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Junior Curators

Each week on the Junior Curators blog, we travel back in time to a different place in Tennessee history. Stories may be about a famous person, place or event from Tennessee’s past. They will include things like priceless artifacts, pictures, videos, and even some games. Be sure to better understand the story by answering the questions at the end of each post.

After learning the story, be sure to share what you've learned with your parents, family, or friends. Try making your own exhibit about it, shooting a movie, or writing a story about it. Let your creativity run wild!

2-25-21

The Fastest Woman in the World: Wilma Rudolph

by Lauren Grizzard Did you know that a Tennessean was an Olympic athlete? Do you know where “The Fastest Woman in the World” was from? To learn the answers and more, check out five things to know about Wilma Rudolph below! 1. Wilma Rudolph was born in St. Bethlehem (now Clarksville), Tennessee on June 23, 1940. If you visit Clarksville today, you will see a street and buildings named after her, and even a life sized statue!          ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-25-21
African American History Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

2-23-21

More than Music: The Important Legacy of Julia Britton Hooks

by Grace Allen Image courtesy of Memphis and Shelby County Room at Memphis Public Library. Julia Britton Hooks was a very talented musician and teacher. In her lifetime, she was dedicated to teaching music to people of all ages in Memphis, Tennessee. They called her “The Angel of Beale Street.” Julia inspired and taught some of the most famous Black musicians of the early 1900s including W.C. Handy, later known as the Father of the Blues. But Julia Britton Hooks was more than ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-23-21
African American History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

2-18-21

Stump Speaking at Knoxville

by Emliee Dehmer  This painting, titled “Stump Speaking in Knoxville,” was painted in 1840 by an unknown artist. Stump speaking is what they would call gatherings in which the people running for office would come and speak about why you should vote for them, or the person they wanted to win. It was called stump speaking because they would stand on tree stumps to speak. You might not know it, but this painting shows someone you may have heard of before. The man speaking is ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-18-21

2-16-21

Professor Cameron

by Matthew Gailani World War I and the Story of Henry Alvin Cameron On April 6, 1917, the United States of America officially entered World War I. The war itself started in 1914, shortly after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The United States managed to stay out of the war until 1917 despite terrible fighting around the world. This changed for a few reasons. Americans were being killed on ships sunk by German U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean. The most infamous example of this wa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-16-21
African American History Tennessee in the 20th Century

2-11-21

The Tradition of Valentine’s Day

by Jennifer Watts Do you enjoy a holiday? They are a time to celebrate friends, family, and the people we care about. What better day then Valentine’s Day to show someone you love them.  Valentine’s Day has been around for a long time. Longer than many people might know. The special day’s origins may go back to ancient Rome. Back then, they had a festival to celebrate the beginning of spring. In the 400s, Pope Gelasius I, made a Christian priest named Valentine the pa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-11-21
Modern Tennessee

2-9-21

The Tigers of Tennessee

by Matthew Gailani  A History of Tennessee State University Tennessee has many colleges, universities, and schools, each with its own history. Nashville, the state’s capital, is home to several campuses. One of them is Tennessee State University, or TSU. TSU is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and was founded over 100 years ago in 1912. Its first name was the Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State Normal School for Negroes.* It was a public school built to teac... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-9-21
African American History Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

2-4-21

Go See Tennessee: A Well Seasoned Museum

by Emilee Dehmer East TN: Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, Gatlinburg There are so many cool and exciting places in Tennessee. So many, that you might not know about them all. That’s what Go See Tennessee is all about. We’re here to tell you about places we think are neat and that you might want to visit too. It might be helpful to make a “Go and See” List, and whenever you read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to help you remember it for the fu... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-4-21

2-2-21

A Tale of Two Forts

by Matthew Gailani Have you ever heard of the historical figure Ulysses S. Grant? He is one of the most famous people in American History. What was he famous for? By the time the Civil War ended, he was at the head of the entire United States Army, or US Army. He later became the country’s 18th President. But, Ulysses S. Grant wasn’t always famous. Portrait of Ulysses S. Grant, Tennessee State Museum Collection. When the Civil War began in 1861, Grant was not in charge of t... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-2-21
Civil War

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