David M. Battles is a scholar of American history and culture who holds a BA and an MA in American Studies, with focuses in music (with a minor in music as well), race, American history, and the South, as well as an MLIS in Library and Information Science, all from the University of Alabama. Mr. Battles draws upon his expertise in all these fields, as well as his intimate knowledge of the University of Alabama, to inform many of his books, including (all priced in the Shop as the author changes the price occasionally due to currency exchange rates and the best discount he can wrangle from the publisher for any one mass order he makes): 

Yea, Alabama! A Peek into the Past of One of the Most Storied Universities in the Nation, Volume I: 1819–1871 (Cambridge Scholars Publishing); 

This Yea, Alabama historical series explores the narrative of the storied University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the United States, in a way not previously published. Years of research into primary documents, many only recently discovered or rediscovered, bring to the fore many new facts, new stories, new characters, new revelations, and new photos that offer the fullest picture of the University yet. This history of bringing higher education to what was just a few years earlier the American western frontier is filled with enthralling human interest stories that, just in volume one, Yea, Alabama! A Peek Into the Past of One of the Most Storied Universities in the South: The University of Alabama, Volume 1 (1819 through 1871), include: 

 • dramatic inter-generational rivalries (wilderness-influenced, wealthy young men challenging professors and presidents whom the students consider to be of a lower social class) that on more than one occasion force the University to close its doors and try again; 

 • political power and intrigue that often bring the school to its knees; 

 • town versus gown issues that sometimes explode onto the pages of history; 

 • a fateful decision that brings the University into the crosshairs of the Union, ultimately resulting in the near total destruction of the institution; 

 • the University’s multi-year post bellum effort to reopen that witnesses major confrontations between the people of Alabama and the radical state government; and

 • the never-before-told story of the University of Alabama, African Americans, and slavery.

ISBN-13:978-1-4438-7252-2

ISBN-10:1-4438-7252-0

Yea, Alabama! A Rare Glimpse into the Personal Diary of the University of Alabama, Volume II: 1871-1901, (Cambridge Scholars Publishing); 

YEA ALABAMA! A RARE GLIMPSE INTO THE PERSONAL DIARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA VOL. 2 (1871-1901) By David M. Battles

The University of Alabama is one of the most prominent and fascinating universities in the United States. Volume 1 of this series explored UA’s 1819 birth, its formative years, its burning by Union soldiers, and its subsequent rebirth in 1871. Volume 2, due for publication in October 2016, introduces a number of important elements into the ongoing narrative, including:

~the University’s continual hassle with the radical state government through 1877;

~a span of only seven years wherein three UA presidents either die in office or in Tuscaloosa shortly after resigning, creating a terrible period of psychological mourning that affected everyone associated with the University;

~the admission, under very strict conditions, of women students, and their effect on the faculty, administration, and the cadets;

~the establishment of student-written works including a journal, a newspaper, and a year book;

~the history of unofficial student sports dating from the 1870s and the official birth in 1892 of a school-sanctioned athletic program for football and baseball, the germ of what would eventually be named the Crimson Tide, including the first 12 rocky years of the program;

~and the successful 1900 Student Rebellion against the military style of student government, a rebellion that would rock the very soul of the school, involving the state press, the legislature, the governor, the alumni, and the citizens of Alabama, and which witnessed the fall of the commandant and eventually of the president, thus wrenching the students out of their two decade fluctuating but too often sorrowful psychological state of mind into an ever evolving psychology and experience of success!

And Yea, Alabama! The Uncensored Journal of the University of Alabama, Volume 3—1901 through 1926]; 

Part 1: 1901-11

Introduction

Chapter 1 

1901-1902:  “DEAR YOUNG LADY;” HAZING; FOOTBALL FANS

Chapter 2

1902-1903: TEACHING DEFINED AS A PROFESSION; HONOR SYSTEM; LETTERING IN ATHLETICS

Chapter 3

1903-1904: LETTER GRADES ISSUED; SORORITIES AND WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIPS DISCUSSED; FIRST UA MASTERS DEGREE ISSUED TO A FEMALE STUDENT

Chapter 4

1904-1905: ATHLETIC DEFICIENCIES; PLANNING 75TH ANNIVERSARY

Chapter 5

1905-1906: GREATER UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE; “THE CRIMSON AND THE WHITE;” REDESIGN OF UA SEAL; DISCUSSION REGARDING HIRING OF ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Chapter 6

1906-1907: COACH POLLARD; LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT; BLACKFRIARS; AMELIA RETIRES

Chapter 7

1907-1908: ATTAINMENT OF 1000 STUDENTS; NEW LIBRARIAN; UNIFORM ENTRANCE EXAMS INSTITUTED

Chapter 8

1908-1909: ACADEMIC LEVELS RAISED; ATHLETIC SEASON TICKETS; WATER TOWER; “ALMA MATER” 

Chapter 9

1909-1910: FOOTBALL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS; POLLARD RESIGNS; WOMEN REVOLT; THE SKULLS

Chapter 10

1910-1911: WESTINGHOUSE VISITS; MEDICAL SCHOOL GETS A RATING; ABERCROMBIE RESIGNS

Chapter 11

SUMMARY OF PART 1

Part 2: 1911-20

Chapter 12

1911-1912: NEW PRESIDENT; DRINKING; NEW BUILDINGS; CO-ED MANIFESTO; BASKETBALL

Chapter 13

1912-1913: SPORTS; AMELIA PASSES; FRATERNITY VS NON-FRATERNITY

Chapter 14

1913-1914: ARTS; JANE ADDAMS; LADIES’ HOME JOURNAL

Chapter 15

1914-1915: BAND AND SPORTS; “I;” “ABRAHAM AND ISAAC;” SIAA CHAMPS; FIRST EVIDENCE OF THE TERM “CRIMSON TIDE” BEING USED

Chapter 16

1915-1916: MORAL TURPITUDE; ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OF SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITIES; COACH STRICKEN; ROTC

Chapter 17

1916-1917: THE KELLY KIDS; SIAA CHAMPS; WWI

Chapter 18

1917-1918: SMOKING; SING ALONGS; ALL AMERICAN

Chapter 19

1918-1919: WAR IS HELL; CESSATION OF SPORTS; TEACHER SHORTAGE

Chapter 20

1919-1920: EXTENSION DEPARTMENT; SIAA FOOTBALL AND TRACK CHAMPS

Part 3: 1920 - 1926

Chapter 21

1920-1921: HOMECOMING; DENNY FIELD; UA FILLS THE MAJOR LEAGUE BALL TEAMS; 1000

Chapter 22

1921-1922: BAND; GOLF; RADIO STATION; MILLION DOLLAR DRIVE; WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPS

Chapter 23

1922-1923: 110-0; MILLION DOLLAR BAND; TIDAL WAVE; ORPHANS OF THE HEART CLUB; DRINKING FOUNTAIN; ILLEGAL BALLOTING

Chapter 24

1923-1924: BROADWAY; COACH WADE; JOE AND LUKE SEWELL; GIRLS’ RIFLE TEAM; ALABAMA PLAYS AUBURN; SIAA GOLF CHAMPS

Chapter 25

1924-1925: RAMMER JAMMER; HYPATIAN CLUB; SIAA/SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL, GOLF, AND BASEBALL CHAMPS; OFFICIAL GRADUATE SCHOOL

Chapter 26

1925-1926: GORGAS LIBRARY; 10-0 FOOTBALL SEASON; ROSE BOWL; “YEA, ALABAMA!”

Chapter 27

SYNOPSIS OF 1911-1926

Chapter 28

THOUGHTS REGARDING 1901-1926

Appendix 1

A COMPARISON OF UA WITH TWO OTHER SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES

Appendix 2

NEW ISSUES CARRYING FORWARD

and Miss Crimson Explains “Yea, Alabama!” to Children: Yea Alabama for Children, Volume I. 

University of Alabama guide, Miss Crimson, takes eight children on a tour of campus. Along the way she is asked to explain the lyrics to the chorus of "Yea, Alabama." A terrific book that will have extreme appeal to toddlers through middle schoolers, and probably some adults! Watch this website for publication announcements.

Other volumes of the Yea Alabama adult series and children's series are always being researched, written, and published by Mr. Battles. Check this website often for announcements about new works.

Sheet music shown below is described   on the Sheet music page.