TSM | Junior Curators

Category: Communities

9-14-22

WWII Stories: Interned at Camp Forrest

By Emilee Dehmer December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy. The country of Japan attacked the American military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They flew planes and dropped bombs. Over 2,000 people were killed. And so, America went to war with Japan. This is how America officially joined World War II. Nothing like Pearl Harbor had ever happened before. The war had been overseas, not here. Not at home. People were afraid. America thought something had to be done. This plaque shows t... Read More

Posted by Christopher Grisham at 9-14-22

Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee History Tennessee in the 20th Century

5-10-22

Captured: Part Five

by Emilee Dehmur The American soldiers were shouting louder than they normally did, and their tones were harsher. “Hurry up. Get in there!” they yelled as they led all the prisoners into the movie theater. They were forced to sit on the floor. The lights dimmed and the clacking of the film reel hummed behind them as it began to play. The images on the screen were gruesome. It was from allied liberators in Germany. They were filming their entrance on the Jewish concentration... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-10-22

Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

5-3-22

Captured: Part Four

by Emilee Dehmur The first few prisoners to help were chosen. The guards gripped their guns tightly and opened the door to the outside world. This was the first time the Germans had set foot outside of the camp since they arrived. Each German had two American soldiers by their sides. As they arrived at the first farm, the men jumped out eager to do work outside the camp. They worked until the sun went down and were closely guarded until they were safely back behind the walls of Crossville. ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-3-22

Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

4-19-22

Captured: Part Three

by Emilee Dehmer Indeed, life at Crossville was not what any of the officers had thought it would be. No one could have dreamt that when they were captured in Africa that their life in America would be like this. After all, Crossville had an infirmary, bathhouse, dining hall, rec hall, fire station, post office, and store. They even had tennis and soccer fields! The Germans called their new home “Camp Country Club”. Colonel Harry E. Dudley Papers, 1916-1966, Tennessee S... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-19-22

Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

4-11-22

Captured: Part Two

by Emily Dehmer As the Germans unloaded from the bus, the bright spotlights from the guard towers lit up the night. The men, in a single-file line, were led into the medical tent. There they were showered, deloused, and given a fresh pair of clothes. A team of doctors and nurses looked over those who arrived, most suffering from battle wounds or diseases. After they were done in the medical tent, they made their way to their new homes. As they filed out of the tent, they were led to a large... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-11-22

Communities Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

3-29-22

Dragging Canoe: A Cherokee Warrior

by Philip Staffelli-Suel Welcome back Junior Curators! Here in Tennessee we have a rich Native American history. Today we are going to be talking about the Cherokee tribe and one of their leaders, Dragging Canoe. That may seem like a unique name but think of it more as a nickname. He was the son of Cherokee diplomat, Attakullakulla. Even at a young age, he wanted to be a warrior. So, he asked his father if he could join a war party. His father refused, so he hid in a canoe. After his fa... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-29-22

Communities Native American History Southeastern Indian History

3-22-22

GeeHawing Mule Day Letter

by Morgan Byrn Dear Granny, You won’t believe this! I just got back from the Mule Day celebration! Remember when I told you about that funny little pin I saw at the Tennessee State Museum? You know the one that said Mule Day? Well, I told Mom and Dad about it, and they planned a trip to Mule Day! We drove down to Columbia, Tennessee on Saturday morning. Our first stop was to set up our chairs on the parade route. We sat our chairs in front of President Polk’s house. Dad said we ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-22-22

Communities

3-7-22

Name that Tennessee County Quiz pt. 4

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties. Each one is unique with its own history and people. Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee. Name that Tennessee County Quiz Pt. 4 Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-7-22

Communities

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 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 Communities

12-14-21

Dear Santa, Can I have oranges, candy, and some firecrackers?

By Morgan Byrn "Silent Night" by Jean Gauld-Jaeger shows the Tennessee State Capitol at Christmas. Taken from Tennessee State Museum Collection Have you ever thought about the things we do on the holidays? Putting presents in hanging socks and bringing in trees to decorate them seem like odd traditions. A lot of these traditions come from a time called the Victorian Era. During this time, Christmas became a major holiday in the United States. Let’s unwrap some popular tr... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-14-21

Communities Innovations Modern Tennessee

12-7-21

TN225: The Tennessee State Flag

By Jennifer Watts Did you know that Tennessee has not always had a state flag? It’s true! As we commemorate Tennessee’s 225th birthday this year, let’s look back at the history of our state’s iconic flag. Tennessee was formed from the western lands of the state of North Carolina. Before it was known as Tennessee, it was called the “Territory South of the Ohio River” or “Southwest Territory” for short. Shortly after the end of the American Revo... Read More

Posted by Jennifer Watts at 12-7-21

Communities Tennessee History

10-26-21

The Nashoba Community: A Tennessee Utopia?

By Katie Yenna What do you think an “intentional community” means? Well, the name speaks for itself! It is a planned community where people with similar beliefs and values decide to live and work together as a team. These communities usually have a goal for their residents, much like the Nashoba establishment in Tennessee. This Nashoba Community was established in 1825 by Francis Wright, an abolitionist from the United Kingdom. Her intention was to create a “utopian” ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-26-21

Black History Communities Statehood/Early Tennessee Women's History

10-12-21

Sequoyah and His Syllabary

By Christopher Grisham If you are here, I bet you can read and write in English. The English alphabet that you know and use today developed over hundreds of years. It used words and rules from many other languages. Many people have made it what it is today. But what if one person sat down and created a written language by themselves? What would that language look like? That is exactly what happened once right here in Tennessee. Around 1776, a man named Sequoyah, or George Gist, was born in ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-12-21

Communities Innovations Native American History Southeastern Indian History

9-28-21

Anniversaries, The Parthenon, and Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition

By Grace Allen This year we are celebrating Tennessee’s 225th birthday! Another name for this special anniversary is bicenquasquitennial. That’s a big word! Over the years, Tennesseans have honored the birth of our state by hosting events and by creating parks and monuments. Tennessee Centennial Exposition Poster Nashville’s Centennial Park and the Parthenon came from our state’s 100th anniversary, or centennial, celebration. That celebration was called the Tenn... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-28-21

Communities History of Music/The Arts Innovations

8-24-21

Name that Tennessee County

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties. Each one is unique with its own history and people. Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee. If you need a hint, check out the picture for a clue. Have fun and enjoy! Tennessee County Quiz Jennifer Watts is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-24-21

Communities

8-17-21

Highlander Folk School

by Oliver Arney The Highlander Folk School was unlike any school that you have seen today. If you could visit today, you would not find classrooms full of children, no large gyms holding P.E., and no playgrounds. That is because the Highlander Folk School did not teach children, it was a school for adults. The school was founded in the middle of the Great Depression and became a center of learning during the Civil Rights Movement. Myles Horton from SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordina... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-17-21

Black History Communities Tennessee in the 20th Century

5-18-21

Underwater Ghost Towns of Tennessee

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee is known for its many beautiful lakes. What people don’t know is some lakes have a secret. Under the sparkling waters are sunken towns. Whole communities were flooded by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the 20th century. The rivers of Tennessee have a long history of flooding. These floods destroyed farms, washing away crops and homes. In the 1930s, the United States government wanted to help stop this from happening. They also wanted to aid fa... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 5-18-21

Communities Tennessee in the 20th Century

4-1-21

Search and Find: Downtown Nashville

by Emilee Dehmer This painting, titled “Downtown Nashville” was painted in 1951 by Joseph Van Sickle. Believe it or not, this painting is of downtown Nashville. It is the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Union Street. The Banks Clothing Store you can see in the painting is a building that is still there today- just with a different name! There are many different types of painting styles and methods. You can use crayons, pencils, paint, watercolors, and more to create art. This... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-1-21

Communities History of Music/The Arts

3-25-21

Name that Tennessee County Quiz

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee has ninety-five different counties. Each one is unique with its own history and people. Take the quiz and see how well you know Tennessee. If you need a hint, check out the picture for a clue. Have fun and enjoy! Name that Tennessee County Quiz Jennifer Watts is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-25-21

Communities

3-4-21

Go See Tennessee: 1,000 Miles in 5 Blocks

by Emilee Dehmer West Tennessee: Mud Island, Memphis 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 wheneveryou read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to help you remember it for the future. Ready for ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-4-21

Communities Modern Tennessee

3-2-21

The Unstoppable Josephine Groves Holloway

by Joyska Nunez-Medina Girl Scout troops are groups where girls can come together to learn and grow. The Girl Scouts of America started in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Juliette Gordon Low, the organization’s founder, visited Britain in 1911 and learned about the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. She thought that a similar organization in the United States could teach girls important skills and lessons. Girl Scouting was supposed to be open to all girls, but that was not the case everywher... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-2-21

Black History Communities Women's History

12-24-20

Go See Tennessee: A Bright Holiday Tradition

by Emilee Dehmer Middle Tennessee: Opryland Hotel Holiday Lights, Nashville 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 fo... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-24-20

Communities Modern Tennessee

12-17-20

Go See Tennessee: Have You Bean to this Museum?

by Emilee Dehmer East Tennessee: Bush’s Beans Visitor Center and Museum, Chestnut Hill 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 y... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-17-20

Communities Modern Tennessee

12-3-20

The Great Tennessee Outdoors Board Game

by Christopher Grisham Tennessee State Museum Collection. You may not realize how much you can learn about the culture of Tennessee by exploring some great outdoor spaces. Play this online boardgame with family and friends and get to know more about the Tennessee State Parks all across the state and maybe even near you. Click here to play. Please read the instruction below. To Play: Each player chooses a different color piece and places it on the Green Flag. The youngest player ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-3-20

Communities

11-24-20

What Is in A Name? How Tennessee and Its Cities Got Their Names

by Matthew Gailani Have you have ever lived in, traveled through, or seen Tennessee on a map? If you have, you know that it is home to many cities, towns, and communities. From McMinn County to Lake County, and Bucksnort to Hohenwald, each place has its own unique name and story. But what is in a name? Why do we call Nashville, Nashville? Why is Memphis, Memphis and not Salt Lake City? This week, on the Junior Curators’ Blog, we are going to learn how a few cities in Tennessee got thei... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-24-20

Communities

11-19-20

Go See Tennessee: The G.O.A.T of Tennessee Festivals

by Emilee Dehmer The G.O.A.T of Tennessee Festivals Middle Tennessee: Goats, Music, and More Festival, Lewisburg 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, wri... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-19-20

Communities Modern Tennessee

11-10-20

Child Labor in Tennessee

by Jennifer Watts How would you feel if you did not have to go to school today? Excited? Upset? What if I told you that instead of school you had to go to work? This was true for thousands of Tennessee children in the past. It has only been in the last 100 years or so that compulsory education has been law. For hundreds of years, children played important roles in the survival of the family. Children worked in a variety of jobs. They worked on family farms, were apprentices learning a trade,... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-10-20

Communities

9-3-20

Ratified! Statewide!

by Lauren Grizzard Did you know that Tennessee has 95 counties? Now, did you know that all 95 counties had a part in the women’s suffrage story? Using the State Museum’s Ratified! Statewide! link below, see if you can click your way through the state to see how each county shaped the 19th amendment (women’s vote) journey: https://tnmuseum.org/Ratified-Statewide Challenge! If you are up for an extra challenge, see if you can find the answers to the questions below: Find ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-3-20

Communities Women's History

7-28-20

The Clinton 12: The Integration Story of Tennessee’s Public Schools

by Mamie Hassell Do YOU love school? Smart teachers, cool computers, a fun playground, art class, fancy instruments for music class, a big library, wonderful sports, and a tasty cafeteria for lunch. Are these some of your favorite things about it? Well what if your school had all this cool stuff, but another school in your town did not? Do you think this would be fair? Sadly, schools were not always equal. Black students were not given rights because of the color of their skin. Many B... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 7-28-20

Black History Communities Tennessee in the 20th Century

6-23-20

You Can Be an Oral Historian

by Jennifer Watts Have you ever heard someone say, “When I was a kid things were different?” I know I have. One of my dad’s favorite things to do was telling me what it was like when he was my age. At the time, it was something I had to listen to. Now I know those stories were important. Life was different for him as a child. Historians use stories, or records, like his to learn about life in the past. You can too! The stories my father told me are called oral histories. H... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 6-23-20

Communities Tennessee in the 20th Century