Charles C. Sherrod Library

Johnson City

The Charles C. Sherrod Library serves as the main library for East Tennessee State University. It is home to the Archives of Appalachia, a repository that collects and preserves the documentary history of southern Appalachia. These materials cover a wide range of subjects, including rural life, business, the Civil War, coal mining, folklife, local history, medicine, politics, railroads, religion, and women’s history. Some highlights from the Archives are the Embree Family Papers, the Holston Methodist Conference Collection, the Watauga Historical Association Collection, and the Mary Louise Pearre Hamilton Papers. The Archives also maintain over 14,000 Books related to Appalachia. Other resources at the Sherrod Library include a large collection of Microforms, Newspapers, and Periodicals and nearly 80,000 Maps. There are several Subject Guides and dozens of Finding Aids available. Items held by the Archives may be searched with the Sherrod Library’s Online Catalog. Much of the Archives’ material has been digitized and may be viewed through its Digital Collections and Exhibits. Each year, the Archives offers its Margaret Anne Byrd Huffman Archives of Appalachia Endowment Grant to researchers affiliated with East Tennessee State University.

Jean & Alexander Heard Libraries

Nashville

The Jean & Alexander Heard Libraries serves as the central library for Vanderbilt University. Its holdings are vast and cover much of the early Americas. Much of this material may be found in its Special Collections and University Archives. At over 75,000 volumes, the Rare Book Collections are some of the most impressive in the United States, with strengths in the American Civil War, Southern literature, South American history and culture, religion, and the history of playing cards. There are also several Latin American Collections, including the J. León Helguera Collection of Colombiana. Early Americanists may also be interested in Vanderbilt’s Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies. The Heard Libraries’ Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical Library houses Vanderbilt’s extensive History of Medicine Collections. A robust collection of roughly 500,000 photographs can be found in the Vanderbilt Photographic Archives. There are dozens of Collection Guides available. Items held by the Heard Libraries may be searched with its Library Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Jessie Ball duPont Library

Sewanee

Located at Sewanee: The University of the South, the Jessie Ball duPont Library maintains a sizeable collection of early American sources. Its William R. Laurie University Archives and Special Collections curates a large selection of rare books and personal papers. The rare books are formed from various collections, much of which touch on theology and southern history. Manuscript materials are especially rich in religious history and theology. A standout is the Archives of the American Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Tennessee. Besides these religious history collections, there is also an interesting Confederate Papers Collection. There are dozens of Finding Aids available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with Sewanee’s online catalog, TigerSearch. Some of the Special Collections material has been digitized and may be viewed through the duPont Library’s Digital Collections.

John C. Hodges Library

Knoxville

The John C. Hodges Library serves as the main library for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Its Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives is home to a large assortment of early American sources. Much of the Special Collections material is comprised of court records, business papers, private correspondence, and various other documents. Some highlights include the Washington County Emancipation and Appearance Bonds, the Insurance Company of North America Records, an Indian Factories Cash Book, the Patricia Cornwell Collection of 19th Century Popular Culture, and the L. P. Wulff Collection. Hundreds of Finding Aids and Research Guides are available. Items held by the Special Collections can be searched with the Library’s Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and may be viewed through the University of Tennessee at Knoxville Libraries Digital Collections.

Knox County Public Library

Knoxville

The Knox County Public Library is the oldest continuously operating public library in Tennessee. Its East Tennessee Historical Center holds a large amount of early sources related to the state. Much of these materials form part of the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, which features more than 75,000 books, 19,000 rolls of microfilmed government records, newspapers, and other primary sources, Knoxville city directories, and much more. Also located at the Historical Center is the Knox County Archives, the official repository for Knox County’s historical records. These records date back to 1792 and include name indexes for the Knox County Circuit Court, the Knox County Chancery Court, the Hamilton District Superior Court of Law and Equity, and various other Knox County courts. Items held by the Historical Center may be searched with the Knox County Public Library Catalog. Much of the Historical Center’s holdings have been digitized and can be viewed through the Calvin M. McClung Digital Collection, the Digital Library of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Virtual Archive.

Memphis Public Library

Memphis

The Memphis Public Library is home to a variety of sources related to early Memphis and western Tennessee. Its Memphis and Shelby County Room holds several History, Genealogy, and Social Science resources. Over 5,000 maps and cartographic prints can be found in the Map and Poster Collection, and more than 11,000 images comprise its Photograph Collection. There are also dozens of manuscript collections dating to the 19th century, with many touching on the economic history of Memphis and the region’s role in the Civil War. Other materials include a robust collection of books on Memphis and Shelby County and hundreds of thousands of newspaper clippings. Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Library can be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Library’s unique materials have been digitized and may be viewed through Dig Memphis: The Digital Archive of Memphis Public Libraries.

Nashville Public Library

Nashville

The Nashville Public Library holds various items related to Nashville’s early history. Its Metro Archives houses the historical records of both the City of Nashville and Davidson County. These include various Court Records, Vital Records, and Wills. There is also several Photograph Collections and Manuscript Collections. The Library also maintains several Genealogy resources, including the Nashville Slave and Free People of Color Database. Items held by the Library may be searched with its Library Catalog. Some of the Library’s early materials have been digitized and can be viewed through the Nashville Public Library Digital Collections.

Ned R. McWherter Library

Memphis

The Ned R. McWherter Library serves as the main library for the University of Memphis. Its Special Collections are home to various early American sources. Several Manuscript Collections hold documents dating back to the 19th century, including its Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee Collection. There are dozens of Finding Aids available. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with the Library’s Classic Catalog.

Paul Meek Library

Martin

The Paul Meek Library is the main library for the University of Tennessee at Martin. Its Alliene and Jimmie S. Corbitt Special Collections and Archives are home to various sources related to the early history of western Tennessee. Some of these materials date back to the 18th century and include the the Obion County Court Records, the Weakley County Chancery Court Records, the Alfred Gardner Land Records, and the James S. Corbitt Autograph Collection. Finding aids and a list of the Manuscript Collections are available. The Special Collections also operate the Tennessee Confederate Pension Application Search. There are also several genealogical resources, most of which are located at the Library’s West Tennessee Heritage Study Center. Items held by the Special Collections may be searched with the Library’s Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and may be viewed through the UT Martin Digital Collections.

Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives

Nashville

As the official repository for the Southern Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives is one of the United States’ most important research libraries for religious history. Its Archives Holdings are vast, containing more than 12,000 linear feet of official church records and the personal papers of prominent Baptists. Some standouts include the Baptist Missionary Society Records and the Baptists in the Netherlands Collection, both of which chronicle the Atlantic dimensions of the Baptist movement. Collection Descriptions and Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Library & Archives may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Library & Archives’ 19th century materials have been digitized and may be viewed through its Digital Resources. The Library & Archives offer Study Grants periodically.

Tennessee State Library and Archives

Nashville

The Tennessee State Library and Archives serves as the official repository for the State of Tennessee. Its holdings are vast and document well the early history of Tennessee. Several collections related to History and Genealogy are available for research. Public papers related to state and local governance include Governors’ Papers, County & Municipal Records, Tax Records, Supreme Court Records, Early Legislative Records, Land Records, and so much more. Newspapers can be accessed at the Library and Archives. There are also various private collections of Manuscripts. Some highlights of the manuscript collections include the Penelope Johnson Allen Cherokee Collection, the Andrew Jackson Collection, the Boles Broadside Collection, and the Civil War Collection. A Guide to Manuscript Materials, Finding Aids, and other Research Resources are available. Items held by the Library and Archives may be searched with its Online Catalog. The Library and Archives maintain several Databases and Digital Resources. Much the Library and Archives’ material has been digitized and may be viewed through the Tennessee Virtual Archive.

UTC Library

Chattanooga

The UTC Library serves as the main library for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Its Special Collections house various Manuscripts, Rare Books, and Chattanooga History Collections. Much of these materials focus on Tennessee in the 19th century, with particular strengths in the American Civil War. Finding Aids are available. Items held by the Special Collections can be searched with the UTC Library’s Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and may be viewed through Chattanooga History Collections Online and the UTC Digital Collections.

Other Tennessee Archives & Sources

Most Tennessee counties have preserved their earliest records. Check with county archives and clerks of court to find out what is available. The Tennessee State Library and Archives maintains the Tennessee Archives Directory, a databases with relevant information about Tennessee’s various archives and records programs. Several statewide digital resources exist for Tennessee, including the Digital Library of Tennessee, the Tennessee Electronic Library, and the Tennessee Virtual Archive.

Several regional repositories have sources related to early Tennessee, including the Alabama Department of Archives & History, the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the Filson Historical Society, the Georgia Historical Society, the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, the Missouri Historical Society, the Oklahoma Historical Society, the State Archives of North Carolina, and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Early Tennessee sources can also be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

The area that became Tennessee sat between the North American empires of France, Great Britain, and Spain prior to American colonization. As such, sources for Tennessee may be found in France at the Archives Nationales d’Outre-Mer and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, in the United Kingdom at the British Library and the National Archives at Kew, and in Spain at the Archivo General de Indias.