“The Alabama Guide” offers in-depth look at the State

“The Alabama Guide: Our People, Resources, and Government” is available at the Governor’s Mansion Gift Shop (334-241-8824) the Goat Hill Museum Store in the Alabama State Capitol (334-353-4969), and in bookstores across the state.

From the article “New book offers in-depth look at Alabama” by Alvin Benn in the Montgomery Advertiser:

Nearing the end of his first term, Gov. Bob Riley was attending a meeting in Tennessee when someone slipped him a book detailing the history of the Volunteer State as well as other interesting tidbits. Impressed by what he read, Riley felt Alabama should have the same thing and turned to one of his top aides to ask a favor. “We need one of these,” Riley told John Harrison, then the director of the state Department of Economic and Community Affairs and now superintendent of state banks. “Let’s do one.” Work began in the fall of 2006 and the book slowly began to take shape as writers, researchers and editors focused on their roles in what was becoming a major project. Three years in the making, Alabama’s version of Tennessee’s book is finally out and is just what the governor wanted. He couldn’t have been more pleased, either.

“The Alabama Guide: Our People, Resources and Government” is a humdinger and ought to be on a book shelf in every home in the state. Nearly 700 pages long and weighing four pounds, the guide touches on a wide variety of topics including politics, civil rights, the Civil War, the arts, sports, industry, education and a list of elected officials complete with color photographs of each one. There’s also a section containing a long list of state boards and agencies, the purpose of their creation, “snail mail” addresses, e-mail contacts and telephone numbers. The hardcover sells for $39.95, while the price of the paperback is $24.95. What separates Alabama’s guide from many of those prepared by other states is its readability. In short, it won’t put readers to sleep. “Other states have similar books, but they are somewhat dry,” said Ed Bridges, who directs the state Archives and History Department. “Some I’ve seen look more like textbooks.” Riley wanted the most experienced people available to prepare the book and Alabama couldn’t have come up with anyone better than Bridges to help guide it to completion. A Georgia native who has become an entrenched Alabamian and is proud of it, Bridges gathered together a talented group that included archivists, historians, researchers, a book publisher, college professors and others to help produce what Riley requested.

Randall Williams, who publishes the Montgomery-based New South Books, was hired as a part-time state merit system employee. He spent countless hours working on “The Alabama Guide” when he wasn’t at his primary business a few blocks away. “I’ve published about 400 books, but this project was something special,” said Williams. “For one thing, I learned just how extensive state government is and how it touches most people in Alabama in one way or another.” A 15-page listing includes state agencies beginning with the Compensation Department to the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame Board. It’s followed by regional organizations, state courts and legislators. It’s got birth and death rates, census figures, lyrics to the state song, city and county officeholders and even the Alabama creed and coat of arms. “What this book does is help people find something they might need,” said Williams. “It also puts a face on agencies such as licensing and regulatory boards that might provide help.”

Bridges personally wrote the 133-page “Historical Alabama” section. It’s an in-depth look at the state and is filled with photographs, maps, charts and other illustrations. “What helped me to better understand Alabama was the fact that we may be close to 200 years old, but we’ve also had more than 14,000 years of human occupancy,” said Bridges. “It’s a fact that is buried in our soil.” Produced by the state Department of Archives and History and distributed by the University of Alabama Press, the book has been selling fast and more printings are expected to be approved to keep up with the demand. “The governor wanted something to leave with economic prospects to present a nice view of our state,” said Bridges. “We are very happy to have produced such a professionally polished book.” Bridges said he is particularly pleased that so few negative comments have greeted publication of the guide. He credits Williams with helping to produce something that has drawn such a positive reception from the public. Williams designed the cover and handled many other duties as he worked to complete the project. “This is the most informative overview of Alabama in one place that I’ve ever seen,” said Bridges. “Randall took a technical, complex presentation and translated it into something readable and interesting.”

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