DEBOW'S REVIEW. Agricultural, commercial, industrial progress & resources. v. 1-34, Jan. 1846-July/Aug. 1864; after the war series, v. 1-8, Jan. 1866-Oct. 1870; new ser., v. 1, no. 1-4. Oct. 1879-June 1880. New Orleans, J.D.B. DeBow, 1846-80.

48 v. illus., plates, ports., maps. monthly.

Beginning with v. 7 (July-Dec. 1849) new series are started at frequent intervals, and the numbering on the title-pages and captions is more or less irregular. Publication suspended Jan.-June 1849, inclusive; Sept. 1862-June 1864; Sept. 1864-Dec. 1865; Nov. 1870-Sept. 1879; Jan.-May 1880. Ceased publication June 1880? Title varies: Jan. 1846-June 1850, The Commercial review of the South and West; a monthly journal of trade, commerce, commercial polity, agriculture, manufactures, internal improvements and general literature (cover-title, Feb. 1847-June 1850: DeBow's commercial review of the South & West) July 1850-Dec. 1852, DeBow's review of the southern and western states. Devoted to commerce, agriculture, manufactures. Jan. 1853-July/Aug. 1864, DeBow's review and industrial resources, statistics, etc. Devoted to commerce, agriculture, manufactures. (Volumes from July 1861 to Aug. 1864 want title-pages; cover-title: DeBow's review. Industrial resources, etc.) Jan. 1866-Dec. 1867, DeBow's review, devoted to the restoration of the southern states. Jan. 1868-June 1880, DeBow's review ... Agricultural commercial, industrial progress & resources (cover title, Apr. 1869-Oct. 1870; DeBow's New Orleans Monthly Review).

Editors: Jan. 1846-Feb. 1867, J.D.B. DeBow.-Apr. 1867-Feb. 1868, R.G. Barnwell, E.Q. Bell.-Mar. 1868-Dec. 1879, W.M. Burwell. Published in New Orleans, 1846-52; New Orleans and Washington, 1853-60; New Orleans and Charleston, S.C., 1861-62; Columbia, S.C. 1864; New Orleans, etc., 1866-80. The Agricultural review of New York (established 1881) absorbed DeBow's review in Jan. 1884.

In establishing his famous journal of commerce, James De Bow committed himself to the principle that the South, lagging behind the North in the development of transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture, could best realize its potential by united effort with the North. The first number was filled with useful information about southern and western commerce and resources and the last 20 pages gave "Southern and Western Statistics," figures on foreign trade, market news, and brief notes on publication. Agricultural material is abundant in the file: cotton was a prominent topic, and cotton mius for the South were advocated. Rice growing, soils, forestry and plantation management were also discussed. Education was a common topic and railways, canals, river control, and plank roads also received much attention. The various southern commercial conventions were reported in detail. De Bow's was never distinguished in literature, which was originally relegated to a very humble place, but in 1850 a literary department was introduced and thereafter some stories, poems, occasional Literary criticism, and some travel articles appeared. Politics entered the Review after the suspemon of 1849. By this time, the unrest in the South could not be ignored and the slavery question finally became De Bow's major interest. He strongly advocated slavery and called for a greater independence of the Southern states. From month to month the Review discussed secession and slavery with eloquence and often with passion. However, following a suspension in 1864 and 186S De Bow's returned urging acceptance of the reconstruction program of the Union and President Johnson. Publication ceased in 1880 due to the increased publishing expenses.

APS II, Reels 382 & 383