I have looked in the standard works touching on Volstead (both primary
and secondary) and found nothing conclusive.  While a supporter of
prohibition earlier than when his name became attached to the national
prohibition law, it seems unlikely that it was that well known near the
border that his name would make the ironic statement that the bar owners
were using it for.  He was on the committee on the territories before
going to the judiciary committee, so it is possible his name was known
there, but the better bet, given this negative evidence, is that the
photo is misdated.  

  


Richard F. Hamm
Professor of History and Public Policy
Chair, History Department
University at Albany, SUNY
Social Science 145
518 442 5305; fax 518 442 5301
[log in to unmask] 
-----Original Message-----
From: Alcohol and Drugs History Society
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gretchen Pierce
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 5:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Volstead?

Hello,

I'm hoping you all can help me with a dilemma.  I have a photograph of
Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico (right across the border from Douglas, AZ)
that is filled with bars named and painted with beer advertisments in
English, including one called the Volstead Cafe.  My assumption is that
this photograph must date between 1919 and 1933, a border town catering
to thirsty American tourists, but it is in an album with the dates
1910-1915.  Was Volstead already involved with temperance and pushing
for prohibition between 1910 and 1915?  How likely is it that a
Congressman from Minnesota would be well known in AZ and Mexico 4-9
years before Prohibition?  Or is it safe to assume that the picture has
been misfiled?

Thanks,
Gretchen
--
Gretchen Pierce, Ph.D.
Adjunct Instructor
Indiana University Northwest



Quoting David Fahey <[log in to unmask]>:

> May I ask ADHS list subscribers for their recommendations identifying 
> the most important recent publications in languages other than English

> for the topics relevant to the Alcohol and Drugs History Society?
>
> David Fahey
>