East Tennessee Historical Society facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Abbreviation | ETHS |
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| Predecessor | East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society (c. 1834–1852) |
| Formation | May 5, 1834 |
| Type | Historical society |
| Headquarters | Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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Region served
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East Tennessee, Southern Appalachia |
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Chairman
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Jerome Melson |
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President & CEO
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Warren Dockter |
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Main organ
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Journal of East Tennessee History |
| Website | easttnhistory.org |
The East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS) is a special group in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. It's a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't try to make money. Its main goal is to learn about the history of East Tennessee. They also work to save old things that are important to history. Plus, they teach people in Tennessee about their past.
The society has a museum and a museum shop. These are located in the East Tennessee History Center in downtown Knoxville. The East Tennessee Historical Society started way back in 1834. That was 38 years after Tennessee became a state! They wanted to record how the area grew and how people settled there.
Contents
Discovering East Tennessee's Past
The East Tennessee Historical Society helps everyone learn about the rich history of East Tennessee. They do this through their museum, special projects, and by sharing old stories.
How the Society Started
The East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society was first created by a historian named J. G. M. Ramsey. He wanted to collect old papers and letters from the first people who lived in Tennessee. The very first meeting was on May 5, 1834. William B. Reese, who was the president of East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee), became the first president.
Ramsey kept all the society's old papers at his home. Sadly, his home was burned during the Civil War. All those important historical papers were lost. After the war, the society stopped working for a while.
Bringing the Society Back to Life
In January 1883, some people decided to restart the East Tennessee Historical Society. They wanted to keep history alive. Later, in 1885, a professor named William Gibbs McAdoo became president. The society started letting women join, which was a big step! They also held talks about interesting topics like Fort Loudoun and the state of Franklin. But by the end of that century, the society became inactive again.
In December 1924, teachers and librarians in Knoxville met to try again. A new society started on January 16, 1925. They began publishing a yearly history journal in 1929. They also published their first book about Tennessee history in 1939.
Sharing History Through Books
The society has published many important books about the area.
- In 1946, they released a big book about Knox County called The French Broad-Holston Country. This book was part of Tennessee's 150th birthday celebration.
- In 1976, they published Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee. This book told the story of Knoxville.
- A part of the Knoxville history book was also put into a new book in 1982. This one included many old photographs.
Growing and Building the Museum
In the late 1970s, the society moved its main office into the Old Customs House. This building also holds other important historical collections. With new leaders, the society grew a lot in the 1980s.
In the 1990s, the society changed the name of its journal to the Journal of East Tennessee History. They also started the First Families of Tennessee project in 1992. A very exciting step was opening the Museum of East Tennessee History in 1993.
East Tennessee History Center
| Established | 1834 |
|---|---|
| Location | 601 South Gay Street Knoxville, Tennessee 37901 |
| Type | History museum |
| Public transit access | KAT Bus Lines 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 31 |
The main home of the East Tennessee Historical Society is the East Tennessee History Center. It's located in the historic Old Customs House in Knoxville. This building is even shown in the society's logo!
Inside the History Center, you'll find the Museum of East Tennessee History. This museum has cool exhibits about the region's culture and history.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum displays many interesting items.
- You can see things that belonged to famous people like Davy Crockett and John Sevier.
- There are also items from the Appalachian Expositions of 1910 and 1911.
- You can learn about the Battle of Fort Sanders through artifacts.
- There's even a full-size trolley car!
- You might also see an old drugstore display.
- The museum has early country music instruments and other music items.
- The center also shows art by local artists like Lloyd Branson and Catherine Wiley.
The history center is also home to the Knox County Archives. It also holds the Calvin M. McClung Collection from the Knox County Public Libraries. These are places where old records and books are kept safe.
Special Family History Projects
The East Tennessee Historical Society runs two special groups for people who want to learn about their family history.
First Families of Tennessee
This group is for people who can show that their family lived in the area that became Tennessee before it officially became a state. It's a way to honor the very first families of Tennessee.
Civil War Families of Tennessee
This group is for people whose ancestors fought in the American Civil War. It helps people connect with their family's role in this important time in history.
See also
- Frank H. McClung Museum
- History of Knoxville, Tennessee
