Library & Archives Events and Activities
Events and Activities at the Tennessee Library & Archives
The Tennessee State Library & Archives, Tennessee State Museum, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and the Tennessee State Capitol invite you to make a history day of it with the Passport to Tennessee History.
Inside the Passport to Tennessee History on Capitol Hill and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, visitors will find information about four institutions of Tennessee history.
Pick up your free Passport to Tennessee History at the Tennessee State Library & Archives, Tennessee State Museum, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Visitor Center or Tennessee State Capitol to begin stamping your passport to Tennessee History. Admission to all four participating locations is free.
Guided Tours of the Library & Archives are available by request, Tuesday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. Please email ask@tsla.libanswers.com to schedule your group tour.
Tennessee State Library & Archives' free Family History Day event was held on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
Each year, Family History Day has something to offer for anyone wanting to research their family history, from beginners to seasoned genealogists.
The featured presentation was “Early Tracks and Trails Across the South,” led by J. Mark Lowe.
During the presentation, attendees learned how to use tools at the Library & Archives to locate pathways created initially by animals and later followed by humans, eventually leading settlers and families throughout the South and beyond. Watch the presentation.
The Library & Archives is pleased to welcome Dr. Mark Cheathem, a professor of history at Cumberland University on Friday, May 24, 2024, from noon until 1:00 p.m. CT. Dr. Cheathem is the author or editor of nine books, including the award-winning books Andrew Jackson, Southerner and The Coming of Democracy: Presidential Campaigning in the Age of Jackson. His most recent publication is Who Is James K. Polk? The Presidential Election of 1844, which was a finalist for the 2023 Tennessee History Book Award. Dr. Cheathem will present “A Ruptured Relationship: James K. Polk and Martin Van Buren.” Click here to register and save your seat!
On Saturday, February 17, 2024, the Library & Archives hosted Andy Peck, author and editor of the Cross Mountain Books’ Pecks of Mossy Creek Series. Mr. Peck shared unpublished writings from his family, the Pecks of Mossy Creek. His message included a deep dive into East Tennessee and the Southeast during Reconstruction and after the Civil War, as told through the eyes of relatives who lived and wrote throughout the 19th century.
The Library & Archives welcomed author and columnist Bill Carey on Friday, August 11, 2023. Mr. Carey's talk included untold stories of the 19th century from his new book, True Tales of Tennessee: Earthquake to Railroad, detailing the stories of people and events that have often been overlooked. Watch the presentation.
Tennessee State Library & Archives is hosting a new lunchtime speaker series as part of The Legacy of Tennessee State Parks exhibit, exploring the history behind one of the best park systems in the country.
This Lunchtime Speaker Series event will be in person and live-streamed on the Library & Archives' Facebook page. Each event takes place from Noon to 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch. This series is free to the public. Seating is limited, so please make sure to reserve your spot.
Tennessee State Library & Archives is launching a new lecture series revealing the stories behind significant events in Tennessee’s rich 225-year history. The Lunchtime Speaker Series events will be in-person and live-streamed on the Library & Archives’ Facebook page and the Secretary of State’s YouTube channel. Each event will take place from Noon to 1 p.m. In-person attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch. This series is free to the public. In-person seating is limited.
The Library & Archives is pleased to welcome special guest Jim Hoobler for a lunchtime lecture on April 22, 2022, from Noon to 1 p.m. Mr. Hoobler, a local author and longtime State Museum curator, will present a talk entitled "This Used to Be Nashville." - Watch the presentation