History of Forest Park

The History of Forest Park is a 1992 book by historian Catherine Greene Browne documenting the history of Birmingham's Forest Park neighborhood, including 626 structures which contribute to its historic residential character. Her research began in the 1970s as the neighborhood compiled the documentation necessary to apply for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

She began re-organizing the research into book form in 1990 with the encouragement of Sam Frazier and Marvin Whiting, and completed the manuscript in December 1991. It was published the next year by the A. H. Cather Publishing Company.

The book contains a detailed historical narrative of the community's development, including major historic milestones that led to the industrialization of the Birmingham District and the development of the city of Birmingham. Detailed treatments of later events, such as the campaign to defeat a proposed freeway through the neighborhood and the work of obtaining National Register status is accompanied by the fruits of that work: an exhaustive street-by-street directory of historic structures along with information about their owners, designers and builders. Additional subjects covered include neighborhood events and profiles of noted historical figures.

Reference

• Browne, Catherine Greene (1992) The History of Forest Park