A Father’s Day Debate – Who is the “Father of Tennessee”?

With Father’s Day on the horizon, we thought the holiday warranted a look back at the “Father of Tennessee” and the debate over which historical figure properly holds that distinction.

Many chroniclers of early Tennessee history have proclaimed James Robertson as the “Father of Tennessee.” As a leader of both the Watauga and Cumberland settlements, Robertson is credited with establishing the first frontier settlements in what would later become the state of Tennessee. In 1779, he and John Donelson founded Fort Nashborough, which later became Nashville. Robertson defended his settlements from frequent attacks by the Chickamauga Cherokees, and he paid dearly for the defense of this land. According to the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, “Robertson's brothers, John and Mark, were killed, as were his sons, Peyton and James Jr. Another son, Jonathan, was scalped. Robertson narrowly escaped death on two occasions.” George Washington, considered the father of our country, appointed Robertson brigadier general of the United States Army of the Territory South of the River Ohio. Under Robertson’s leadership, that territory prospered, thereby establishing the foundation for what would become the state of Tennessee.

Portrait of Gen. James Robertson (1742-1814), "Founder of Nashville."
Library Collection

Other writers, however, contend that John Sevier is our state’s founding father and deserves recognition as the “Father of Tennessee.” Sevier stood alone as a towering figure in early Tennessee politics. As a celebrated frontiersman, a revered military leader of the Revolutionary War and a respected and feared Indian fighter, Sevier earned the trust of his electorate and became Tennessee’s first governor in 1796. He served six two-year terms as governor. During his terms as governor, Sevier negotiated a series of treaties to clear Indian claims to territory in Tennessee and facilitated the establishment of trade routes throughout the newly formed state. His mark on the landscape can be clearly felt in East Tennessee, where schools, roadways, and historic landmarks still bear his name. Sevier, however, is a forgotten figure in Tennessee history, frequently overshadowed by the long branches of “Old Hickory,” Andrew Jackson, whose own reputation looms large across the state and the nation.

Portrait of John Sevier (1745-1815) in military uniform.
Library Collection

So who do you think appropriately deserves the moniker, “Father of Tennessee” – James Robertson or John Sevier? In celebration of Father’s Day, we invite your comments on this ongoing historical debate.

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

TSLA celebrates the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth

June 19, 1865, now commonly referred to as Juneteenth, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 and it became effective on January 1, 1863, it did not impact Texas in the same way it did other southern states. Texas was isolated geographically, it was not a battleground, and there were few federal troops there to enforce the emancipation. Slaveholders often migrated there from eastern states to escape the war and brought their slaves with them.

News of the war’s end did not reach Texas until May 1865 - and the Army of the Trans-Mississippi did not surrender until June. On June 18 of that year, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with federal troops to occupy Texas on the federal government’s behalf, and on June 19, by reading aloud General Order No. 3, he announced the total emancipation of slaves.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth. In recognition of this historic commemoration, we share this image of Nancy Bradford, pictured around 1930. Bradford was the last former slave in the Dandridge, Tennessee area. She was born January 4, 1851, and was a nurse to a local family after the conclusion of the Civil War.

Image credit: "Looking Back At Tennessee"
Tennessee State Library and Archives Photo Collection.
Image source: http://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/citation.php?ImageID=9001

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

TSLA marks 62 years in our current building

On this day in history, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) celebrates an important anniversary. Sixty-two years ago, on June 17, 1953, TSLA opened the doors to our current facility with a formal ceremony to mark the historic occasion.

Program for the formal opening of the Tennessee State Library and Archives building, June 17, 1953.
Tennessee State Library and Archives Collection

Of course, the State Library and Archives is much older than that, created in 1854 in response to an Act of the Tennessee General Assembly. Prior to the move to our current location, for nearly a century the State Library and Archives occupied a room in the State Capitol, now known as the legislative lounge. By 1947, however, Governor Jim McCord and members of the General Assembly recognized the need for more space and better facilities to care for our historic collections. They created the Library Building Commission to begin work on plans for a new building located adjacent to the Tennessee Supreme Court Building and across the street from the State Capitol. The commission's work culminated in the construction of the building currently in use today.

A photograph of the Tennessee State Library and Archives building taken on July 17, 1956, a few short years after it opened in 1953.
State Library and Archives Agency Photographs

On May 3, 1952, Governor Gordon Browning delivered opening remarks during the cornerstone and dedication ceremonies at the construction site. He boldly described the building as a place "where the valuable and pricelesss archives materials of our State can be organized and preserved," marking a "milestone on our road to high destiny in spiritual and cultural achievement."

Though technologies have changed, photographs taken immediately following the opening reveal a space not much different than today.

A view of the "Tennessee Room" of the Tennessee State Library and Archives building, in the South Wing, Sept. 1, 1953.
State Library and Archives Agency Photographs

Researchers make use of early microfilm readers in the "Tennessee Room" of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, circa 1960.
State Library and Archives Agency Photographs

Sixty-two years later, while our current building exists as a historical milestone, the need for more space and adequate facilities to meet customer demands of the 21st Century has prompted an effort to locate suitable space for a new Library and Archives facility. Secretary of State Tre Hargett put the need for a new building into perspective recently with remarks published in April of this year:

http://sos.tn.gov/news/executive/new-state-library-and-archives-building-needed-preserve-our-history

As we mark more than six decades in our current building, we hope you'll take this opportunity to share this post with others as a reminder of the importance of our collective heritage.

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

A celebration of Flag Day...

Today is Flag Day, a national observance of the date in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the first United States flag. After Tennessee became a state in 1796, there was no formal action at the federal level to add another star to the flag. However, many people took it upon themselves to update their flags with more stars as more states joined the Union during that era. The updated U.S. flag approved in 1818 did recognize Tennessee with its own star.

Although Flag Day has been celebrated in some parts of the country dating back at least to the late 1800s, it didn't become an official holiday until President Harry Truman signed it into law in 1949. This week is also National Flag Week, a time when citizens are urged to fly their flags for the duration of the week.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives would like to take this opportunity to celebrate with the nation by sharing this image from our "Looking Back at Tennessee" collection. This photo shows several children posed in front of an American flag on June 3, 1923:

"Looking Back At Tennessee," Tennessee State Library and Archives.

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

Tennessee Group Recognized for Commemorating "Forgotten Conflict"

Historians sometimes refer to the War of 1812 as 'the Forgotten Conflict.' Yet it was a war in which Tennessee earned its "Volunteer State" nickname, made possible the acquisition of territory west of the Tennessee River, launched the careers of Sam Houston, David Crockett and Andrew Jackson, and saw thousands of Tennesseans fight in key battles like the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and the Battle of New Orleans.

Now a Tennessee organization dedicating to preserving and promoting history related to the War of 1812 has received a national award for its efforts. The Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission will receive a Leadership in History Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History at a ceremony in Louisville this September.

The commission is being recognized for the work it has done since its creation by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2012. Among its other activities, the commission organized 200th anniversary memorial ceremonies, hosted annual symposiums, supported living history programs and workshops throughout the state, produced material for brochures and special editions of Tennessee Historical Quarterly and helped acquire property that is historically significant to the War of 1812.

The commission is currently planning another symposium on the war's legacy that is scheduled to be held in Collierville Sept. 25 and Sept. 26.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) is one of many organizations that have been involved with the commission's work. TSLA hosted an exhibit on the War of 1812 in its lobby and provided materials for a traveling exhibit that has been featured at various locations around the state. TSLA has also conducted workshops for Tennessee teachers who teach about the subject.

Myers Brown and Tom Kanon, archivists at TSLA, both serve on the commission. Brown is the commission's chairman. Kanon is the author of "Tennesseans at War, 1812-1815: Andrew Jackson, the Creek War, and the Battle of New Orleans."

"The War of 1812 had major implications for the state of Tennessee," Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. "I am thankful that the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission is being recognized for its hard work in keeping this important part of our history from being obscured or forgotten."

The American Association for State and Local History is a Nashville-based not-for-profit organization that provides leadership and support for members who preserve and interpret history. Tennessee's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission is scheduled to receive its award during the association's annual meeting Sept. 18.

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

Harlem Hellfighter earns Medal of Honor

On June 2, 2015, Sergeant Henry Lincoln Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Sergeant Johnson and Private Needham Roberts were members of the 369th Infantry Regiment (nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters"). On the night of May 14-15, 1918, the pair were on sentry duty when they were attacked by a unit of German soldiers. Roberts was wounded early in the engagement and lay in their trench, handing grenades to Johnson to throw at the Germans. When their grenades ran out, Johnson began firing his rifle. When his rifle jammed, Johnson used it as a club until its stock shattered, at which point he then began using his bolo knife. The Germans finally retreated when they heard French and American troops approaching.

Image from "Our Colored Heroes," 1918. Thomas Perkins Henderson Papers. "The Volunteer State Goes to War: A Salute to Tennessee Veterans," online exhibit, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Johnson was wounded 21 times during the fierce hand-to-hand fighting, but he had killed four Germans and wounded another 10-20. As a result of their heroic actions, Johnson and Roberts were the first American soldiers to be awarded France’s prestigious Croix de Guerre medal during World War I. Johnson died in 1929, most likely due to complications from his wounds, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Roughly 350,000 African Americans served on the Western Front during World War I. Because the U.S. military was still segregated at the time, many of the African Americans who served were relegated to labor and stevedore units instead of combat units. One notable exception was the 369th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters." The regiment arrived in France in January 1918 but was given only labor service duties until April, when it was assigned to the French Army. The regiment spent 191 days in combat, more than any other American unit, participating in the Champagne-Marne and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. It was also the first Allied unit to reach the Rhine River in November 1918. All told, 171 of the regiment's officers and men received awards for bravery. The regimental band, led by James Reese Europe, is credited with introducing jazz music to Europe. Other notable members of the 369th were Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, the tap dancer and actor, and Vertner Woodson Tandy, one of the founders (or "Seven Jewels") of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first African American fraternity.

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

Tennessee Gets Its Start With "Least Imperfect" Founding Document

Tennessee’s first constitution went into effect on this date in 1796, following a process that was full of political intrigue. A group of leaders who lived in the region met in Knoxville for a constitutional convention beginning in January of that year. They came up with a founding document that was eventually ratified by the United States Congress, officially making Tennessee the nation’s 16th state.

Tennessee's first constitution, adopted in 1796. Handwritten in ink on paper.
Tennessee Founding and Landmark Documents
Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

That first constitution was remarkable for several reasons.

Although it was approved by Congress, the document was never put to a popular vote of the people who were living within the territory that would become the state of Tennessee.

The new constitution granted voting rights to anyone 21 or older who met certain property ownership and residency requirements. This included free black men, although their rights to vote were later rescinded when the state adopted a new constitution in 1835.

The original constitution was criticized by some as giving too much power to the legislative branch of government and not enough to the executive branch.

Congressional support hadn’t come easily, though. At the time, there was a political battle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Since Tennessee was viewed as likely to support Anti-Federalists, like Jefferson, the Federalists in Congress were reluctant to grant statehood.

However, that didn’t stop Tennesseans from forming its own legislature, which met May 28, 1796 and chose William Blount and William Cocke as its first U.S. senators.

In Washington, a dispute over the census used to determine Tennessee’s representation in Congress was resolved and the federal government voted in favor of statehood, effective June 1, 1796.

On that date, Blount and Cocke’s appointments as senators became official and Andrew Jackson was selected as the state’s lone member in the U.S. House of Representatives. The new state constitution provided for two-year terms for governors with the right to serve "not...more than six years in any term of eight." John Sevier was elected to serve as Tennessee's first governor.

The 1796 constitution became obsolete when Tennesseans approved a new constitution in a public referendum nearly four decades later.

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