The soul of a nation is seen through the lens of the spiritual lives of its famous citizens. C. Bernard Ruffin explores the religious beliefs of our heroes and heroines and how they have been influenced by their faith. He profiles 100 famous Americans, including Benjamin Franklin, Sojourner Truth, Roger Taney, Edgar Allen Poe, Louis Brandeis, and Susan B. Anthony.

Profiles of Faith: The Religious Beliefs of Eminent Americans

Biographies & Memoirs

Ruffin, Bernard

Ruffin, C. Bernard

Ruffin, Clyde

Leaders & Notable People

Liguori Publications

Last Words: A Dictionary of Deathbed Quotations

Nearly 2,000 deathbed quotations from saints, popes, statesmen, scientists, soldiers, athletes, artists, entertainers, writers, criminals and others are included in this reference work. Each entry includes a brief biographical sketch of the person and sets the quotation in context. The sources for the quotes include biographies, newspaper and magazine accounts, and, in a few instances, firsthand accounts.

Reference

McFarland Publishing

The last words of the dying often provide insight into their feelings about life. Some are peaceful ("It is very beautiful over there"--Thomas Alva Edison); many are spiritual ("Don't ask the Lord to keep me here. Ask him to have mercy"--Walker Percy); others are angry ("God-damn the whole frigging world and everybody in it--except you Carlotta"--W.C. Fields); still others reflect the weary fight against death ("I'm bored of it all"--Sir Winston Churchill). Nearly 2,000 deathbed quotations from saints, popes, statesmen, scientists, soldiers, musicians, athletes, artists, entertainers, writers, criminals and others are included in this reference work. Each entry includes a brief biographical sketch of the person and sets the quotation in context. The sources for the quotes include biographies, newspaper and magazine accounts, and, in a few instances, firsthand accounts.

Politics & Social Sciences

Sociology

McFarland

In 1793 the Virginia General Assembly, concerned that large numbers of people of color were hiring themselves out, claiming to be free when in fact they were slaves, passed a law "to restrain the practice of negroes going at large." This law required all free Negroes and Mulattoes to register with the clerk of the court where they lived. Registration was required once a year within the Commonwealth's independent cities, such as Richmond, Norfolk and Charlottesville; every three years for those residing in counties such as Fairfax, James City or the Isle of Wight. Failure to present registration papers would result in imprisonment as a runaway slave. The registers that exist for the city of Norfolk were prepared between 1835 and 1861 (the first year of the Civil War), and record vital information for approximately 600 men, women, and children. This valuable data has been abstracted and arranged alphabetically by the registrant's surname (if available). Six categories of information have been abstracted from the registers: approximate date of birth, description of physical features, manner of manumission, date or dates of registration, and date "ordered to be registered." Other pertinent information is included for some individuals. A final section of the book describes the plight of thirteen free people who were hauled into court in the early 1830s, for failing to leave the state within the twelve month period following their emancipation (as required by law).

Norfolk, Virginia Registry of Free Negroes, 1835-1861, Abstracts

History

Americas

Heritage Books, Inc.

Rosina Harvey was born November 4, 1881 in Washington, D.C. Her detailed recollections of her family, neighborhood and church (as well as her leadership role in America's first successful black labor union) paint a vivid portrait of her life and times in the nation's capital. "The Washington I grew up in, which then had a population of fewer than 300,000, was a very agreeable place, virtually free of slums and relatively free of crime." During her lifetime, Mrs. Tucker witnessed significant historical events, major social change, and technological advancements. She saw the mode of transportation evolve from horse and carriage, and trolley cars, to the variety of vehicles involved in the congested traffic of the 1980s. The daughter of former slaves, she attended Washington's prestigious M Street (later Dunbar) High School and became an accomplished pianist, composer, and music teacher. In her youth, she heard tales of slavery from the mouths of former slaves. She attended the funeral of Frederick Douglass in 1895 and witnessed the Washington Race Riot of 1919. She participated in the March on Washington in 1963, and experienced, in her lifetime, the growth and death of segregation in the District of Columbia. Her first husband was the eminent poet and minister James David Corrothers. After his premature death, she married a second time to Berthea Johnson Tucker, a Pullman Porter, and in 1925 she helped to found the Brotherhood of Sleeping-Car Porters, the first successful African-American labor union in the United States. For most of its existence she served as Secretary-Treasurer of its Ladies Auxiliary. For many years an elder at Washington's Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, she was also active in civic and community work. As she approached her hundredth birthday, she became a national celebrity, giving lectures and making appearances on television, recounting her years as a labor and civil rights activist. A year before her death at 1987, she was participating in a picket of a local supermarket. "Although I live far removed from the time I was born, I do not feel that my heart should dwell in the past. It is in the future. Each day added to another has culminated in growth that has led to my present experience and made me the person I am today and will be tomorrow." An index to full-names, places and subjects adds to the value of this work.

My Life as I Have Lived It: The Autobiography of Rosina Corrothers-Tucker, 1881-1987

Community & Culture

The Life of Brother Andre: The Miracle Worker of St. Joseph

Our Sunday Visitor

Tells the stories of early Christian martyrs and describes the daily life of Christians under Roman rule

The Days of the Martyrs: A History of the Persecution of Christians from Apostolic Times to the Time of Constantine

What did the twelve apostles do after Calvary? Where did they go? C. Bernard Ruffin has woven Scripture, tradition, and historical documents to re-create and outline the lives of each of Christ's closest followers.

The Twelve : The Lives of the Apostles after Calvary

Have scientists proven that the Shroud of Turin is a medieval forgery? Although many people would say yes, historian C. Bernard Ruffin reveals recent scientific discoveries that indicate the controversial carbon 14 dating completed in 1988 may be inaccurate by as much as a thousand years! Utilizing fascinating new analyses of the time-honored relic, the author carefully and reverently looks at the facts surrounding the ancient cloth thought by many to be the burial shroud of Christ. In this new study, Ruffin presents evidence showing: Just what exactly does the Shroud look like? Why does the Shroud so fascinate both the theological and scientific communities? Where has the Shroud been housed througout the centuries? What studies have been done on the Shroud? What theories have been presented on the nature and origin of the Shroud? In addition to the scientific evidence, this compelling new study explains why crucifixion was the most horrific of all deaths, and traces the history of the Shroud, including evidence that the disciples themselves may have kept the cloth hidden. Examine the evidence and then decide for yourself ... is the Shroud of Turin the burial cloth of Christ, or unprecedented forgery?

The Shroud of Turin: The Most Up-To-Date Analysis of All the Facts Regarding the Church's Controversial Relic

Religion & Spirituality

Religious Studies

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us. Before his death in 1968, Padre Pio was known throughout the world as a very holy man - many even called him a living saint. This humble Italian priest who bore the wounds of Christ received thousands of letters and visitors each year, seeking his spiritual counsel, healing, and prayer. Padre Pio's intense spirituality and holiness remain legendary and life-changing. This is the comprehensive life story of the priest who became world famous for his stigmata, miracles, and supernatural insights. Read in detail about the many miracles of Padre Pio, and discover how knowing this powerful saint can change your life, too. By far the best biography of Padre Pio ever written - newly updated with more details and 16 pages of photos!

Padre Pio: The True Story

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ruffin, C. Bernard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ruffin, C. Bernard

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ruffin, C. Bernard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Profiles of Faith: The Religious Beliefs of Eminent Americans

Last Words: A Dictionary of Deathbed Quotations

Last Words: A Dictionary of Deathbed Quotations

Norfolk, Virginia Registry of Free Negroes, 1835-1861, Abstracts

My Life as I Have Lived It: The Autobiography of Rosina Corrothers-Tucker, 1881-1987

The Life of Brother Andre: The Miracle Worker of St. Joseph

The Days of the Martyrs: A History of the Persecution of Christians from Apostolic Times to the Time of Constantine

The Twelve : The Lives of the Apostles after Calvary

The Shroud of Turin: The Most Up-To-Date Analysis of All the Facts Regarding the Church's Controversial Relic

Padre Pio: The True Story