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The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography, George P. Rawick,
General Editor, with A Comprehensive Name Index for The American
Slave, compiled by Howard E. Potts and Subject Index, from Index
to The American Slave, edited by Donald M. Jacobs, assisted by
Steven Fershleiser
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Acknowledgements
Most of the work on this Index was a solitary
endeavor, without external funding, but no man is an island, and
I must pay tribute to many whose education, training, and assistance
allowed the completion of this work.
Thanks go to Professors Jesse Jackson, David
Morgan, and Douglas Rogers of the University of Montevallo for their
education of a fledgling history student. Further appreciation is
given to Professors Lawrence Clayton, Edward Moseley, and Howard
Jones of the University of Alabama for training in history and research.
I would like to thank the staff of the University
of MontevalloĘs Library for their patience in loaning me parts of
The American Slave series for prolonged periods of time. In addition,
I want to recognize Waycross College Library Director Mary Jo Fayoyin,
Mr. Ken Venet, and Ms. Ethel Porter for their daily assistance at
the college which helped me to find time to complete this work.
Mr. Jerrell Mercer must be acknowledged, for
as my typist in transferring the information from the old data base
into IBM format, his work was invaluable.
For their help on the last few volumes, I would
like to thank research assistants, Mr. Jerrell Mercer, Ms. Gloria
Potts, Ms. Gloriss Potts, and Ms. Anna Smart for their time and
patience.
Ms. Susan Brantley, Instructional Technology
Specialist at Waycross College, is owed much in her many hours of
assistance in getting the computer program to produce the final
Index. Without her dedication and assistance, this project would
not be complete.
I would certainly commit an injustice by omitting
our Waycross College Arts & Sciences secretaries, Ms. Robyn Hubacher
and Ms. Joan Dial for all the work they do and the assistance rendered
which expedited the completion of this work.
I would also be remiss if I neglected to thank
my Waycross College History Department colleague, Dr. Richard Orr,
for many hours of historical discussions, often about the slave
narratives. They give value to the potential of this Index.
The administrative support and assistance from
Waycross College cannot be underestimated. I therefore wish to specially
thank Waycross College President Dr. Barbara Losty, former President
Dr. James Dye, Vice-President and Dean Dr. Ted Harris, Vice-President
for Business Affairs Mr. William Deason, Arts & Sciences Chairman
Dr. Tim Goodman, and Chancellor Stephen Portch and the University
System of Georgia, as well as the faculty and staff of Waycross
College for their continued assistance, support, and encouragement
on the completion of this Index. Each, in their own way, played
a part.
I also give a special thanks to Dr. Charles
Joyner of Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina. His one-year
visit at the University of Alabama in 1987-1988 introduced me to
The American Slave. This relationship has finally produced the completed
Index, which Dr. Joyner has the credit for initiating. His guidance
and encouragement are largely responsible for its ultimate completion.
No words can express my special gratitude to
Ms. Cynthia Harris, my Greenwood Publishing Executive Editor for
Academic Reference Books. Ms. HarrisĘs patience has endured the
additional incorporation of Series 1 and Series 2 into the Index.
As I was often too optimistic with the time table, underestimating
the enormity of the task, and with the unexpected crisis around
each corner, Ms. Harris has worked with me for the final completion
of this work. Thank you.
Since it is not possible to name every person
who has affected our lives, I would like to thank the nameless many
who helped shape my life professionally and personally. Their association
impacted me in many ways and on the completion of the Index as well.
Finally, I must give the greatest thanks to
my family. To James S. Potts, Sr., my father, and to Margaret E.
Potts, my mother, I owe the unrepayable debt of love, affection,
encouragement, and support which they always showed in furthering
my education; to James S. Potts, Jr., my brother, who assisted me
during times of crisis; to my wife, Gloria S. Potts, for her love,
support, and perseverance, but who at times may have wondered if
I was married to her or the Index; and to my children Marissa, Gloriss,
and my special child Jamie for enduring my spending over 2,000 hours
away from the family.
This Index, therefore, is dedicated to my parents,
my family, and especially to my daughter Gloriss Potts for the years
of care she has given for her special handicapped sister; and to
Jamie-Margarita Antonieta-Frances Potts, a special little girl with
a big name that has defied medical predictions for over nine years.
To Jamie & Gloriss
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