TSM | Junior Curators

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3-23-21

The Secret City

by Lauren Grizzard Hey you! Yeah, you! Can I let you in on a secret? It’s a very big secret. The size of an entire city type of secret. That’s because this secret WAS an entire city. A city that didn’t exist when Pearl Harbor was bombed and was built entirely by the government in 1942: Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Before 1942, Oak Ridge looked like the landscape often seen in East Tennessee: large plots of land with many hills and valleys. For that reason, it became the site ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-23-21

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

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

3-16-21

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 Women's History

3-11-21

Mystery Artifact: Guess that Tennessean

by Lauren Grizzard Items from the past, or artifacts, can teach us about the culture and technology of a different time. They teach us about the people that used them and what their lives might have been like. Today, we are going to look at three artifacts and see if you can determine who might have used them. Hint: They all belonged to the same Tennessean. What do you notice this is made from? Does it look like something you’ve seen before? What do you think th... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-11-21

Jacksonian Tennessee 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

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

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

Black 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

Black 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

Black 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

Black 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

1-26-21

The Story of Piggly Wiggly: The First Supermarket

by Oliver Arney Have you ever entered a supermarket or a grocery store and been overwhelmed at the selection you can make? The candy aisle alone has hundreds of selections that YOU can pick from. Isn’t that wonderful? Let us take a step back in time and learn how a Tennessean named Clarence Saunders created the first supermarket, Piggly Wiggly. Piggly Wiggly sign today, from pigglywiggly.com. Before we learn about Piggly Wiggly, let us first read about what a grocery store looked... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-26-21

Innovations Tennessee in the 20th Century

1-19-21

Who, What and Why? The Causes of the War of 1812

by Katie Yenna After winning our independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, we were trying to figure out how to function as our own nation. We were rebuilding our military and navy, finding people to trade with, and organizing our government – We were busy! Meanwhile, Great Britain had their hands full fighting Napoleon in France, but they still had time to pick another fight with us. That fight officially began in 1812, but why did it happen? Read on to find out. T... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-19-21

Statehood/Early Tennessee

1-14-21

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

by Lauren Grizzard Okay, really, do you want to keep a snowman from melting? But that’s not as catchy. In celebration of the winter season, guess seasonal words one letter at a time before the snowman melts. Letters you have already guessed will appear at the top. If you need a hint, click the lightbulb. Happy New Year, Junior Curators! Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Lauren Grizzard is the Scheduling Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum. ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-14-21

1-12-21

"The Head Ball Coach"

by Matthew Gailani The Story of Steve Spurrier Sports, from football to basketball, are very popular across the state of Tennessee. The Volunteer State has been home to many athletes and coaches at both the professional and college level. Few, however, are as well-known or successful as the “Head Ball Coach,” Steve Spurrier. Stephen Orr Spurrier was born in Miami Beach, Florida at St. Francis Hospital on April 20, 1945 to Reverend J. Graham Spurrier Jr. and Marjorie Orr Spurrie... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-12-21

Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

1-5-21

Happy New Year!

by Morgan Byrn How one Tennessean changed how we celebrate New Year’s Eve When I was a kid, my favorite thing about New Year’s Eve was staying up till midnight. We would turn on the TV to watch the ball drop at 12:00 AM in Times Square. Others would gather in their cities to wait for fireworks or their own ball drop. Here in Nashville, the city lowers a music note at the stroke of midnight. No matter how you bring in the New Year, watching from your home or outside with others, ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 1-5-21

Innovations Tennessee in the 20th Century

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

12-22-20

A Visit to the Print Shop

Happy Holidays from the Tennessee State Museum! This season, join Oliver in our very own print shop and learn more about the printing trade and our working printing press! Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-22-20

Frontier/Before Statehood Innovations

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

12-15-20

Who was David Crockett?

by Jennifer Watts Have you ever heard of Davy Crockett? I’m sure many of you will say yes. Many of the stories you may have heard today are really legends. Did you know his name wasn’t even Davy? He went by David. His life story has been told many times thru the years. So, who was the real “King of the Wild Frontier"? David Crockett was born August 17, 1786, in East Tennessee. His family was not rich. David had to help work off his father’s debts as a kid. This ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-15-20

Jacksonian Tennessee

12-10-20

Tennessee Transportation Quiz

by Oliver Arney From canoes and Conestoga wagons, to railroads and interstates, this quiz will travel though Tennessee's transportation history. Made for historians of all ages, this quiz will show off some of the museum's largest and most interesting artifacts. So all aboard, and enjoy your travels through history! Tennessee Transportation Quiz Oliver Arney is an Educator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-10-20

Innovations

12-8-20

“December 7, 1941 – A Date Which Will Live in Infamy."

by Lauren Grizzard It was a clear morning on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The weather conditions were perfect for Tennessee native, Cornelia Fort, to take a student out for a flying lesson. Cornelia was the first female pilot in Nashville and had taken a job in Honolulu, Hawaii as a flight instructor earlier that year. When Cornelia first applied to be an instructor, they wrote back to “Mr. Fort” thinking she was a man. Because of the lack of trained pilots in World ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-8-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

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

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

Black History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

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

11-17-20

Dots, Dashes, and a Polk

by Christopher Grisham In the early 1800s, the world shrank. Boats and trains became faster with the invention of the steam engine. This allowed people to travel farther than ever before. But the telegraph connected more people than any other invention. The telegraph let people send messages across the entire country by using dots and dashes in place of letters. All you needed was a telegraph machine and a telegraph line. Telegraph 1840-1865, Tennessee State Museum Collection. Sam... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 11-17-20

Innovations Jacksonian 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

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 Reconstruction

10-27-20

The Industrial Revolution Pt. 2: By Land and River

by Joyska Nunez-Medina (Read the first part here if you haven’t already.) Steamboats at the Nashville Dock Downtown, 1863, Photo courtesy of the Tennessee State Museum. Tennessee became a state in 1796. During that time, the world was experiencing big changes. Today we call this time of change the Industrial Revolution. It lasted from the 1700s to the early 1900s. New technologies changed how people lived and worked. Different ways of making items helped people make mon... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-27-20

Innovations

10-23-20

Haunted Museum: Artifact Finders

by Lauren Grizzard As we get closer to the end of the month, we wanted a chance to show off a lot of fall items from our collection. The only problem is, we need help finding them! There are two pictures of the same artifact and we need your help to match them together. Click the link below to start: Artifact Matching Game Lauren Grizzard is the Scheduling Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-23-20

10-20-20

Tennesseans in Space

by Jennifer Watts Have you ever dreamed of going into space? To be like astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first men to walk on the moon? Dr. Margaret Rhea Seddon and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are two Tennesseans who made their dreams of space travel come true. Combined they have spent 208 days in space and have orbited the earth 3,296 times. Dr. Margaret Rhea Seddon, Tennessee State Museum Collection. Dr. Rhea Seddon was born in Murfreesboro, TN in 1947. When she w... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-20-20

Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

10-16-20

Haunted Museum: Apple Picking

by Lauren Grizzard It’s Friday and that means another round of special fall games! This week, guess the word one letter at a time before all the apples fall off the tree. Letters you have already guessed will appear at the top. If you need a hint, click the lightbulb. Happy Apple Picking! Apple Picker Lauren Grizzard is the Scheduling Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-16-20

10-13-20

From Chattanooga to the “Empress of the Blues”

by Matthew Gailani You may already know that Tennessee is famous for its music. Nashville is “Music City,” Memphis is the “Home of the Blues,” and Bristol is the “Birthplace of Country Music.” Tennessee artists have been so important to the history of music in the United States that many of them are known just by their nicknames. Elvis Presley was known as the “King.” W.C Handy was known as the “Father of the Blues.” Johnny Cash was... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-13-20

Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

10-6-20

The Turn of the Tide of Success

by Lauren Grizzard On October 7, 1780, a Revolutionary War battle was fought on the border of North and South Carolina. Thomas Jefferson described the battle as “the turn of the tide of success.” Today, let’s look at the who, what, when, where, and why of the Battle of Kings Mountain and its connection to Tennessee. Who was involved in this battle? Although the Battle of Kings Mountain took place during the Revolutionary War, there were almost no British troops that fough... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-6-20

Frontier/Before Statehood

10-2-20

Haunted Museum: Fall Scavenger Hunt

by Lauren Grizzard Happy October, Junior Curators! We have pulled our favorite fall artifacts from the museum’s collection to make a special game release each Friday in October. To kick us off, let’s test your knowledge about the fall season including holidays! To start, click on the link below. You will click on any lock and answer each question until all ten locks are green. If you need a hint, click the lightbulb. Fall Season Quiz Lauren Grizzard is the Schedul... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-2-20

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 Women's History

9-25-20

Digging History: Archaeology Month in Tennessee

by Lauren Grizzard Have you ever wondered how we learn about the past? How do we know about the people living before there was a written language? One of the ways we learn about the past is through archaeology. Since September is Archaeology Month in Tennessee, we thought we’d let one of Tennessee’s State Archaeologists explain not only what it is, but how it impacts our history and daily life: Now that you know a little more about archaeology, are you ready to piece together ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-25-20

Native American History Prehistoric Tennessee

9-22-20

Interview with an Archaeologist

by Matthew Gailani Hello Junior Curators! My name is Matthew and it’s September, which means archaeology month in Tennessee! This week we are going to learn all about archaeology and some of the oldest artifacts in our collection. But what is archaeology? What do archaeologists do? Why should we care about archaeology? To answer these questions and more we’ve brought in an expert to interview. Her name is Debbie Shaw and she is not only a curator at the Tennessee State Museum, bu... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-22-20

Prehistoric Tennessee

9-18-20

Go See Tennessee: Ducks on Parade

by Emilee Dehmer West Tennessee - Peabody Hotel, 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 whenever you read about a place that sounds cool, write it down, to help you remember it for the future. Ready... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-18-20

Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

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

9-10-20

Sports in Tennessee

by Lauren Grizzard Tennessee athletes have played in championships, won gold medals, fallen short a few times, but had loyal fans cheering them on all the way. Whether you love to play, or you love to watch, sports have allowed Tennesseans to shine. Let’s see what you know about sports in Tennessee! Click the link below to take the Sports in Tennessee Quiz: Sports in Tennessee Quiz Lauren Grizzard is the Scheduling Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum. Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-10-20

Modern Tennessee Tennessee in the 20th Century

9-9-20

What is Suffrage?

by Christopher Grisham Suffrage has been something that people have fought for throughout Tennessee’s history, but what is it? The word doesn’t sound very nice. It sounds like suffering, and why would anyone want that? It turns out that suffrage means the right to vote. If you have suffrage, that means you have a voice. You get to help choose the people that make rules and laws for everyone else. This is necessary to make sure the things that are important to you are important to... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-9-20

Black History Southeastern Indian History Women's History

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

9-1-20

“I Am A Man” Dr. King and The Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike

by Matthew Gailani On February 12, 1968, 1,300 Black sanitation workers went on strike in Memphis, Tennessee. This meant that they refused to do their job of picking up trash throughout the city until their demands were met. But why did the men go on strike? The men were forced to work in dangerous conditions. They were paid very little. They were not allowed to form into groups called unions. They were even treated worse and paid less than their white co-workers just because of the col... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-1-20

Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century

8-27-20

The War of the Roses in Tennessee: Woman Suffrage turns 100

by Grace Allen One of my favorite events in Tennessee history happened 100 years ago on this very month, Aug. 18, 1920. It has all the parts of a great story: a fight for equality, a last-minute letter, and a decision that changed the country. It’s the true tale of how women got the right to vote in the United States. Tennessee State Museum Collection. Did you know women couldn’t vote in some places in the United States until 1920? Women fought for the right... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-27-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History