In a sense, all history is local. It is set in a certain place, involves certain people and certain issues. In this sense, then, there is a usefulness to studying what is nearby, what has happened where we live, to understand what little scenes of history have played out in the everyday lives of those who preceded us, to recognize in the familiar what may be unknown. A selected listed of sources available is given in this guide. Whether one is researching the history of a community, a family, or an individual, the collections of the Archives of Appalachia will enable one to study history at its most primary level -- Local History.

Consult Sherrod Library Online Catalog for books of interest.

Manuscripts

John Biggs Alderman Collection
The "Pat" Alderman papers contain material related to Alderman's researches into local history on such topics as early East Tennessee, the Cherokees, genealogy, Unicoi County, Tenn., pioneer life, conservation, and natural history. Included are clippings, notes, typescripts of books and articles, photographs, drawings, and audio recordings.

John Fain Anderson Collection
This collection of scrapbooks includes material (1861-1925) on East Tennessee history, politics and government, and prominent figures like Andrew Johnson, the Brownlows, the Taylors, T. A. R. Nelson, and Andrew Jackson.

Bumpass Cove-Embreeville Collection
The collection presents an example of how specific topics in local history can be examined- in this case, questions on the environment and pollution in the controversial debate over a landfill in the Bumpass Cove-Embreeville area of Washington County, Tenn. in the 1970s. Consists of material related to this issue and the Bumpass Cove Citizens Group, formed to seek closure of the landfill operation.

Elizabethton Star Negative Collection
Consists of negatives, chiefly 1955-68, of photographs taken by newspaper staff. Relates to all topics of interest in the Elizabethton and Carter County, Tenn. area.

Embree Family Collection
Consists of articles, family history, and correspondence (1780- 87) by or about members of this prominent early East Tennessee family of Quaker industrialists. In addition to family information, the material touches on such subjects as the Society of Friends, the abolitionist movement of which the Embree's were leaders, newspaper publishing, and Washington County, Tenn. history.

Faw Family Collection
An example of the many family-related collections in the archives, these papers focus on the Faw family of Washington County, Tenn. during the years 1830-1974 and includes correspondence among family members, land transactions, wills of family members, and Faw genealogy. Material on the related DeVault family (of the DeVault Tavern) is included.

Holston Methodist Conference Records
This collection provides an example of numerous church and denominational records available to researchers. Consists of minutes of the annual Holston Conference of the Methodist Church (1833-40), as well as published pamphlets dealing with the Methodist faith, and the magazine Monthly Miscellany.

Johnson City Foundry and Machine Works Collection
Founded in 1883, this major steel and aluminum fabricator played an important part in the early industrial development of the region. Consists of company documents related to operations from 1902-83 and includes ledgers, journals, shop orders, purchase invoices, pamphlets, correspondence, office files, union contracts, board minutes, photographs, and other company records. It is an example of the many collections of area businesses and industries available for research.

Johnson City Press Newsclippings
Collection consists of newspaper articles clipped from the Johnson City Press (and its forerunners) between 1936-87. It covers all aspects of life in the region as reported in the local newspaper.

City of Johnson City Records
An extensive collection of municipal documents, material includes administrative and judicial records of the city from c. 1890. Material would be useful for the study of city government, politics, taxation, street, school, and other construction projects, city planning, municipal finance, education, judicial procedures, and city history.

Jonesboro Women's Christian Temperance Union Collection
An example of the many social and civic organizations for which records are available, the WCTU collection consists of early records related to this Jonesboro temperance group and includes a ledger containing the organization's original constitution, newspaper clippings, and minutes (1895-99).

Shelby Family Collection
Consists of historical material related to this prominent early Tennessee family and includes information on Evan Shelby, Jr., his son John, brothers Moses and John Shelby, and nephews, Moses, Jr. and John, Jr.

Washington County (Tenn.) Court Records
Administrative and judicial records (1777-1960s) touch on many aspects of life in Tennessee's first county, including local history, politics and government, road construction, judicial procedures, education, court cases, law enforcement, etc.

Washington County (Tenn.) Historic Structures Survey
Consists of survey forms, photocopies of selected photographs, computer disks, and newspaper clippings related to information gathered between 1983-86 on historic homes and buildings in Tennessee's oldest county. Information includes name and address of current property owner, date of construction, construction details, building plan, and architectural style. Over 5,000 pre- 1931 structures were identified.

Watauga Historical Association Collection
Consists of historical documents gathered by the association related to the history of Carter County, Tenn. Material includes articles of agreement, bills of sale, bonds, declarations, judgments, juror lists, court minutes, petitions, oaths, orders, notices, writs, promissory notes, etc., 1796-1866.

Samuel Cole Williams Collection
Judge, educator, and historian, Williams' papers here include a copy of manuscript notes taken from various sources for his work entitled "Early Emancipation Movement in Tennessee."

Appalachian Photographic Archive

The Appalachian Photographic Archive contains extensive prints, negatives, and slides on many local history subjects, including historical images of individuals, organizations, businesses, and places in the region.

Appalachian Publications Files

Selected titles of periodicals published in or about the region as well as scattered issues of regional newspapers are housed in the division's Appalachian Publications Files.

Appalachian Vertical File

An extensive collection of newspaper clippings, reports, pamphlets, brochures, and ephemera is available in the vertical files on historical individuals, on regional cities, on Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia counties, or places such as Grandfather Mountain and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Numerous titles in biography, county, state, and local history are available to researchers in Special Collections. Please consult Sherrod Library Online Catalog for a full listing.

Educational Media

The following videotape presentations on selected local history topics are available on loan from the Archives:

Embreeville
Traces the economic and social history of the small mountain communities of Embreeville and Bumpass Cove, Tenn.

Holston Country Houses: Preserving the Past
Examines various aspects of historic preservation in the area.

Johnson City Album
Combines reminiscences of local residents with historic photographs to examine the city's history and development.

Pat Alderman: The Making of a Local Historian
Suggest ways in which others might further their own interest in community and local history and genealogy.