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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: History of Music/The Arts

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

4-20-21

Spot the Difference-Shackelford

by Emilee Dehmer       This painting, titled James O. Shackelford Jr., and Gertrude Shackelford was painted in 1857 by William Stamms Shackelford. This painting depicts two children, James and Gertrude, who were probably the artist’s niece and nephew. While we do not know how old the children were, we can estimate by looking at census records from 1860 that James is ten and Gertrude is six. Sometime historians might not know much about a painting because the art... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 4-20-21
History of Music/The Arts

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

3-18-21

Which Tennessee Musician Are You?

by Lauren Grizzard In honor of Women’s History Month, we are celebrating something Tennessee is most well-known for: Our musicians. Answer each question and write down your answer. At the end, tally up what letter you have the most of to discover which female Tennessee musician you are!   1. What genre of music do you like the most? A. Country B. Blues C. Rock   2. Which song sounds the most interesting to you? A. Coat of Many Colors B. Down Hearted Blues C. River D... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-18-21
History of Music/The Arts Women's History

3-9-21

“They call me the Book Lady”: The Story of Dolly Parton

by Morgan Byrn If I were to walk into a classroom right now and holler “Dolly Parton,” most of the students would probably know who I was talking about. Many kids know her as the lady who sends free books. But did you know people around the world know Dolly as the Queen of Country Music? Let’s take a look at this amazing Tennessean.  Parton family photo, taken from Dolly Parton's official website dollyparton.com.  Replica of Parton family cabin located ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-9-21
History of Music/The Arts Modern Tennessee 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

12-1-20

Tina Turner: From Nutbush City Limits to Life as the Queen of Rock & Roll

by Mamie Hassell In the mid-1940s, you would have found young Anna Mae Bullock in class at Flagg Grove School. This was an all-Black, one-room schoolhouse in Nutbush, Tennessee. Nutbush is in West Tennessee. It is one hour from Memphis. During that time, most folks in West Tennessee were farmers, and so was Anna Mae’s family. Her parents, Floyd and Zelma Bullock, were sharecroppers. Sharecroppers rented small plots of land from a property owner and grew crops on it, but each year they ... Read More
Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-1-20
African American History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

4-22-20

How Young W.C. Handy Grew Up to Become “The Father of the Blues”

by Jeff Sellers The day finally arrived.  For weeks young W.C. Handy had worked odd jobs. He picked berries. He made soap. He saved and saved. Now he had enough money to buy the guitar he always wanted.  Young W.C. loved music. I mean really loved music. He played every chance he could get. Every Sunday he played at church where his father was the local pastor. When he proudly showed the guitar to his mother and father, they were displeased, or unhappy. W.C. Handy’s boyho... Read More
Posted by Joseph Pagetta at 4-22-20
African American History History of Music/The Arts Tennessee in the 20th Century

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