The Works of Matthew Blue

Winner of the Clinton Jackson Coley Award The 1878 City Directory of Montgomery, Alabama, included "A Brief History of Montgomery," consisting of a "narrative" and a series of events arranged by the months. Compiled by Matthew Powers Blue, this was the earliest history of a place that already served as the center of Deep South cotton culture and as the first capital of the Confederacy. Contemporary historian Mary Ann Neeley has annotated Blues history to correct errors and clear up inconsistencies, and added other material on early churches, a genealogy of the colorful Blue family, and a Civil War diary by Blues sister, Ellen. The book also includes many 19th century photographs.