History and Genealogy

Consists of extensive genealogical research on the Ashmore family and its related branches. The most researched families in this collection include Alley, Ashmore, Balch, Bell, Burgess, Burch (Birch), Stewart (Stuart), Turbyfill, and Warren. The collection contains a wide variety of research, with a focus on handwritten genealogy notes written by the creator. A large portion of this collection consists of photocopied research such as census records, land records, correspondence, pedigree charts, wills, and newsletters.

Collection consists of genealogical research relating to the McGavock, Lindsley, and Grundy families, as well as their related branches. This collection primarily contains photocopied family research such as articles, newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence, deeds, and other family related studies. Included for every family are detailed family trees, family booklets, and bibliographies compiled by the creator. Genealogical booklets authored and provided by donor.

Civil War – Geared Towards Upper-Elementary and Middle School. Our Civil War DocsBox is packed full of great historical reproduction materials to give your students a hands-on approach to learning about the Civil War and its impact on Tennessee. Through physical materials like a pair of soldier’s Brogans to letters, photographs, and diaries, students will dig deeper into their Civil War curriculum. Investigative topics in this box includes the election of 1860, battle statistics, daily life for a soldier, the aftermath of battle, United States Colored Troops, as well as women’s involvement in the war.

1920s – Geared Towards Elementary School. The 1920s DocsBox highlights some of the crowning achievements and scandals of the 1920s through the investigation of primary sources, media, and three-dimensional objects. Topics analyzed in this box include new technological appliances for the home, Prohibition, the emergence of automobiles, and 1920s pop culture.

World War I – Geared Towards Middle and High School. Students will expand their knowledge of World War I through the use of primary sources, media, and reproductions. Classrooms will analyze the effects of new technology in warfare, read entries from Tennessee soldiers who witnessed these new weapons first-hand, and learn about Alvin York’s heroic efforts and how Tennesseans memorialize him today.

World War II – Geared Towards Upper-Elementary School. High School teachers consult lesson plan prior to booking box. During World War II, more than 300,000 men and women from Tennessee served in the armed forces. In addition to the support provided by Tennessee to our nation’s armed forces, the Volunteer State also lived up to its name in its action on the Homefront. From scrap drives and war bonds to rationing and victory gardens, Tennesseans sacrificed, saved, and served. The activities in this box will walk participants through daily life on the Homefront during WWII, in the hopes of providing them with varying perspectives, as well as a greater understanding of the sacrifices made by the greatest generation.

The Tennessee Arts Commission established its Folk Arts Program in 1984. From the beginning, program director Dr. Robert Cogswell photographed artists, sites, and events related to program activities. These items are a small sampling of approximately 22,000 images that document folkways and unique Tennessee styles, characters, and art.

An electronic document (PDF). Land Platting workshop handout.

September 23, 2017 - Locating the land of an ancestor can uncover a wealth of knowledge. Presenter J. Mark Lowe demonstrates how platting a property tract map may help identify many important features of a community, including ferries, mills, cemeteries, trails, historic homes and many other landmarks. With the aid of a few inexpensive tools, researchers can construct their own plats of land tracts as described in deeds, wills, court records or land grants.

Record of Ex-Soldiers in World War I, Tennessee Counties, 1917-1919 is a digital collection that consists of the compiled service records of over 130,000 soldiers and sailors from Tennessee who served in the First World War.