John D. Winters

John David Winters (December 23, 1916 – December 9, 1997) was an American historian at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. He is known for his monograph The Civil War in Louisiana, which was published in 1963, released in paperback in 1991, and is still in print. When published, it was the first and only single volume history covering events in Louisiana from 1861 to 1865.

Academic career Winters, who did not use the designation "Jr.," was professor of history at Louisiana Tech from 1948 until his retirement in 1984.

The Civil War in Louisiana

Sponsored by a state commission as part of observance of the centennial of the American Civil War, Winters produced the first history and only single volume about the war in Louisiana, from 1861 to 1865.

Winters' work has been criticized for reflecting white racial bias toward slaves of historians of the early 20th century, particularly followers of the Dunning School. In a review of historiography of the war and historians' treatment of blacks in the South, Clarence L. Mohr of the University of Georgia wrote in 1974 of The Civil War in Louisiana that Winters treated blacks "in a more insensitive manner than many earlier studies." While he approves of Winters integrating black history into the rest of his work, unlike historians who treated them separately, Mohr writes:

Winters' discussions, however, are characterized by frequent mentions of the 'Negro problem,' allusions to sexual indiscretions by 'colored wenches' and attempts by Union soldiers to 'lure' slaves away from their masters ... The author's perspective is further revealed in his description of black conduct in areas occupied and later evacuated by Federal troops during General Nathaniel P. Banks' Red River expedition in 1863. 'Some [Negroes]' writes Winters, 'refused to work and were shot; some were soundly thrashed; and all of them began to act better.'

The role of free men of color in the South, in addition to the larger number of slaves, has been of increasing interest to historians. Winters estimated that three thousand free men of color volunteered for militia duty in Louisiana by 1862, but historian Arthur W. Bergeron disputes this number as too high in his "Louisiana's Free Men of Color in Gray" in Louisianians in the Civil War (2002).

Academic career From 1977 until his retirement in 1984, Winters was the first recipient and holder of the Garnie W. McGinty Chair of History, named for the former Louisiana Tech history department chairman. In 1991, Winters was named Louisiana Tech professor emeritus. Winters, "Secession and Civil War in North Louisiana", in North Louisiana, ed. by B.H. Gilley, Ruston, Louisiana: McGinty Trust Fund Publications, 1984

Post-retirement In 1994, Winters participated in an interview for the Centennial Oral History Collection at Louisiana Tech. In this hour-long conversation, he discusses varied experiences on the campus, the effects of desegregation in the 1960s, the influence of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and his participation in the Louisiana Tech-Rome studies program.

Professional and civic activities In 1968, Winters was elected president of the Louisiana Historical Association, now based in Lafayette. He was named a fellow by the association in 1993. He was also active in other historical societies.

Death

Winters died at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston, Louisiana at the age of eighty. He was survived by his wife Frances and two sisters-in-law, Doris M. Winters (1917–2004) of Lake Providence and Elizabeth Winters of Garland, Texas. He was predeceased by two brothers, Henry F. Winters (1915-1987), who was married to Doris; and John. Winters's memorial service was held on December 11, 1997, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston. His widow Frances died about eight years after he did. The two were each cremated.