Tennessee Archives Month “Accidentally on Purpose”

By proclamation of Gov. Bill Haslam, October is Tennessee Archives Month. The proclamation honors the work of archivists and highlights the importance of archives across the state, noting that "through these archives, future generations of Tennesseans can more accurately study the past, learn from the accomplishments of their predecessors, trace their ancestors, understand their community's pride of place, confirm property rights, and maintain laws, while celebrating the history of our State."

Joining the Society of American Archivists and a number of state archivists’ associations, the Society of Tennessee Archivists also celebrates this event. In 2014, the society chose “Accidentally on Purpose: Acquisition, Care, & Promotion of Unusual or Specialized Collections” as the theme for this year’s observance of Tennessee Archives Month, focusing on the unique and unusual items held in collections found in archives.

At the Tennessee State Library and Archives, our holdings contain a number of unusual items. This photograph from the State Librarian and Archivist Papers chronicles two rather interesting discoveries. In the photograph, Tennessee’s first state archaeologist and “Keeper of the Archives and Museum,” P. E. Cox, gazes upon two skulls in an image used in this year’s Tennessee Archives Month poster promoting Tennessee Archives Month. Archivists at TSLA have surmised that Cox likely uncovered these two skulls while on an archaeological expedition at Mound Bottom, a prehistoric Native American complex in Cheatham County.

Of course, there are many other “unique” and “unusual” items and photographs in our collection, so we encourage you to take advantage of Tennessee Archives Month to come by TSLA to view these items yourself.

The State Library and Archives is located at 403 Seventh Avenue North, just west of the State Capitol building in downtown Nashville, and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with the exception of state holidays. Parking is available in front, behind and beside the building.

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