Library & Archives Events and Activities

Upcoming Events

JUNE 9-13, 2025: JUNIOR ARCHIVIST SUMMER CAMP

Image

The Tennessee State Library & Archives is delighted to offer a full-day summer camp, Historians in Training: Junior Archivist, to 8–12-year-old students. The camp will run from June 9-13, 2025. During the week-long adventure, campers will explore historical topics and people while learning how archivists care for and protect historical documents for the future. As junior archivists and historians, campers will learn how history is preserved through hands-on activities, games, and field trips to other local historical sites (within walking distance of the Library & Archives).

**The 2025 Historians in Training: Jr. Archivist Summer Camp registration is currently full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email Casey Swank at Casey.Swank@tnsos.gov.**

Ongoing Activities and Opportunities 

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.

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.

Experience Past Events 

Click on each event title to watch the recorded presentation 

• Sept. 10, 2021: David E. Ewing, Lunchtime Lecture: "A Look Back at Tennessee’s Centennial Celebration in 1896 & 1897"

• Nov. 5, 2021: Tim Johnson, Lunchtime Lecture: "Why Tennessee is Known as the Volunteer State" 

• Feb. 11, 2022: Aaron Astor, Lunchtime Lecture: "Tennessee Frontier - How Tennessee’s Land Influenced Where Pioneers Settled" 

• April 22, 2022: Jim Hoobler, Lunchtime Lecture: "This Used to Be Nashville" 

• May 6, 2022: Elaine Weiss, Lunchtime Lecture: "Tennessee and the Fight to Win Women's Right to Vote"  

• March 16, 2023: Hobart Akin, Legacy of Tennessee State Parks Speaker Series: "Conservation in Tennessee" 

• March 24, 2023:  Amanda McCrary Smith, Legacy of Tennessee State Parks Speaker Series: "The Role of Archival Research in Interpreting the Material Culture of the Port Royal General Store" 

• August 11, 2023: Bill Carey, Author Talks: "True Tales of Tennessee: Earthquake to Railroad"

• October 28, 2023: J. Mark Lowe, Family History Day Featured Presentation: “Early Tracks and Trails Across the South"

• February 17, 2024: Andy Peck, Author Talks: "The Pecks of Mossy Creek"

• May 24, 2024: Dr. Mark Cheathem, Author Talks: “A Ruptured Relationship: James K. Polk and Martin Van Buren”

• September 7, 2024: Dr. Minoa Uffelman, Author Talks: "Nannie, Serepta, and Sarah: Three Clarksville Civil War Women"