The Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston: An Architectural and Social History (Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities) [Hardcover]

Ellen Beasley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2007 | Series: Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities

Alleys and back buildings have been largely overlooked in studies of the American urban environment. And yet, rental alley houses, servant and slave quarters, carriage houses, stables, and other secondary structures have lined the alleys and filled the backyards of Galveston since its early days as a growing port city on the upper Texas Gulf Coast.

Like their counterparts in other cities, these buildings and their inhabitants have had a profound visual, physical, and social impact on the history and development of Galveston.

Interweaving written documents, oral interviews, and pictorial images, Beasley presents a vivid picture of Galveston’s alleys and alley life from the founding of the city into the twentieth century. The book blends a unique combination of research, photography, and the voices of those who have lived and live along the alleys. Beasley has uncovered and analyzed a wealth of new information not only about the back buildings of Galveston but also about their occupants and the complex cultural forces at work in their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is an important addition to our knowledge and understanding of how cities developed. Its value to historians, preservationists and citizens alike reaches far beyond Galveston.”--Elizabeth A. Lyon, retired Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer and member, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Diversity Council

(Elizabeth A. Lyon, retired Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer and membe )

“Filled with literally hundreds of photos, each keyed into easy reference maps and locators, it will certainly be a valuable book for architects, historians, students, teachers, and anyone fascinated with buildings and urban conditions.” --Top Country Music and Life

(Top Country Music and Life )

“I do not think another book like this exists, but hope there will be many more following this exact model all across the nation. It is at once a preservation book about common folk architecture and a well-grounded history, written from sources both oral and written. Along with this commendable quality, Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston is a compelling read. When you finish it you feel that you know the historic, much-battered island city better than you ever have before.” --William Seale

(William Seale )

 

“The Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston represents urban history at its very best. Richly illustrated, elegantly written and filled with the authentic voices of kids of people all too rarely listened to by historians, it brings back to vivid life a little-known and long vanished aspect of one of America’s most distinctive cities.” --Geoffrey C. Ward

(Geoffrey C. Ward )

About the Author

Ellen Beasley is the co-author of the Galveston Architecture Guidebook. A preservationist and writer, she earned a Loeb Fellowship to the Harvard Graduate School of Design. A former resident of Galveston for sixteen years, she now lives in Houston.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 186 pages
• Publisher: TAMU Press (April 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585445827
• ISBN-13: 978-1585445820
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Look Back In Time, March 4, 2008

By 

J. Robson (Middleton, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston: An Architectural and Social History (Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities) (Hardcover)

I was very surprised to find a book like this one. Some people may not enjoy this particular book but I did, in large part, because I grew up in Galveston and still spend a lot of time there.

Unlike a previous reviewer, I don't find the book a waste of time and I don't find Galveston eccentric-only someone that doesn't know the history and culture of Galveston would make that statement. However, Galveston is unique.

The alleys referred to in this book are not the type alleys in big city downtown areas where you put the garbage cans. The alleys of Galveston are more like small streets that are between two bigger streets. I have been in many of the buildings shown in this book. I had friends who lived in some of these very same buildings.

The author did a good job. However, if you do not have an interest in the history or culture of Galveston this book is probably not for you.Ellen Beasley has done other books about Galveston that also very good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Galveston Insights, October 23, 2009

By 

John G. Manlove (Pasadena, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston: An Architectural and Social History (Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities) (Hardcover)

A tremendous amount of research went into this book and the personal interviews give a great sense of Galveston and its past. In addition the merging of the historic maps and pictures are very interesting. If you are a fan of Galveston and its history you will enjoy this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars unknown history, February 10, 2008

By 

E. McFarland (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston: An Architectural and Social History (Sara and John Lindsey Series in the Arts and Humanities) (Hardcover)

Wow! It is very unusual to find history regarding average working people. This book is an easy read yet detailed and well sourced. If one is interested in Galveston or just historical views of the working class this is a great book.