About the Project
What is the Rosedale Memory Project?
The Rosedale Memory Project is an academic initiative to collect, document and preserve the communal history of Rosedale, Alabama.
A historically African-American neighborhood, Rosedale existed as a thriving epicenter of black culture and life on the outskirts of Birmingham. The Rosedale Memory Project holds oral histories, artifacts, and photographs directly provided by long-time residents of the community, also known as "Rosedaleans." Items include recorded histories of individuals describing childhood memories, church activities, and experiences within the Rosedale School, collected photographs depicting family events, neighborhood homes and church gatherings, and numerous artifacts such as land deeds, newspaper clippings and obituaries.
As a black neighborhood in segregated Birmingham, Rosedale was often intentionally left out of historical narratives. After incorporating into the Homewood municipality in 1926, neighborhood histories of Homewood emphasized the successes and trials of the white population, often neglecting the activities of the Rosedale community.
Now over 100 years old, the neighborhood's history has gone digital. The Rosedale Memory Project provides an archival and interpretative resource for academic research on the Rosedale neighborhood, in addition to providing a historical narrative of the community's development from the late 1880's to the present day.
The Rosedale Memory Project is always growing; if you have something to contribute or share with us, please visit the "Contribute an Item" page and write us a note in the story space, submit an item for inclusion in the archive or share a memory of Rosedale.
Additional Resources for Researchers:
Books:
- Armes, Ethel. The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama. Cambridge University Press: 1910.
- Stewart, Shelly with Nathan Hale Turner, Jr. The Road South: A Memoir. New York: Warner Books, 2002.
- Summe, Sheryl Spradling. Homewood: The Life of a City. Friends of the Homewood Public Library: 2001.
- Wurtele, Martha and Jake Collins. Images of America: Homewood. Arcadia Publishing: 2015.
- Hudson, Alvin and Harold E. Cox. Street Railways of Birmingham. 1976.
- Minute Books of the City of Homewood. 1928-1933,1935-1936,1940,1946-1948. Our Valley. Published by the Tannehill Learning Project. Possibly c. 1970.
Documents:
- Birmingham Public Library: Photographs of Rosedale School:http://www.bplonline.org/resources/exhibits/new_deal/schools/rosedale_high_school.htm
- Board of Equalization Records, Jefferson County Alabama, 1938-1955
- Manufacturer's Record. June 30.1932, Vol. 101. No. 26.; 11-11-26.
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1911,1924,1929.
- U. S. Census, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930.
- "Rosedale Community Center," Album available at Homewood Public Library
- Jefferson County Board of Education: Files on the Rosedale School
Articles:
- Collins, Jake. “A Brief History of Rosedale” Homewood Life: November 2017.
- Collins, Jake. “Homewood History Hunt.” The Homewood Star: 2015.
- Birmingham News-Age Herald. 6-2-29; 6-1 -11
- Birmingham Post-Herald. 6-18-59; 12-19-60; 6-30-60; 1-5-60.
- Shades Valley Sun. September 1963; 3-23-45.
- The Birmingham News. 10-12-79: 10-4-79; 10-22-79; 6-3-11; 2-9-60; 3-18-60; 1-10-61; 3-16-78.
Oral Histories/ Radio:
- Interviews conducted by S.T.O.R.I: https://www.samford.edu/departments/oral-history/projects/rosedale/
- "Birmingham Revitalization: Struggling to Keep Homewood's Rosedale Neighborhood" on WBHM radio: https://wbhm.org/feature/2016/whats-left-of-homewoods-rosedale-neighborhood/
- "Rosedale Residents Skeptical of Homewood's Master Plan" on WBHM radio: https://wbhm.org/feature/2019/rosedale-residents-skeptical-of-homewoods-master-plan/
- King, Pamela. Interviews with Adrienne Lee, August 2002 and August 2003.
Exhibit:
Vulcan Park & Museum, Rosedale Exhibit
Rosedale Application for National Register of Historic Places:
https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/8398cdbb-819a-4f9c-acef-02057075979c