Plain folk in Texas, 1821-1860: a social history
McCroskey, Vista Kay
McCroskey, Vista Kay
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Date
1990
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Abstract
The "plain folk" of antebellum Texas and their leisure-oriented culture and rural customs were the dominant force in this new land. The majority of settlers migrated from the Old South, bringing their predominantly Celtic folkways as well as those that their pioneering ancestors had developed on other frontiers. They came to Texas seeking familiar and comforting terrain which would allow the perpetuation of their herding and subsistence-farming traditions. They built homes that varied from crude sheds to finer Greek Revival dwellings, but even those had distinctively simple features. Plain folk appreciation of family and friends, which often led them to migrate and settle in communities, touched every aspect of life. Even women could claim a certain amount of economic independence, yet each person took his or her place within the extended family network. Such a position gave both a feeling of security and a sense of duty. In addition, these people valued the pleasures of life, finding enjoyment in social events, religious practices, and even the most monotonous of chores. Texas was, for both women and men, a new land of old ways.
Contents
Subject
Subject(s)
Texas--History--To 1846
Texas--Social life and customs
Texas--History--1846-1950
Texas--Social life and customs
Texas--History--1846-1950
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Dissertation
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x, 217 leaves
Department
History