Name/Title
Serepta JordanEntry/Object ID
2012.637Description
Mixed-Media collage about a woman from Tennessee named Serepta Jordan
Serepta Jordan
1839-1894
Serepta Jordan was born in New Providence, TN, in 1839. Orphaned, she came to live with her Aunt Tabby and Uncle Elzie Trice where she helped to run their boarding house in New Providence. She was eventually befriended by a Mr. Atkinson, who owned the Cumberland Store, a general store at what is now called Boot Hill above the meeting of the Red and Cumberland Rivers. In 1857, Mr. Atkinson made Serepta a gift of one of the old, only partially-filled, ledgers from his store. She used this formidable, leather-clad book as a journal, at first writing between the ledger entries, producing a remarkable and detailed account of ordinary life here, between 1857 and 1864. The journal terminates with the birth of Serepta's first child, and product of a marriage of convenience necessitated by the death of her aunt and the social impossibility of living alone with her uncle. She died in 1894.
"Had a letter from Tom today it was thoughtful (of) him, though he hadn't received my last letter he (sat) down and wrote me not a long but a satisfactory letter in regard to his future course. He plainly told me that he had joined a minute company called the "Memphis Southern Guards" and he had only "done what any man with spirit, pride or love for his country, would do." He is ready he says for any emergency, and feels that he would be acting cowardly "not worthy of citizenship or a sweetheart" to act otherwise. While I approve of his course and honor him for his bravery, I deeply regret that circumstances are such as to leave no other alternative. He's enlisted it is true in a good cause but one in which danger is to be contended with on all sides and from which he will not be released I fear until by death. Though each volunteer and indeed each southerner seems so confident of success, I greatly fear that death and not victory will be their fate. There is so little in which we can ground the least hope."
- Journal entry for Tuesday night, April 23, 1861
"Mr. H wanted to go out to Mr. Osborne's and I wanted him first to go up town and get my spoons. He went and in a short time returned with them. They are really fine and so heavy & stout. According to my request there are no initials engraved, but simply "Rep" in large legible letters, I tell Mr. H his next wife if she ever uses them shall certainly know whose they were. The 1/2 doz. cost $12.00 in "Greenbacks" the very spoons that once could have been bought for 7 or 8, Nevertheless the money goes willingly as they will profit me more than that ever will."
-Journal entry for Monday night, January 25, 1864Artwork Details
Medium
Mixed-Media, CollageCollection
APSU Permanent CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Susan Bryant & Billy RenklDate made
1997