The Upshaws of County Line - An American Family

The Upshaws founded the community of County Line in the 1870s in deep East Texas. As with other relatively autonomous black communities, the Upshaws sought a safe place to raise their children and create a livelihood during Reconstruction and Jim Crow Texas. In the late 1980s photographer Richard Orton visited County Line for the first time and became aware of a world he did not know existed. Covering a period of twenty-five years, Orton juxtaposes his images with text from people who grew up in and have remained connected to their birthplace.

About the author

RICHARD ORTON was born in Nacogdoches and raised in Midland. He became mesmerized by photography after seeing an image materializing in a development tray. After two years in the Peace Corps, he settled in Austin, Texas, where he worked with nonprofits before becoming a photographer for the Texas House of Representatives. He moved back to Nacogdoches in 2007.

Product details

• Authors: Richard Orton, Richard S Orton, Richard S. Orton, Richard S./ Sitton Orton
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.10.2014
• EAN: 9781574415711
• ISBN: 978-1-57441-571-1
• No. of pages: 144
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general)