May 6, 2017 - Documents made with pen and paper aren't the only important records of Tennessee history. In some cases, the stories of the state's early days are stitched together in embroidered cloth patches known as samplers. This Tennessee State Library and Archives workshop describes what these samplers can reveal about the lives of our ancestors.
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.