Tennessee True Crime exhibit open to the public

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is proud to announce the installation of its latest exhibit, Tennessee True Crime. Open to the public now through December 2018. This exhibit features materials from the Library and Archives’ extensive collections and focuses on real crimes and criminals in Tennessee’s history. In this exhibit, we explore the seedier stories housed within our collections. From the well-known stories of Jesse James to the more local tales of Bertie Wrather and Brushy Mountain, this exhibit is filled with tales of criminals and their victims.

Tennessee True Crime exhibit panel

The Library and Archives is proud to exhibit not only its visual walled displays but also a curated selection of original archival material. Five exhibition cases will be filled with material from different manuscript and government records collections. One such display is curated from the Tennessee Supreme Court Records with unique objects used as evidentiary exhibits.

Brushy Mountain Penitentiary, circa 1920s
Library Photograph Collection
Tennessee State Library and Archives

FBI wanted poster for escaped prisoner of war Wolfgang Hermann Hellfritsch, 1943
Colonel Harry E. Dudley Papers
Tennessee State Library and Archives

Tennessee True Crime will be open to public Tuesday-Saturday, during regular business hours. 8am-4:30pm. Visitors can view the exhibit in the front lobby of the Library and Archives building, located at 403 7th Avenue N.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett