C. Vann Woodward's Origins of the New South
Februrary 23-25, 2001
The Southern Historical Society, Rice's School of Humanities, the Office of the President of Rice, the
Journal of Southern History, the Department of History, and the CSC will cosponsor a symposium to bring five prominent southern historians to Rice to address the different aspects of Woodward's seminar work, published in 1951. "The work has been the most influential book ever published in the field of southern history," remarks John Boles (Professor of History, Rice, and editor of the
Journal of Southern History). "It has shaped how historians have conceived of the fifty years following Reconstruction." Woodward trained more than forty of the most influential southern historians. The symposium will bring Barbara Fields (Columbia) to discuss the topic of race and racism, Glenda Gilmore (Yale) to discuss gender, Harold Woodman (Purdue) to discuss economic history and law, James C. Cobb (U. of Georgia) on the topic of cultural history, and Robert McMath (Georgia Tech) to discuss politics. Each of these scholars has published major works on their respective topics, and thesse topics will allow for the analyses of the most salient aspects of Woodward's book. Several other prominent southern historians will also be invited to participate in the symposium as discussants. Boles is optimistic that a book-length publication will result from the symposium.
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