• Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Dining Options
    • Military Branch
    • State Capitol
    • Tennessee Residence
    • Green McAdoo Cultural Center
    • Accessibility
    • Museum Store
    • About Us
      • History and Mission Statement
      • Museum Management
      • Douglas Henry State Museum Commission
      • Contact
    • Resources
  • Home
  • Exhibitions
    • Collections
      • Search Our Collection
      • Collection Scope
    • Permanent Exhibitions
      • Tennessee Time Tunnel
      • Natural History
      • First Peoples
      • Forging a Nation
      • The Civil War and Reconstruction
      • Change and Challenge
      • Tennessee Transforms
    • Temporary Exhibitions
      • A Better Life for Their Children (Opens Feb. 24, 2023)
      • STARS: Elementary Visual Art Exhibition 2023
      • Early Expressions: Art in Tennessee Before 1900
      • In Search of the New: Art in Tennessee Since 1900
      • Why Do Museums Collect
    • Online Exhibitions
      • Tennessee at 225
      • Ratified! Statewide!
      • Canvassing Tennessee: Artists and Their Environments
    • Past Exhibitions
      • Painting the Smokies
      • Tennessee at 225
      • Best of Tennessee Craft
      • Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote
      • Tennessee and the Great War: A Centennial Exhibition
      • STARS: Elementary Art Exhibition 2022
      • Cordell Hull: Tennessee's Father of the United Nations
      • Lets Eat! Origins and Evolutions of Tennessee Food
      • The State of Sound: Tennessee’s Musical Heritage
      • Red Grooms: A Retrospective
      • Between The Layers: Art and Story in Tennessee Quilts
    • Children's Gallery
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • On-Site Field Trips
      • On-Site Field Trip Request Form
      • Virtual Field Trips
      • Virtual Field Trips Request Form
    • Traveling Trunks & Reservations
      • Reserve a Trunk
      • From Barter to Budget, Financial Literacy in Tennessee
      • The Life and Times of the First Tennesseans
      • Daily Life on the Tennessee Frontier
      • Cherokee in Tennessee: Their Life, Culture, and Removal
      • The Age of Jackson and Tennessee’s Legendary Leaders
      • The Life of a Civil War Soldier
      • The Lives of Three Tennessee Slaves and Their Journey Towards Freedom
      • The Three Rs of Reconstruction: Rights, Restrictions and Resistance.
      • Understanding Women's Suffrage: Tennessee's Perfect 36
      • Transforming America: Tennessee on the World War II Homefront
      • The Modern Movement for Civil Rights in Tennessee
      • Tennessee: Its Land & People
    • Professional Development
    • Tennessee4Me
  • Programs & Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Videos
    • TN Writers | TN Stories
    • Passport to Tennessee History
    • Newsletter Signup
  • TSM Kids
    • Kids Home
    • Children's Gallery
    • Junior Curators Blog
    • Storytime
    • Color Our Collection
    • Jigsaw Puzzles
    • Girl Scout Patch
  • Donate
  • Blogs and More
    • Thousands of Stories
    • Your Story Our Story
    • Junior Curators
    • Quarterly Newsletters
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Donate
  • Events
  • Search
TN State Museum logo Tn State Museum mark
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Dining Options
    • Military Branch
    • State Capitol
    • Tennessee Residence
    • Green McAdoo Cultural Center
    • Accessibility
    • Museum Store
    • About Us
      • History and Mission Statement
      • Museum Management
      • Douglas Henry State Museum Commission
      • Contact
    • Resources
  • Home
  • Exhibitions
    • Collections
      • Search Our Collection
      • Collection Scope
    • Permanent Exhibitions
      • Tennessee Time Tunnel
      • Natural History
      • First Peoples
      • Forging a Nation
      • The Civil War and Reconstruction
      • Change and Challenge
      • Tennessee Transforms
    • Temporary Exhibitions
      • A Better Life for Their Children (Opens Feb. 24, 2023)
      • STARS: Elementary Visual Art Exhibition 2023
      • Early Expressions: Art in Tennessee Before 1900
      • In Search of the New: Art in Tennessee Since 1900
      • Why Do Museums Collect
    • Online Exhibitions
      • Tennessee at 225
      • Ratified! Statewide!
      • Canvassing Tennessee: Artists and Their Environments
    • Past Exhibitions
      • Painting the Smokies
      • Tennessee at 225
      • Best of Tennessee Craft
      • Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote
      • Tennessee and the Great War: A Centennial Exhibition
      • STARS: Elementary Art Exhibition 2022
      • Cordell Hull: Tennessee's Father of the United Nations
      • Lets Eat! Origins and Evolutions of Tennessee Food
      • The State of Sound: Tennessee’s Musical Heritage
      • Red Grooms: A Retrospective
      • Between The Layers: Art and Story in Tennessee Quilts
    • Children's Gallery
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • On-Site Field Trips
      • On-Site Field Trip Request Form
      • Virtual Field Trips
      • Virtual Field Trips Request Form
    • Traveling Trunks & Reservations
      • Reserve a Trunk
      • From Barter to Budget, Financial Literacy in Tennessee
      • The Life and Times of the First Tennesseans
      • Daily Life on the Tennessee Frontier
      • Cherokee in Tennessee: Their Life, Culture, and Removal
      • The Age of Jackson and Tennessee’s Legendary Leaders
      • The Life of a Civil War Soldier
      • The Lives of Three Tennessee Slaves and Their Journey Towards Freedom
      • The Three Rs of Reconstruction: Rights, Restrictions and Resistance.
      • Understanding Women's Suffrage: Tennessee's Perfect 36
      • Transforming America: Tennessee on the World War II Homefront
      • The Modern Movement for Civil Rights in Tennessee
      • Tennessee: Its Land & People
    • Professional Development
    • Tennessee4Me
  • Programs & Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Videos
    • TN Writers | TN Stories
    • Passport to Tennessee History
    • Newsletter Signup
  • TSM Kids
    • Kids Home
    • Children's Gallery
    • Junior Curators Blog
    • Storytime
    • Color Our Collection
    • Jigsaw Puzzles
    • Girl Scout Patch
  • Donate
  • Blogs and More
    • Thousands of Stories
    • Your Story Our Story
    • Junior Curators
    • Quarterly Newsletters

Enter a search request and press enter. Press Esc or the X to close.

Close
Stories Header
Stories Header
1 Stories Header
  • Home
  • Blogs and More
  • Thousands of Stories

1-17-23

Artifacts from Inauguration Days Gone By

POster of yellow and gold of a sun raise over a city with words, Tennessee, Our State Our Future.

Poster, “Tennessee, Our State, Our Future, The Bredesen Inauguration 2007 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 2007.13.2)

By Richard White

Governor Bill Lee’s inauguration to a second term as Tennessee’s governor will take place on January 21, 2023. “Tennessee: Leading the Nation” is the theme for the event, which will include a worship service, ceremony, dinner, and inaugural ball over the course of the day. Inaugurations have long been a time to celebrate the accomplishments of an incoming governor, look to the future of the state, and acknowledge the voters who elected the individual. The Tennessee State Museum has a robust collection related to political figures in Tennessee, especially the governors.


Painting of John Sevier

John Sevier by Charles Willson Peale, 1791 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 1.849)

Pocket Watch

John Sevier's Pocket Watch, 1796 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 78.19.48A)

Tennessee’s first governor, John Sevier was heavily involved in the events that resulted in the creation of Tennessee as the 16th state. This pocket watch was presented to Sevier by William Blount, governor of the Territory South of the Ohio River, in commemoration of Sevier’s elevation to governor. The inscription on the back reads, “To my esteemed and trusted friend John Sevier.”


Yellowed broadside with the text of Governor Polk's address

Silk Broadside, “Governor Polk’s Inaugural Address,” (Tennessee State Museum collection, 4.184)

By the time of James K. Polk’s election as the 9th governor of Tennessee, the Democratic party’s dominance in the state, originating during the presidency of Andrew Jackson, was waning. Polk campaigned on Democratic politics, defeating incumbent Whig, Newton Cannon. Constituents were interested in the direct words, actions, and ideas of political candidates. This large silk screen printing features Polk’s inaugural speech, delivered to both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly on October 14, 1839.


Coat with vest and bow tie

Waistcoat with Tails, 1865, (Tennessee State Museum collection, 1996.81.8A)

Sepia toned photograph of William Brownlow with hand in vest

Carte-de-visite, William G. Brownlow, 1865 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 2022.44)

William G. Brownlow served as Tennessee’s 7th governor from 1865-1869. Brownlow was elected near the end of the contentious and violent Civil War period, but it did not preclude him from “putting on the ritz” in this black wool tailcoat at his inauguration on April 5, 1865. 


Red/Orange Color program for prayer service for Governor Bredesen

Program, Ecumenical Prayer Service for Governor-elect Phil Bredesen, 2003 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 2003.12.1)

On the day of the inauguration, it has long been a tradition for the governor-elect to attend a morning worship and prayer service. Governor Bill Lee’s is planned for the morning of the inauguration at the Ryman Auditorium. The document shown here is from the service that was held on January 18, 2003, when Phil Bredesen was inaugurated as Tennessee’s 48th governor.


Black and White Line Drawing on cover of Alexander program.

Lamar Alexander Inauguration Packet, 1982 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 83.44.8B)

Boxed playing cards with image of Tennessee State Capitol

Souvenir Playing Cards, Bill Haslam Inauguration, 2010 (Tennessee State Museum collection, 2011.321.2)

Black and White program for Governor Clement

Program, Inauguration of Frank Clement, 1963 (2009.1.365)

While the inauguration is a celebration of the incoming governor, it is also about the people of the state and their participation in the events and ceremonies regarding their chief executive. Promotional material and invitations help make the public aware of the events and encourage attendance and participation. Invited attendees often receive formal invitations and various gifts to commemorate the special occasion.


Photo of Richard White in blue shirt

Richard White is the Tennessee State Museum Chief Curator.

Tennessee History
Share |
  • « Curator's Corner - Memphis, TN: Martin Luther King’s Last Campaign

TN State Museum logo
Resources
  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Title VI
  • Venue Rental
  • Jobs
  • Public Records Policy
  • Museum and Copyright Policies
  • Douglas Henry State Museum Commission
  • Public Meetings
  • Social Media Guidelines
  • Contact
Contact

Bill Haslam Center
1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd
Nashville, TN 37208

(615) 741-2692

(800) 407-4324

info@tnmuseum.org

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Trip Advisor
Tennessee State Museum © 2023 Memphis Web Design by Speak