The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-13
Or. Owen's History Is Monumental Work On
 The Story Of Alabama
History of Alabama Has Just Been Issued and Will Prove One of Most Valued Reference Works Ever Issued About the People and
 Events of This State
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

No sweeter task nor tenderer mis- sion was ever left as a legacy to any, wife than that which Marie Bank head Owen had in completing the History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography" which. was begun many years ago by her late husband, Dr. Thomas McAdory Owen.
 That she has done 1t well is very evident. completing the splendid task Dr. Owen set out to accomplish and presenting the finished work in beau tiful form.
 Few couples have ever Aeen more perfectly mated than were Dr. Owen and his wife. With the same intellec-
 tual traits of mind, the same real love of their home state, Alabama, the same feelings of loyalty and pride in their state, they worked hand In hand as unit the twain earning for themselves the love and admiration of their fellow men everywhere, but more especially in their own state, where their names and the names of their forbears spell all that is com hcHodpiS, all that IS worth while, socially and politically, in the south.
 pr. Owen'se four volumes (the de
 luxe edition will contain five vol umes), which comprise the History of Alabama and the Dictionary of Ala bama Biography" includes one of the most complete and authentic accounts of the state of Alabama which has ever been written.
 None was in a position to more
 thorougly know Ahbama's history than Dr. Owen--a lawyer of repute founder and director Of the Alabama state department of archives and his- iory, and author of numerous histori- cal and biographical publications, Dr. owen was better qualified, perhaps, than any other man of his time to set down in the annals of history the &C., counts of the achievements of men in this great commonwealth.
 First Two Volumes
 The first two volumes of pr. Owens History of Alabama and Die tionary of Alabama Biography" deals with Alabama's history as the title announces-cities, counties, railroads, rivers, creeks; offices, churches, col leges, societies, agriculture, birds,
 postoffices, aboriginal history; set dement's. Confederate operations, the
 COHotltutiOn, tOnVeHllOUS, S, drainage; farmers organizations, ed-
 ucational activities; legislaticn, the
 flag; horticulture, libraries-these are only few of the many subjects touched upon by Dr. Owen.
 Every subject has been completely and authentically covered and the many illustrations in the four yvl- tunes add entertainment And enlight- enment to the subjects mentioned. In the Hast two volumes, No. III and No. ", pr. Owen has given a com plete list of sAlabama's prominent men and women.
 Beginning with the earliest set tiers of the great state of Alabama, and going through to the present time, men who have made the history of this commonwealth are presented in brief history; their lives and achievements being chronicled. Many photographs of prominent men and women are used which add interest to the text and complete a most delightful and well written, Dictionary of Alabama Biography"
 There isn't student in the schools and colleges of Alabama today who can count his education complete
 without reading pr. Owens splen- did History" As for scholar and dile- tantte, 1t goes without Saying that the History will not only be read, but added to his library as a reference book.
 Dr. Owen in making the "Dedica- tion" of his splendid history honors thus two great Alabamians: Dedicated to my father. William Marmaduke Owen, physician, and to my father-in-law, John Hollis Bank head, statesman. unfailing and sym pathetic friends in all my efforts.' Following a Preface" to the History of Alabama and Dictionary | of Alabama Biography" Marie Bank
 head owen writes 'An Appreciation l as well as the Preface" using ex- ceived by her after Dr. Owens death l Among other things Mrs. Owen says:
 Mrs. Owens Words 'sIt seems that no other man. not even Thomas Carlyle whose manu-
 script of the History of the French Revolution was destroyed by fire, 1 had-lgreater obstacles to overcome l than did Thomas NJ. owen in his task of writing this book. He was priv ileged to be born of parents who 1 had a full appreciation of the value of education and who quickly real ixed the extraordinary talents of their first born. Although his years in school and in college came within
 that period of poverty and privation which was the common experience Of the people of his state following the War of Secession every necessary sacrifice was made by his parents in order that he might nave the train ing necessary to fit him for the life of professional man.
 Mrs. Owen then goes on to say that soon after Dr. Owens death his un- cle. Prof. l. w. McAdory. In writing to his aged mother in reference to that period of his life said: