Born Southern: Childbirth, Motherhood, and Social Networks in the Old South

Acknowledgments

vii acknowledgments As I wrote about the social networks formed by people in the Old South, I could not help but think about those who encouraged my own endeavors and tied me to a larger sense of community. At the University of Western Ontario and at the University of Lethbridge I have benefited from the generosity of many people. I am particularly grateful for the guidance of Margaret Kellow, who offered so much insight at all stages of this project and continues to be a source of support. Craig Simpson and Robert Hohner are also responsible for shepherding me from a naive undergraduate to the historian that I am today—I hope I have made them proud. Having Heidi MacDonald serve as my chair at the University of Lethbridge made my transition from student to teacher much easier than it might otherwise have been. She has set the standard for mentorship and collegiality that I hope to emulate in my own career as a professor. A number of people have taken the time to read this entire project at various stages and to offer invaluable feedback. They included Michelle Hamilton, Heidi MacDonald, Janay Nugent, Jim Tagg, Catherine Clinton , Cindy Kierner, and Ben Marsh. At the Johns Hopkins University Press, Bob Brugger and Josh Tong have been models of efficiency and professionalism. I am also appreciative of the careful reading and improvements to the manuscript suggested by the anonymous reader at the JHU Press and by copyeditor Kathleen Capels. All have made important improvements and corrections; any errors that remain are my own. A grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada assisted in the research and writing of this study. The women of the Old South with whom I have been engaged for the last ten years relied on a community of friends, family, and kin to get through their daily lives. I too have been blessed with a community of women who have offered many forms of assistance and encouragement, viii Acknowledgments always when I needed it most. Michelle Hamilton helped talk me through many things and shared my interest, some would say obsession, with minute details. Marise Bachand shared my “Canadian Girl” enthusiasm for the history of the American South and has proven herself an excellent roommate. Claire Campbell reminded me that all can be done with style. Heidi MacDonald, Janay Nugent, Jan Newberry, and Anne Dymond have bridged the gap between colleagues and friends, offering advice, support, and tea in perfect balance. Gail Hepburn, Andrea Wojtak, and Christie Webster provided perspectives beyond the field of history and served as my cheerleaders when I needed that extra bit of encouragement. Finally, Amy Shaw has, over the course of a decade, moved from an office-mate to a sister-friend. I could not have completed this project without her unwavering support. This book is dedicated to Barbara and Jerry Kennedy for all that they have done for me. It is they who taught me that family is the foundation for everything. My love and gratitude is beyond words. Born Southern This page intentionally left blank ...