Life After J.E.B. Stuart: The Memoirs of His Granddaughter, Marrow Stuart Smith

by Sean M. Heuvel

Overview

Mary Marrow Stuart Smith (1889-1985) lived a remarkable life as a respected artist and Virginia educator. The eldest grandchild of famed Confederate Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart, she belonged to one of the Commonwealth's most celebrated families. Based on her original, never-before-published memoirs, Life after J.E.B. Stuart recounts Marrow's childhood as the Stuart family struggled to survive following the Civil War. It explores her efforts to pursue a fine arts education and career within a family known for its male soldiers and politicians. With rare photographs, previously unknown information about the family, and a foreword by Marrow's granddaughter, Life after J.E.B. Stuart is a must-read for those interested in the Civil War, southern history, or women's studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761854630
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/10/2011
Pages:	182
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Sean M. Heuvel teaches in the Department of Leadership and American Studies at Christopher Newport University. He holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and the University of Richmond.

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Editor's Note vii

Acknowledgments xi

List of Abbreviations xv

Introduction 1

1 A Noble Heritage 10

2 My Parents' Story 35

3 A Richmond Childhood 48

4 Life in Newport News 68

5 The Struggle for an Education 86

6 A Focus on Family 114

7 An Art Career 128

8 Memories of Drewmar 151

Epilogue 166

Index 182

Editorial Reviews

My Aunt Marrow was widely regarded in her time as the Stuart family's official historian. I am therefore pleased that her memoirs, containing fascinating details about my family's history, are now being made available….Heuvel has done an excellent job of editing the original manuscript materials into an insightful and engaging narrative.

Col. J.E.B. Stuart IV (U.S. Army

Meticulously transcribed and annotated…a compelling account of a fascinating woman and one of Virginia's most celebrated families. Written in the 1940s, Mary Marrow Stuart Smith's recollections afford a glimpse into how twentieth century white southerners sought to make sense of the Civil War and its legacy. Perhaps more importantly, her memoir provides insight into southern white women's roles and opportunities in the fine arts and education in the early twentieth century. Smith's vivid portrayal of life in Virginia from the Gilded Age through World War II will absorb both popular audiences and scholars alike.

Caroline E. Janney

A uniquely valuable reminiscence….Readers will be treated to a rare view of a prominent Virginia family as it experienced life from the Civil War era into the mid-twentieth century.

Jonathan W. White

Heuvel has done a masterful job fashioning a seamless and absorbing narrative from my great-grandmother's autobiographical materials, and through his well-researched notes he has provided historical context and perspective.

Drewry M. Smith IV