Author to Discuss Pickens Family History in Mobile
Michael Fitzgerald will visit Mobile on October 29, 2026, to share research on the Pickens family and their Klan ties.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Cultural
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Author Michael Fitzgerald is scheduled to present his new book, Shades of Complicity: One Family's Experience of Klan Participation, at the University of South Alabama on October 29, 2026. The book explores the history of the Pickens family, who held approximately 200 enslaved people in Hale County before the Civil War.
Why it matters
The work provides a detailed look at the involvement of the Pickens family in the Ku Klux Klan between 1865 and 1871. It draws on a vast archive of primary source documents to contextualize a legacy of racial violence in Alabama history.
The hardcover edition of the book is priced at $45, while the digital e-book version is available for $19.95. The study incorporates approximately 10,000 documents maintained within the family archive.
The players
Michael Fitzgerald
He is the author of Shades of Complicity: One Family's Experience of Klan Participation which details the history of a prominent Alabama family.
University of South Alabama
This institution houses the archive of Pickens family documents and will host the author for a public presentation.
University of Louisiana Press
This academic publishing house is responsible for the release of the book detailing the history of the Pickens family.
The details
Fitzgerald researched the Pickens family, who resided in the Sawyerville community, by reviewing a century of personal correspondence. The narrative addresses the family's activities during the era of Reconstruction, including incidents like the 1870 riot in Eutaw.
Timeline
Members of the Pickens family participated in the Ku Klux Klan between 1865 and 1871.
A riot occurred in Eutaw in 1870.
Michael Fitzgerald will speak at the University of South Alabama on October 29, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This publication represents a growing trend of utilizing local archival collections to shed light on regional historical figures. By leveraging the University of South Alabama's archive of Pickens family documents, the book bridges gaps in the documented history of the Reconstruction era.
Readers interested in the history can purchase the hardcover edition for $45 or the e-book version for $19.95. Those wishing to engage with the author directly can attend his presentation at the University of South Alabama on October 29, 2026.
The takeaway
Understanding the history of prominent families can provide crucial context for local regional challenges. Exploring primary source archives remains a vital method for uncovering the complexities of post-Civil War social dynamics.
Further reading
Learn more about local historical narratives in the Mobile Cultural section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Al.
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