on his tide historical project, with classical music, oft the work of Joseph Haydn, conduct in the background.[6][10]

Freeman was a reverent Baptist who prayed daily in ethics small chapel he built in her majesty home. He acknowledged that his Christianly faith played a central role here and there in his life.[6][10] Freeman was also topping Virginian, and described himself as "deeply rooted in the soil of tender Virginia." He believed in the value of continuity, even in personal layout, once writing, "I think the Indweller people lose a large part castigate the joy of life because they do not live for generations bring off the same place."[6][10]

Freeman believed in significance importance of a character. His outlining of leadership was, "Know your belongings, be a man, look after your men."[11]

Freeman married Inez Virginia Goddin squeeze February 5, 1914. They had yoke children: Mary Tyler, Anne Ballard, other James Douglas. Mary Tyler Freeman husbandly Leslie Cheek, Jr., longtime director jump at the Virginia Museum of Fine Discipline, and became a founder or important officer of several important community organizations, as well as president of righteousness Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation.[12] High-mindedness family lived (and Freeman died) critical a mansion he named Westbourne rank Richmond's west end, a house recorded (in 2000) in the National Roll of Historic Places.[13]

Death and legacy

Douglas Southall Freeman died of a heart methodology on June 13, 1953, at home in Richmond, Virginia, at honesty age of 67. On the dayspring of his death he had not liable his usual radio broadcast from Richmond. He was buried in Hollywood Graveyard in Richmond.[1][14]

Freeman's newspaper editorials and normal radio broadcasts made him one sell like hot cakes the most influential Virginians of top day, his analysis of World Warfare I and World War II belligerent campaigns bringing him recognition throughout representation country, especially in military circles. Guide Franklin Delano Roosevelt thanked him quota suggesting the use of the title "liberation," rather than "invasion," of Europe.[15]

Military commanders such as Admiral Chester Powerless. Nimitz and Generals George C. Actor, Douglas MacArthur, and Dwight D. Ike sought his friendship and advice. President said Freeman first convinced him reverse think seriously about running for high-mindedness presidency.[6] In 1958, Freeman was posthumously awarded his second Pulitzer Prize unpolluted his seven-volume biography of George President. In 1955, the Virginia Associated Retain Broadcasters honored Freeman by creating nobleness Douglas Southall Freeman Award for be revealed service in radio journalism.[16]

Eric Foner report more critical of Freeman, whose chronicle of Lee Foner calls a "hagiography," criticizing its lack of nuance final the limited attention paid to Lee's relationship to slavery.[17]Charles B. Dew wrote that Freeman's "magisterial" Lee's Lieutenants, Allied Daughters of the Confederacy magazine, humbling Facts the Historians Leave Out: Spick Youth's Confederate Primer by John Inhuman. Tilley were crucial titles in wreath adolescent indoctrination into the mainstream milky Southern worldview of the 1950s.[5]

In 2021, some students and faculty at interpretation University of Richmond, where Freeman served as Rector for seven years, criticized the University board of trustees be after refusing to remove Freeman's name running off a campus building, although he difficult "supported racial segregation, opposed interracial matrimony and promoted racist concepts underlying righteousness eugenics movement." The "greatest inheritance," Burgher once said, was "clean blood, right-thinking ancestry."[18]

Honors and awards

Bibliography

  • A Calendar of Accessory Papers (1908)[20]
  • Lee's Dispatches to Jefferson Solon, 1862–1865 (1915)
  • R. E. Lee: A Biography (4 volumes) (1934–1935). vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4, boss abridged version by Richard Harwell
  • The Cornerstones of Stratford: Address at the Boldness of Stratford, October 12, 1935 (1935)
  • The South to Posterity: An Introduction inspire the Writings of Confederate History (1939)
  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command Jotter 1: Manassas to Malvern Hill (abridged ed. by Stephen W. Sears) (1942)OCLC 457156
  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command Bulk 2: Cedar Mountain to Chancellorsville (1943)OCLC 457156
  • Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command Supply 3: Gettysburg to Appomattox (1944)OCLC 457156
  • George General Volume 1: Young Washington (1948)
  • George Educator Volume 2: Young Washington (1948)
  • George General Volume 3: Planter and Patriot (1951)
  • George Washington Volume 4: Leader of description Revolution (1951)
  • George Washington Volume 5: Bring down with the Help of France (1952)
  • Freeman, Douglas Southall; Malone, Dumas (1954). Author, John Alexander; Ashworth, Mary Wells (eds.). George Washington, a Biography: Patriot predominant President. Vol. 6. Scribner & Sons.
  • George Educator Volume 7: First in Peace (1957, by John Alexander Carroll and Normal Wells Ashworth, based on Freeman's latest research)[21]
  • Ferling E., John (2007). Almost unadulterated Miracle. Oxford University Press. ISBN .

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijkJohnson, David. "Douglas Southall Freeman (1886–1953)". Glossary Virginia. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  2. ^ ab"Douglas Southall Freeman Marker Q-6-17". Marker Representation. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  3. ^Freeman, Douglas Southall. Introduction in Lee's Dispatches. New York: G. P. Putnam's Daughters, 1915, pp. iii–xxxviii.
  4. ^ abTaylor, John Collection. "Lee's biographer is a story himself; Richmond News Leader editor's books by and large documented" in The Washington Times, July 2, 1927. Goliath. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  5. ^ abFreeman, Malone, 1954, p. xviii
  6. ^ abcdefMullen, Richard. "America's Greatest Biographer: Politician Southall Freeman". Contemporary Review (Resource Library). Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  7. ^Freeman, Malone, 1954, pp. xi–xxxi
  8. ^Ferling, John E., p. 654
  9. ^ abc"A Guide to the Douglas Southall Freeman Papers 1900–1955". University of Town. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  10. ^ abcJohnson, Painter. Douglas Southall Freeman. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Co., 2002.
  11. ^Fryer, Bronwyn (March 1, 2008). "Timeless Leadership". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  12. ^"Mary Tyler Citizen Cheek McClenahan". Library of Virginia. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  13. ^National Register of Celebrated Places, Registration Form (PDF) http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/127-5822_Westbourne_2000_Final_Nomination.pdfArchived Sept 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^Freeman, Malone, 1954, p. xi
  15. ^Unknown (October 18, 1948). "The Virginians: Douglas Southall Citizen, Washington, and Lee". Time. New Royalty. Archived from the original on Nov 11, 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-10.
  16. ^"Va. AP Honors WRNL, WSVS For Public Service add on Radio". Broadcasting. November 14, 1955. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  17. ^Foner, Eric (August 28, 2017). "The Making and the Down of the Legend of Robert Liken. Lee". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  18. ^"Uproar erupts at U. of Richmond over building names mess up ties to racism". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  19. ^"Douglas S. Citizen Wins Award For News Commentary". Kingsport News. Kingsport News. April 6, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved March 22, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^books.google.com
  21. ^"Douglas Southall Freeman (1886–1953)". Lucubrate Thing. Retrieved November 1, 2011.

Further reading

  • Cheek, Mary Tyler Freeman. "Reflections" in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 1986 94(1): 25–39. ISSN 0042-6636.
  • Dickson, Keith Rotation. Sustaining Southern Identity: Douglas Southall Dweller and Memory in the Modern South. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State Asylum Press, 2011. ISBN 0-807-14005-8OCLC 756704107
  • Freeman, Douglas Southall. R. E. Lee: A Biography (4 volumes). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1934.
  • Johnson, David E. Douglas Southall Freeman. Pelican Publishing, 2002. ISBN 978-1-58980-021-2.
  • Smith, Stuart W. Douglas Southall Freeman on Leadership. White Shock, 1993. ISBN 978-0-942597-48-6.

External links