Sunflower Plantation Documents
Over the years, I have had the good fortune to be given several documents bearing on the origins and history of Sunflower Plantation. I will share all that I have with the community.
First is a document about Sunflower Plantation from about 1890 till the early 1950s written by Horace F. Taylor. This is the “Taylor” as in “Taylor & Crate” – the owners of that land during most of that time. The only thing better would be a similar document written by George E. Bailey who was the on-site manager of the property for many years leading up to the government purchase and transformation into forty-acre farms. It’s interesting and informative. Read it here
Sunflower Plantation – A History
Carolyn (McIntyre) Beach was kind enough to send me a copy of a document which I have labeled “Culbertson Letter (June 3, 1989)” – which is an aptly descriptive title. It is Mr George A. Culbertson’s response by letter to an invitation to attend the Sunflower Plantation reunion in 1989. He was the grandson of George E. Bailey, general manager of Sunflower Plantation for nearly forty years right up until it was sold to the federal government.
See that document here:
Culbertson Letter (June 3, 1989)
Over the years, I have had the good fortune to be given several documents bearing on the origins and history of Sunflower Plantation. I will share all that I have with the community.
First is a document about Sunflower Plantation from about 1890 till the early 1950s written by Horace F. Taylor. This is the “Taylor” as in “Taylor & Crate” – the owners of that land during most of that time. The only thing better would be a similar document written by George E. Bailey who was the on-site manager of the property for many years leading up to the government purchase and transformation into forty-acre farms. It’s interesting and informative. Read it here
Sunflower Plantation – A History
Carolyn (McIntyre) Beach was kind enough to send me a copy of a document which I have labeled “Culbertson Letter (June 3, 1989)” – which is an aptly descriptive title. It is Mr George A. Culbertson’s response by letter to an invitation to attend the Sunflower Plantation reunion in 1989. He was the grandson of George E. Bailey, general manager of Sunflower Plantation for nearly forty years right up until it was sold to the federal government.
See that document here:
Culbertson Letter (June 3, 1989)
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Roy Bailey Culbertson made contact with us via the "Comments" page of this web site. He is a son of the above George A. Culbertson and grandson of George E. Bailey, the long-time manager of Sunflower while it belonged to Taylor & Crate. Having driven through the area a few years back, he wondered what had happened to the Plantation buildings.
If you're interested in our communications, click here. |
A typewritten script on the subject by Horace F. Taylor himself – dated November 14, 1938 – is available and is quite informative. Here’s a link to it:
The Story of Sunflower Plantation (November 14, 1938)
I have also stumbled onto assorted information about the lives of Messrs. Taylor and Crate which may be of passing interest to people who want to know about the Sunflower Plantation project and its background. First up is what little I know about this particular Taylor family. Click here:
Horace F Taylor
The Taylors were often items in the local newspaper, either in news about business, or items associated with the University of Rochester or in the society pages. The Crates were more private. The greatest amount of published information readily available about James Crate was generated by his death. Still, the notices surrounding his death seem to convey the essence of his life. Read here:
James Crate
The Story of Sunflower Plantation (November 14, 1938)
I have also stumbled onto assorted information about the lives of Messrs. Taylor and Crate which may be of passing interest to people who want to know about the Sunflower Plantation project and its background. First up is what little I know about this particular Taylor family. Click here:
Horace F Taylor
The Taylors were often items in the local newspaper, either in news about business, or items associated with the University of Rochester or in the society pages. The Crates were more private. The greatest amount of published information readily available about James Crate was generated by his death. Still, the notices surrounding his death seem to convey the essence of his life. Read here:
James Crate
The New Deal resettlement communities were efforts to relieve the wretched condition of southern sharecroppers and tenants. However, those evicted to make way for the new settlers are almost invisible in the historic record. The resettlement projects were part of larger efforts to “modernize” rural America.
What happened to the 125 Negro tenant farmer families at Sunflower Plantation which were displaced when the FSA took control and "resettled" it with white Rehabilitation clients?
It took some effort but I pasted together the sparse information I have on the question. I could never find all the information I really wanted, but the resulting write-up – although missing a lot of details one would like to know – is, I believe, somewhat informative, cogent and addresses the fundamental issue.
Mostly they appear to have just gone on with their lives, leaving little visible trace in the historical record. There were a couple of semi-organized challenges – notably at Transylvania Plantation (Louisiana) and at Sunflower Plantation. Names of note are Oscar Johnston (Delta and Pine Land Co., Scott, MS) and James William Riddell (Drew, MS)
To see my attempt to shine some light on the question click here:
Sharecroppers, Evictions and the Farm Security Administration
What happened to the 125 Negro tenant farmer families at Sunflower Plantation which were displaced when the FSA took control and "resettled" it with white Rehabilitation clients?
It took some effort but I pasted together the sparse information I have on the question. I could never find all the information I really wanted, but the resulting write-up – although missing a lot of details one would like to know – is, I believe, somewhat informative, cogent and addresses the fundamental issue.
Mostly they appear to have just gone on with their lives, leaving little visible trace in the historical record. There were a couple of semi-organized challenges – notably at Transylvania Plantation (Louisiana) and at Sunflower Plantation. Names of note are Oscar Johnston (Delta and Pine Land Co., Scott, MS) and James William Riddell (Drew, MS)
To see my attempt to shine some light on the question click here:
Sharecroppers, Evictions and the Farm Security Administration
Sunflower Plantation people
For all the Sunflower Plantation alumni and fans – here’s a list of names & contact info for you. Maiden names are included! Phone numbers – where known – are provided (without separators – home phone first, then cell). If you’re looking for some old Sunflower pal or neighbor, this should be a good place to start. If you know updates that should be made, please let me know.
Be aware that I cannot guarantee accuracy. After a ten-year hiatus, we recently did some serious updates (latest July 12, 2016) - [Many thanks to Celia Williamson for sharing her extensive personal phone book!]
Both Portable Document Format (pdf) and Microsoft Word (docx) versions are available. Both have the “Find” function, making it easy to search. If you download the Word document, you can make your copy editable – so you can edit or make notes in your copy on your computer. Or make yourself a paper copy. (In its current form, it contains 428 entries and prints 20 pages. You could change the format or font size if you want to reduce the page count.) Please provide any updates you know are needed.
Sunflower Plantation People (2017).docx
Sunflower Plantation People (2017).pdf
Lots of folks would appreciate it if this list is as accurate as we can make it. If you spot any case where this person should not have been removed, please let me know. You may use the email form on the “Comments” page, or email me directly (gene.youngblood@comcast.net). Either way, they all wind up on my desk.
For all the Sunflower Plantation alumni and fans – here’s a list of names & contact info for you. Maiden names are included! Phone numbers – where known – are provided (without separators – home phone first, then cell). If you’re looking for some old Sunflower pal or neighbor, this should be a good place to start. If you know updates that should be made, please let me know.
Be aware that I cannot guarantee accuracy. After a ten-year hiatus, we recently did some serious updates (latest July 12, 2016) - [Many thanks to Celia Williamson for sharing her extensive personal phone book!]
Both Portable Document Format (pdf) and Microsoft Word (docx) versions are available. Both have the “Find” function, making it easy to search. If you download the Word document, you can make your copy editable – so you can edit or make notes in your copy on your computer. Or make yourself a paper copy. (In its current form, it contains 428 entries and prints 20 pages. You could change the format or font size if you want to reduce the page count.) Please provide any updates you know are needed.
Sunflower Plantation People (2017).docx
Sunflower Plantation People (2017).pdf
Lots of folks would appreciate it if this list is as accurate as we can make it. If you spot any case where this person should not have been removed, please let me know. You may use the email form on the “Comments” page, or email me directly (gene.youngblood@comcast.net). Either way, they all wind up on my desk.
Here's another list which may be of interest:
Sunflower County Voter Registration List, Beat 5 - Sunflower Plantation, 1938-1952.
Sunflower County Voter Registration List, Beat 5 - Sunflower Plantation, 1938-1952.
I have also generated a draft map with labeled stick pins showing where Sunflower Plantation people lived “back in the day” (to the best of my knowledge).
Take a look here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zuuiIsOHUDfM.kR_2yzPObDRw&msa=0
It is editable, so if you have corrections or additions, you can inform me or, if you’d just as soon do it yourself, I can authorize you to be an editor. Just let me know. (I’ll need your email address for the authorization process Google uses.)
So welcome to the modern world of “the cloud” in computers and the Internet. Take a look at my initial set up for the map. Change the scale (zoom in or out) to see things better. Grab the map and move it around (Left click and hold – then move the mouse. Or click the little “pan” buttons.) Click on things, names, stickpins, etc. See what happens. You cannot break anything there!
Take a look here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zuuiIsOHUDfM.kR_2yzPObDRw&msa=0
It is editable, so if you have corrections or additions, you can inform me or, if you’d just as soon do it yourself, I can authorize you to be an editor. Just let me know. (I’ll need your email address for the authorization process Google uses.)
So welcome to the modern world of “the cloud” in computers and the Internet. Take a look at my initial set up for the map. Change the scale (zoom in or out) to see things better. Grab the map and move it around (Left click and hold – then move the mouse. Or click the little “pan” buttons.) Click on things, names, stickpins, etc. See what happens. You cannot break anything there!
