Oh yes, I'm sure that there are records scattered all over.
I got one beautiful colored plantation book, the James Hamilton Couper
Plantation book from Birmingham, Ala. and two of the cash entry books,
two huge ledgers, just beautifully kept plantation records and I made
the mistake of showing the book to Dr. J. G. deR. Hamilton, and he was
so enthusiastic about it that he said, "Oh, would you let me take this
to the American Historical Association meeting. I just want to show it
to U.B. Phillips, he will be so thrilled to see it." And you know,
naive and trusting as I was (I had just received my doctor's degree, you see) and I didn't think that he could possibly have any ulterior
motives, and I naively let him take it, having written to the owner
saying, "Dr. Hamilton would like to take this to the American Historical
Association to show to some of the scholars in the field of southern
history. Do you have any objections?" No, she didn't have any objections
so long as I thought that the man was reliable and I would guarantee
that the book would be returned Well, I told Dr. Hamilton that I wanted
it back immediately afterward. I said, "You may have it for two weeks,
and that's all." He didn't return it and he didn't return it and I
called him and I went to see him. And he said, "Oh, I've got it at the
house. I'm sorry, I'll bring it right back to you." And he still didn't
return it. It took me about four or five months to get that plantation
record. Then, a short time afterwards, U.B. Phillips book came out and
the pictures he was using were maps from the Couper Plantation Book.
I've forgotten the title of the book, I was so mad with him, I could
have killed Dr. Hamilton! He Phillips had photographed the maps and
published them in his book prior to the publication of my Sea Island
book.