Learn how to retrace your family’s pathways at the Tennessee State Library & Archives Family History Day on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, starting at 9:30 a.m. with research assistance available all day.  “We are excited to celebrate Family History Month and Archives Month with our annual Family History Day event,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I encourage anyone interested in exploring their family history to join us for this great event and take advantage of the vast resources the Library & Archives has to offer.”  This year’s Family History Day featured presentation i ..read more

From Tennessee’s first steamboats to the glory and tragedy of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, explore previously untold stories of the Volunteer State at the Tennessee State Library & Archives’ free Author Talks event with special guest Bill Carey on Friday, August 11, 2023, from noon until 1:00 p.m. CT. "Tennessee has a rich history of stories, some better known than others," said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. "I encourage anyone interested in discovering something new about the Volunteer State's historical past to join us during your lunch break for this free presentation." A ..read more

The Tennessee State Library & Archives will celebrate 227 years of statehood by hosting free events on Statehood Day, Thursday, June 1, and a family-friendly celebration event on Saturday, June 3.  “The Library & Archives displays Tennessee’s three original constitutions once a year to celebrate statehood,” said Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “This is an opportunity for Tennesseans to see the original documents that still to this day provide the foundation of our state government. There will be so much for visitors to explore on Statehood Day and at our family-frien ..read more

Tennessee State Library & Archives is excited to announce 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.  “Our state parks have a rich history of conservation and recreation in communities across the state,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I encourage anyone interested in Tennessee history and preservation of our parks system to join us for these free speaker series events.”  The first Lunchtime Speaker Series event, Early Conservation Efforts in Tennessee led ..read more

Tennessee State Library & Archives will bring history alive for 8 to 12-year-olds during Historians in Training: Junior Archivist Summer Camp on June 12 - 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  "We are excited to host another year of summer camp at our beautiful Tennessee State Library & Archives building," said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. "Our team has worked hard to put together a great week filled with activities that will appeal to any student interested in or wanting to learn more about Tennessee history and preservation. "  During the week-long adventure, campers will explore ..read more

By Taylor McPeake Clipping from the Clarence Bowden Wyatt Papers, Tennessee State Library & Archives. Born Nov. 4, 1917, Clarence Bowden Wyatt grew up in Roane County, Tenn., wanting to play football at the University of Tennessee for Coach Robert Neyland. After playing for Roane County High School, including the 1933 undefeated team which held all their opponents scoreless, he entered the University of Tennessee in 1935. Wyatt wasn’t recruited to play for the Volunteers, but at the request of a high school teammate, he was offered the chance to play for the University he loved ..read more

Secretary of State Tre Hargett announces James Ritter has been selected as the next Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist. Ritter, who served as the State Librarian of Maine for the last eight years, started his new position on July 25, 2022.  The State Librarian and Archivist directs operations at the Tennessee State Library & Archives, a division of the Department of State. To preserve Tennessee's history for current and future generations, the Library & Archives collects and preserves books, records and other documents of historical and reference value, focusing on items ab ..read more

By Zachary Keith  This week, the Tennessee State Library & Archives surpassed 1,000 digitized maps in our online map collection. Since the collection's launch in December 2014, a team of archivists and imaging specialists has curated, digitized, and added 1,006 maps online.  Check out some noteworthy maps from our extensive collection. The 1,000th map in our collection is this plat of Sevierville, possibly the oldest existing map of the town, drawn between 1818 and 1832. It denotes early lot owners and a Baptist church, most likely Forks of the River Baptist. See it onli ..read more

During Black History Month, Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s oldest and largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities dedicated to educating physicians, dentists, researchers and health policy experts, will display artifacts from its rich and storied history at the Tennessee State Library & Archives.  “Meharry Medical College is an outstanding medical training facility, whose graduates are making a positive impact on public health in Middle Tennessee and across the country,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “We are honored to host Meharry’s Black History Mon ..read more

By Dr. Kevin Cason The Library & Archives collections contain images of many beautiful places in Tennessee, but the Great Smoky Mountains are the subject of more photographs and postcards than almost any other subject. The Great Smoky Mountains are part of a larger mountain chain known as the Appalachian Mountains. While many people enjoy the picturesque scenery of the park today, the area that became the national park took many years to complete.  Sugarland Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Postcard, Tennessee Postcard Collection, Tennessee State Library & Arch ..read more