Dr. Carroll Van West appointed State Historian

In May, we delivered the sad news that Tennessee's State Historian, Walter Durham, had passed away at the age 88. He served with honor and distinction as our state's historian since his appointment to that position in 2002. Today, we are pleased to report that Governor Haslam has appointed Dr. Carroll Van West to succeed Mr. Durham as Tennessee State Historian.

Dr. West has taught as a professor in the Middle Tennessee State University history department since 1985. He currently serves as a co-chair of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and as a Tennessee representative on the National Board of Advisors of National Trust for Historic Preservation. West also sits on the Executive Board of Lewis and Clark Trust, Inc. and on the Advisory Board of Teaching with Primary Sources, Library of Congress.

"Governor Haslam has made an excellent choice in appointing Dr. Carroll Van West as Tennessee’s new State Historian," Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. "Dr. West has worked with our staff at the State Library and Archives on the Civil War Sesquicentennial and other public history projects, and we look forward to working with him in the future as he takes on this new role. Dr. West has been published extensively on Tennessee history and has done much to preserve the physical heritage of our state’s past. He has served admirably as the editor of the Tennessee Historical Quarterly and as the managing editor of the Encyclopedia of Tennessee History and Culture."

  

The State Library and Archives is a division of the Tennessee Department of State and Tre Hargett, Secretary of State.