# Rankin Barbee

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**David Rankin Barbee** (October 15, 1874, in [Murfreesboro](/source/Murfreesboro,_Tennessee), [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee)—March 7, 1958, [Orange](/source/Orange,_Texas), [Texas](/source/Texas)) was an American [journalist](/source/Journalist), a public relations writer for the [Franklin D. Roosevelt](/source/Franklin_D._Roosevelt) administration, and a researcher in [American history](/source/History_of_the_United_States), best known for writing on Southern history.[1][2] Barbee, known by his middle name Rankin, was descended from a powerful Tennessee political family.

## Biography

From 1928 to 1933 Rankin Barbee wrote the column "Profiles" in *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post),* earning him "a large and loyal audience".[1] He joined the administration of President [Franklin D. Roosevelt](/source/Franklin_D._Roosevelt) as a public relations writer for the [Federal Alcohol Administration](/source/Federal_Alcohol_Administration).[1]

After his retirement, he became a full-time historic researcher, mostly writing on Southern history and on President [Abraham Lincoln](/source/Abraham_Lincoln). He published articles in history magazines and books. He was represented by the literary agent [Barthold Fles](/source/Barthold_Fles).[3] Today his papers are held in the special collections of the [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University) Library.

## Family

Rankin Barbee was the son of Dr. James Barbee and Margaret Rankin of [Jasper, Tennessee](/source/Jasper,_Tennessee). He was the nephew of Tennessee Attorney General George J. Stubblefield and Federal District Judge William R. Rankin. Barbee Sr., was the Publishing Agent for the [United Methodist](/source/United_Methodist) Publishing House in the 1890s and pastor of McKendree Methodist Church at the same time. Rankin Barbee's mother and uncle had moved to [Nashville](/source/Nashville) during the Civil War to be closer to their sister, Mary Anne Rankin, and her husband George Stubblefield. The family's political fortunes were tied to its relationship with then Tennessee Governor and future President [Andrew Johnson](/source/Andrew_Johnson). Rankin Barbee's grandfather, David Rankin of Jasper, Tennessee, was born in [Greeneville, Tennessee](/source/Greeneville,_Tennessee), and had served in the State legislature with Johnson in the 1830s. In addition, Johnson's maternal grandfather, Andrew McDonough, had married Barbee's great-grandmother, Rhoda Sartain Roberson, in his second marriage.

Barbee's family included first cousin Thomas Turley Rankin, who was head attorney for the Home Owners Loan Corporation and the [War Assets Administration](/source/War_Assets_Administration). Rankin's uncle William Roberson Rankin was a Federal District Judge in Nashville from 1863 to 1865.

## Bibliography

### Books

- 1928 - *An Excursion in Southern History*
- 1930 - *Washington, City of Mighty Events*
- 1946 - *Did James F. Shunk Forge the [Cotton Mather](/source/Cotton_Mather) Letter? The Answer Is: Definitely No.*
- 1947 - *The Capture of [Jefferson Davis](/source/Jefferson_Davis)*
- 1951 - *Lincoln, [Chase](/source/Salmon_P._Chase), and the Rev. Dr. Richard Fuller*

### Manuscripts

- *The Inside Story of [Lamon](/source/Ward_Hill_Lamon)'s Life of Lincoln*
- *Lincoln and [Booth](/source/John_Wilkes_Booth)*
- *The Story of [Mrs. Robert Greenhow](/source/Rose_O'Neal_Greenhow)* (or *The Nemesis of Abraham Lincoln*)

## References

1. [David Rankin Barbee: A biographical sketch](http://library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/cl145.htm)

1. *Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine*. **33**: 141. 1952. All through the Southern States and to two generations of Washingtonians David Rankin Barbee is a legend. It calls to mind a man with a veritable passion for the truth and endowed with a seemingly inexhaustible amount of surplus energy for tracking it down...

1. ["Margaret Bearden papers: Folder listing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070826133216/http://www.library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/fl/f204%7D1.htm). Archived from [the original](http://library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/fl/f204%7D1.htm) on 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2008-06-14. [Barthold Fles](/source/Barthold_Fles) was Barbee's and [Eisenschiml](/source/Otto_Eisenschiml)'s publishing agent.

## External links

- [http://www.firstepoch.com/articles/article05.asp](http://www.firstepoch.com/articles/article05.asp)
- [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27249165_ITM](http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27249165_ITM)

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