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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!

 

Category: Civil War and Reconstruction

2-21-23

First of Many: Ida B. Wells Part III

First of Many Part III-The Fight for Equality By Philip Staffelli-Suel Welcome back to our final blog of the three-part series exploring the life of Ida B. Well-Barnett.  When we left our last adventure, Mrs. Wells was fighting for the right for women to vote.  Today, we will be closing out our series talking about Mrs. Well’s fight for African American equality. Wells was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), but she nev... Read More
Posted by Christopher Grisham at 2-21-23
Black History Civil War and Reconstruction

2-14-23

Fisk University

By: Tori Kleinpeter Once the Civil War ended, the United States had to put itself back together after the destruction of the war. This period is called “Reconstruction.” During this time, there were lots of changes to the way people lived. The biggest one was the newly freed population of African Americans.  Tennessee now had over 275,000 free people that had been enslaved just a few years before. Before the Civil War, it was illegal in many states to teach enslaved individua... Read More
Posted by Christopher Grisham at 2-14-23
Black History Civil War and Reconstruction

11-8-22

Ida B. Wells-Barnett - The First of Many Part I - Journalism

By Philip Staffelli-Suel Welcome back Junior Curators! This is the start of a series exploring how one individual in Tennessee’s past became the first of many things. Together we will learn about how one person can change the course of history. Everyday something is happening in the world. It can be hard for people to keep up with current events. How do we get news today? The internet, radio, television, and…newspapers. Before there were many platforms of communication, newspap... Read More
Posted by Stephanie Davis at 11-8-22
Black History Civil War and Reconstruction

10-6-22

Who Are the Fisk Jubilee Singers?

By Jennifer Watts Tennessee has rich musical traditions. From folk, country, blues, and gospel, music has been an important part of the state’s legacy. The Fisk Jubilee Singers is one musical group that has been performing for over 150 years! They have traveled the world and performed for some of the most famous people in history including a United States President and a Queen! The story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers is one of hardships and success. Let’s learn more about how this ... Read More
Posted by Stephanie Davis at 10-6-22
Black History Civil War and Reconstruction

9-7-22

A Tennessee Connection: The Story of Old Glory

By Jennifer Watts This year the United States is 246 years old. As a nation, there are symbols to honor its birth.  The most recognizable is the flag. Over the years, the flag has changed several times and has been known by different names. Today, the flag is sometimes known as “Old Glory”, but where did that nickname come from? Many people don’t know it has a Tennessee connection. The flag’s nickname goes back to the 1800s to a man living in Nashville, Tennessee... Read More
Posted by Jennifer Watts at 9-7-22
Civil War and Reconstruction Tennessee History

3-1-22

The First Railroad in Tennessee

By Emilee Dehmer Okay, well maybe not the first railroad in Tennessee. The first railroad to operate a train in Tennessee award belongs to the LaGrange and Memphis Railroad who started in 1842. Our railroad for today, the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, was chartered in 1845. We say it is the first railroad in Tennessee because it was the first complete line to operate. The Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (N&C) was established in 1845, thanks to the help of John Overton and Repr... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-1-22
Civil War and Reconstruction Communities Statehood/Early Tennessee

2-15-22

Go See Tennessee: The Courthouse and the Civil War

Middle Tennessee: Rutherford County Courthouse and Rutherford County Museum, Murfreesboro by Philip Staffelli 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... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-15-22
Civil War and Reconstruction Communities

3-16-21

Adelicia Acklen: The Lady of Belmont

by Jennifer Watts Throughout history, women have been restricted on what they can and cannot do. Some women were able to overcome those restrictions, control their own lives, and become successful.  Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham was a Tennessee woman who did just that. She became one of the wealthiest women in the Antebellum south and the owner of Nashville’s Belmont Mansion. Portrait of Adelicia by Washington B. Copper in 1834, Tennessee State Museum Collection. A... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-16-21
Civil War and Reconstruction Women's History

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 and Reconstruction

11-3-20

The Emancipation Proclamation in Tennessee

by Matthew Gailani Have you heard of the Emancipation Proclamation? On September 22, 1862, in the middle of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said, “all persons held as slaves within any states…in rebellion against the United States, shall be…free.” This led to the Emancipation Proclamation being enacted a few months later, on January 1, 1863. This meant any enslaved person in a state fighting against the United States was now free. This was a very important ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-3-20
Civil War and Reconstruction

9-29-20

Tennessee Women in the Civil War

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee women played a big part in the American Civil War. Even though they were not allowed to fight, they found other ways to serve. They worked in their homes and towns, clothed soldiers, and became nurses. Some even worked as smugglers and spies. Other Tennessee women broke the social rules and disguised themselves as men to serve as soldiers in the war. Back then, traditional women’s roles included jobs done in the home like cooking, cleaning, sewing, and taki... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-29-20
Civil War and Reconstruction Women's History

9-15-20

What Does a Soldier Eat?

by Grace Allen Do you get tired of eating the same thing over and over? I am sure you’ve had to eat leftovers that weren’t too exciting. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate Soldiers didn’t have a lot of options.  They had to make do with the food they were given, called rations. Food was not always easy to get because of the war. Most soldiers were just happy to get food, even if it was the same thing, again and again. The most common food given to soldiers wa... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-15-20
Civil War and Reconstruction

5-29-20

Civil War in Tennessee Quiz

by Matthew Gailani Hey Junior Curators! Have you ever heard of Abraham Lincoln? Harriet Tubman? What about the Battle of Gettysburg? It’s time to test your Civil War knowledge. The Civil War may have happened over 150 years ago, but it changed Tennessee and the United States forever. In fact, many places Tennesseans call home played a role during the Civil War. Learn about this and more by taking this Civil War in Tennessee quiz! Civil War in Tennessee Quiz   Matthew Gailani is... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-29-20
Civil War and Reconstruction

5-26-20

Under the Siege: The H.L. Hunley

  by Christopher Grisham You may hear about the use of submarines during World War I, but did you know submarines were used during the Civil War? The first submarine to sink an enemy ship was used by the Confederate Navy. A submarine is a ship designed to operate underwater. The North, or Union, had a bigger and more powerful Navy than the Confederates, or the South. They used it to blockade southern ports; this meant that important supplies could not reach the Confederacy. The Confed... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-26-20
Civil War and Reconstruction

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