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== Local Histories == | == Local Histories == | ||
Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. It was popular to publish such histories in commemoration of the nation's centennial anniversary. Unfortunately, in comparison to the North, fewer Tennessee county histories were published in in the late nineteenth century, as the state was still recovering from heavy economic losses resulting from the Civil War.<ref>Kory L. Meyerink, "Chapter 17: County and Local Histories," in ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Incorporated, 1998), 627-669.</ref> An exception is '' | Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. It was popular to publish such histories in commemoration of the nation's centennial anniversary. Unfortunately, in comparison to the North, fewer Tennessee county histories were published in in the late nineteenth century, as the state was still recovering from heavy economic losses resulting from the Civil War.<ref>Kory L. Meyerink, "Chapter 17: County and Local Histories," in ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Incorporated, 1998), 627-669.</ref> An exception is Goodspeed's multi-volume ''History of Tennessee'', which contains histories for the majority of the state's counties and biographies of many prominent citizens. Much of the content found in these books is now available for free [http://www.tngenweb.org/records/goodspeed.html online], courtesy: TNGenWeb. Publishers expected to sell these "Who's Who"-type publications to successful local residents. | ||
In more recent times, particularly after the nation's bicentennial anniversary and the television series ''Roots'', print houses such as [http://www.turnerpublishing.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryId=21 Turner Publishing Company] (New York and Nashville), have published dozens of Tennessee county histories packed with compiled family histories targeted at genealogists with interests in the selected areas. Because the market has changed, families selected for inclusion in these books are no longer only prominent citizens. One of the only detectable biases in that most of the individuals discussed left descendants, and at least one of them was an active genealogist at the time of publication. | In more recent times, particularly after the nation's bicentennial anniversary and the television series ''Roots'', print houses such as [http://www.turnerpublishing.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryId=21 Turner Publishing Company] (New York and Nashville), have published dozens of Tennessee county histories packed with compiled family histories targeted at genealogists with interests in the selected areas. Because the market has changed, families selected for inclusion in these books are no longer only prominent citizens. One of the only detectable biases in that most of the individuals discussed left descendants, and at least one of them was an active genealogist at the time of publication. Many of the articles submitted to these publishers lack source citations and researchers should remember to verify the information. | ||
=== Content === | === Content === | ||
Many local histories include biographies. They | Many local histories include biographies and compiled genealogies. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. | ||
=== Access === | === Access === | ||
Local histories are extensively collected by the [[Family History Library|Family History Library]], public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. [[United States History|United States History]] cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of Tennessee. | Local histories are extensively collected by the [[Family History Library|Family History Library]], public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. [[United States History|United States History]] cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of Tennessee. | ||
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*McClung, Calvin Morgan and McClung Historical Collection. ''Calvin Morgan McClung Historical Collection.'' (1921). Contains books, maps, pamphlets, historical documents and genealogies relating to Tennessee and other southern states. Digital versions available at [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=0&f2=Calvin+Morgan+McClung+Historical+Collection&gskw=&f21=&f30=&f11=&rg_f10__date=&rs_f10__date=0&f26=&ctx=%2FMercury%2FPages%2FCardCatListBoolean.aspx&ccType=search&db=dbatitles&ti=0&ti.si=0&gl=&gss=ERROR&gst=&so=3&_F0003A49=1 Ancestry.com] ($), [http://cmdc.knoxlib.org/ Knox County Public Library] (free), and [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=qcdtn4000_calvin World Vital Records] ($). | *McClung, Calvin Morgan and McClung Historical Collection. ''Calvin Morgan McClung Historical Collection.'' (1921). Contains books, maps, pamphlets, historical documents and genealogies relating to Tennessee and other southern states. Digital versions available at [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=0&f2=Calvin+Morgan+McClung+Historical+Collection&gskw=&f21=&f30=&f11=&rg_f10__date=&rs_f10__date=0&f26=&ctx=%2FMercury%2FPages%2FCardCatListBoolean.aspx&ccType=search&db=dbatitles&ti=0&ti.si=0&gl=&gss=ERROR&gst=&so=3&_F0003A49=1 Ancestry.com] ($), [http://cmdc.knoxlib.org/ Knox County Public Library] (free), and [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=qcdtn4000_calvin World Vital Records] ($). | ||
*''Tennessee History: A Bibliography'' <ref>Smith, Sam B., 1929. ''Tennessee History: A Bibliography''. Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press, [1974]. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=220719&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Tennessee+history%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 976.8 A3s]). </ref>This resource is a comprehensive guide to state and country history sources and manuscripts. | *''Tennessee History: A Bibliography'' <ref>Smith, Sam B., 1929. ''Tennessee History: A Bibliography''. Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press, [1974]. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=220719&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Tennessee+history%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 976.8 A3s]). </ref>This resource is a comprehensive guide to state and country history sources and manuscripts. | ||
*''Tennessee, Old and New. Sesquicentennial Edition. 1796 - 1946.'' The Tennessee Historical Commission. Nashville, Tennessee. Digital versions available at [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=24761 Ancestry] ($) and [http://worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=qcdtn10039_oldnew World Vital Records] ($). Contains historical information as well as biographies about some of Tennessee's most prominent citizens. | *''Tennessee, Old and New. Sesquicentennial Edition. 1796 - 1946.'' The Tennessee Historical Commission. Nashville, Tennessee. Digital versions available at [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=24761 Ancestry] ($) and [http://worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=qcdtn10039_oldnew World Vital Records] ($). Contains historical information as well as biographies about some of Tennessee's most prominent citizens. | ||
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Additional resources for Tennessee local histories include: | Additional resources for Tennessee local histories include: | ||
*''A Bibliography of American County Histories'' <ref>Filby, P. William. ''A Bibliography of American County Histories''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1985. ([http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;title=A+Bibliography+of+American+County+Histories&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pretitle=A+Bibliography+of+American+County+Histories FHL book 973 H23bi])</ref> <ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/12356760&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results Worldcat] </ref> | *''A Bibliography of American County Histories'' <ref>Filby, P. William. ''A Bibliography of American County Histories''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1985. ([http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;title=A+Bibliography+of+American+County+Histories&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pretitle=A+Bibliography+of+American+County+Histories FHL book 973 H23bi])</ref> <ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/12356760&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results Worldcat] </ref> | ||
*''Counties of Tennessee.'' <ref>Foster, Austin Powers. ''Counties of Tennessee.'' 1923. Reprint, Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1990. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=509493&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Counties+of+Tennessee%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 976.8 E2fa]).&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; </ref>The record is arranged alphabetically by county, followed by a brief description of how each county was formed. It includes ''A Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses — Tennessee, 1790–1920'' by William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, and it is indexed. | *''Counties of Tennessee.'' <ref>Foster, Austin Powers. ''Counties of Tennessee.'' 1923. Reprint, Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1990. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=509493&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Counties+of+Tennessee%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 976.8 E2fa]).&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; </ref>The record is arranged alphabetically by county, followed by a brief description of how each county was formed. It includes ''A Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses — Tennessee, 1790–1920'' by William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, and it is indexed. | ||
*''United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress'' <ref>Kaminkow, Marion J. ''United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress''. 5 vols. Baltimore: Magna Charta Book, 1975-76. ([http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=252458&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=United+States+local+histories+in+the+Lib%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 FHL book 973 A3ka].) </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=United+States+Local+Histories+in+the+Library+of+Congress&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;qt=results_page Worldcat] </ref> | *''United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress'' <ref>Kaminkow, Marion J. ''United States Local Histories in the Library of Congress''. 5 vols. Baltimore: Magna Charta Book, 1975-76. ([http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=252458&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=United+States+local+histories+in+the+Lib%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 FHL book 973 A3ka].) </ref><ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=United+States+Local+Histories+in+the+Library+of+Congress&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;qt=results_page Worldcat] </ref> | ||
*Hale, Will T. and Merritt, Dixon L. ''[http://www.archive.org/details/ahistorytenness01merrgoog A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans ]- The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities''. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1913. Free digital copy. | *Hale, Will T. and Merritt, Dixon L. ''[http://www.archive.org/details/ahistorytenness01merrgoog A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans ]- The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities''. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1913. Free digital copy. | ||
*Hamer, Philip M. ''Tennessee, a History, 1673-1932,'' 4 volumes. New York: American Historical Society, 1935. | *Hamer, Philip M. ''Tennessee, a History, 1673-1932,'' 4 volumes. New York: American Historical Society, 1935. | ||
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The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Tennessee. | The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Tennessee. | ||
*''[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?Submit=Search&action=search&keyword=Libraries Draper Manuscript Collection]''<ref> Draper, Lyman Copeland. ''[http://frontierfolk.org/draper.htm Draper Manuscript Collection]'' Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Library, 197–?. (On 147 Family History Library films beginning with [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=218462&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Draper+manuscript+collection%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 889098].)</ref> The collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Lyman Copeland Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records. | *''[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?Submit=Search&action=search&keyword=Libraries Draper Manuscript Collection]''<ref> Draper, Lyman Copeland. ''[http://frontierfolk.org/draper.htm Draper Manuscript Collection]'' Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Library, 197–?. (On 147 Family History Library films beginning with [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;titleno=218462&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;disp=Draper+manuscript+collection%20%20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*,0,0 889098].)</ref> The collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Lyman Copeland Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records. | ||
The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature. For an inventory and partial indexes, see: | The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature. For an inventory and partial indexes, see: | ||
*''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts'' <ref>Harper, Josephine L. ''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts''. Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;callno=977.583%2FM1+A3h 977.583/M1 A3h].) </ref>This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index, an additional personal data index, and a list of references to Illinois. | *''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts'' <ref>Harper, Josephine L. ''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts''. Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;callno=977.583%2FM1+A3h 977.583/M1 A3h].) </ref>This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index, an additional personal data index, and a list of references to Illinois. | ||
*''Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts.'' <ref>Wolfe, Barbara Schull. ''Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts.'' Logansport, Indiana: B.S. Wolfe, 197–?. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;callno=977.583%2FM1+A3w 977.583/M1 A3w].) </ref>The name index gives the series and volume numbers, but is not complete. | *''Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts.'' <ref>Wolfe, Barbara Schull. ''Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts.'' Logansport, Indiana: B.S. Wolfe, 197–?. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;columns=*%2C0%2C0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;callno=977.583%2FM1+A3w 977.583/M1 A3w].) </ref>The name index gives the series and volume numbers, but is not complete. | ||
== State Histories Useful to Genealogists == | == State Histories Useful to Genealogists == | ||
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