Publication Date
12-1981
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair
Lowell Harrison, Francis Thompson, Marion Lucas
Degree Program
Department of History
Degree Type
Master of Arts
Abstract
Frank Lawrence Owsley's research and writing established him as one of the outstanding scholars in the field of Southern history. In many of his historical works he presented new and sometimes controversial ideas. Knowing he was taking a risk of judgment, Owsley nevertheless boldly stated his beliefs in a colorful, plain-spoken, narrative style.
A devout Southerner, Owsley's love for the South and its people was superseded only by his desire to correct misconceptions about the area and its history. For him, the central theme of Southern history was the South's need to defend herself against the corruptions of the industrial North. His stated purpose in writing about the Civil War was to reveal the untruth of the "self-righteous" Northern legend which labeled the South as the war criminal.
Owsley is noted for three major books: States Rights in the Confederacy, King Cotton Diplomacy, and Plain Folk of the Old South. His work as a productive scholar contributed significantly toward a better understanding of the Old South and of the Civil War and established him as one of the leading figures in the annals of the twentieth-century Southern historiography. As a stimulating teacher and inspiring guide to graduate students, Owsley influenced many young historians. Through this work, he probably made his most lasting contribution to the advancement of historical scholarship in the South.
Disciplines
African American Studies | Arts and Humanities | History | Race and Ethnicity | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social History | United States History
Recommended Citation
LeForge, Judy, "Frank Lawrence Owsley: Vindicator of the South" (1981). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 3307.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3307
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