William J. Cooper - Jefferson Davis, American

During the years I worked on this book, the assistance of many people made possible my journey with Jefferson Davis. My gratitude goes to the many librarians who helped me in discovering the riches they preside over; their number is so large that I must thank them collectively. But I do want to specify two institutions that provided me incredible service over the years. Though not technically a library, the Jefferson Davis Papers housed at Rice University has been absolutely central. Editor Lynda L. Crist and her associates, Mary S. Dix, now retired, and Kenneth H. Williams, gave me free range in their trove of Davis documents. And they willingly responded to unending inquiries. I began and ended this project there. Quite frankly, without their active help I do not think this book would ever have been completed. In addition, past and present staff members of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, particularly its Eleanor S. Brockenbrough Library, were exceedingly generous during my several visits and continuous queries. I am especially grateful to Charity Coman, John Coski, Ruth Ann Coski, Cori Hudgins, and Guy Swanson.

A number of individuals provided indispensable aid in particular instances. Keith Hardison, then superintendent at Beauvoir, hosted a memorable stay at Daviss last home. Michael G. Miller and John Dale IV organized a splendid trip to Davis Island and the sites of Brierfield and Hurricane. Tracking over Daviss Mexican War battlefields would have been much less enjoyable, and in the case of Buena Vista impossible, without the companionship of W. Shelby McKenzie and J. Buford Anderson. In a visit arranged by Guy Swanson, Mrs. Frank G. Strachan welcomed me into her home, the house where Davis died. Writing about a man who suffered from serious illnesses through much of his life, I needed counsel from knowledgeable physicians. And I found themDr. Nicolas G. Bazan, LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans; Dr. Charles S. Bryan, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia; Dr. Roderick Macdonald, Columbia, South Carolina; Dr. Harris D. Riley, Jr., Childrens Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville. All shared their expertise and their insights with me.

Others contributed significantly. A fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities enabled me to take a year off to begin my research. My own university generously supported my research and writing. At the outset, R. Jackson Wilson provided invaluable assistance. Ron and Carroll Pohl became innkeepers extraordinaire during an extended stay at the Library of Congress. I found conversations with Joan Cashin, biographer of Varina H. Davis, very beneficial. Throughout the years spent on this book, Catherine Fry both prodded and encouraged me. Her interest in what she always referred to as Mr. Davis never flagged, and she made sure my eye remained fixed on that mark. During the actual writing, my departmental chair, Paul F. Paskoff, was incredibly accommodating to my constant calls on him. Also, in my department, Peggy Seale provided unstinting aid, while Keuren Pinkney, with good spirit, prepared many versions of my manuscript. Over the long course of my work, research assistance came from several graduate students: Bradley Bond, Richard Follett, Christopher Leahy, Robert Outland, John Sacher, and Kevin Yeager. An undergraduate, Justin Poche, helped put the notes in their final form. Mel Rosenthal, amazingly thorough and sensible, expertly guided my book through the production process.

My wife and my editor always stood by me. Patricia Cooper understood how important this book was to me, and she provided support both when things were going well and when they were not. Jane Garrett was patience and encouragement personified. Even when this book began taking much longer than either of us anticipated and completion dates had to be pushed back, she never gave up on me. I greatly value my association with her.

A marvelous attribute of historians is the time they are willing to give to the work of another. Four colleaguesLynda L. Crist, Drew Gilpin Faust, Michael F. Holt, and Charles Roysterread the entire manuscript, and a fifth, Gaines M. Foster, read the postwar chapters. Their critical skills, thoroughness, and candor have made this a much better book than it would have been without their serious attention.

All of the people named in these acknowledgments had a hand in the making of this book. For the help each of them gave, I am enormously grateful. Yet, the book is mine, and I accept full responsibility for it.

W.J.C.