Crafting the overseer's image / William E. Wiethoff.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wiethoff, William E., 1945-

Series:

Studies in rhetoric/communication

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plantation overseers--Southern States--History--19th century--Historiography.

Plantation overseers.

Plantation overseers--Southern States--Public opinion.

Plantation life--Southern States--History--19th century--Historiography.

Plantation life.

Slave narratives--Southern States--History and criticism.

Slave narratives.

Slavery--Southern States--History--19th century--Historiography.

Slavery.

Public opinion.

Race relations.

History.

Historiography.

Manners and customs.

Southern States--Social life and customs--19th century--Historiography.

Southern States.

Southern States--Race relations--History--19th century--Historiography.

Public opinion--Southern States.

Physical Description:

xxii, 234 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Columbia, S.C. : University of South Carolina Press, [2006]

Summary:

The first book-length study of the overseer in four decades, Wiethoff's study bridges historical, legal, and rhetorical scholarship to present a provocative investigation into the multifaceted roles of this oft-forgotten figure in plantation society. Wiethoff canvasses the period from 1650 through 1865 and across a southern expanse that stretches to include the Upper and Deep South. Overseers left scant written evidence about their lives and times, but Wiethoff unearths characterizations constructed by friends and enemies, neighbors and strangers. He also mines the legal record to gauge the impact of legislative and case law rhetoric on public memory.

Contents:

Part 1 Personal Image

1 The Taskmaster 3

2 The Scoundrel 32

3 The Rival 54

Part 2 Professional Image

4 The Subaltern 75

5 The Colleague 105

Part 3 Public Image

6 The Spy 133

7 The Warrior 147.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [201]-223) and index.

ISBN:

1570036462

OCLC:

68192304

Publisher Number:

9781570036460