February 2019 Newsletter

Featured Primary Source

This veteran survey reveals information about Joseph C. White, an African-American fighter pilot in the 301st Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter group during World War II.

During the early and mid 1940s, the United States military was still racially segregated and a cadet training program was established at the Tuskegee Institute to train young, African-American men as pilots. The pilots, and anyone who worked in the program, were known as the Tuskegee Airmen. In 1996, in an effort to expand its holdings about World War II, the Tennessee State Library and Archives sent surveys to WWII veterans from or currently living in Tennessee. Over 7000 veterans, or family members of veterans, returned completed questionnaries, often submitting additional supplemental materials, such as photographs, with their surveys.

For more materials related to African-American soldiers in World War II, please visit our website.

This source meets the US.61 and US.65 Tennessee social studies standards.

Family History Summer Camp!

From June 10-14, 2019, the Tennessee State Library and Archives is delighted to host 20 half-day campers for our first family history camp! Explore fun and exciting stories about famous Tennesseans, discover your family’s past, and travel back in time as we experience history coming alive. Details are stated below.

Dates: June 10 – June 14
Time: 8:00-12:00 (Drop-off available starting at 7:00 AM)
Location: 403 7th Ave North, Nashville
Cost: $50/camper
Age: Rising 4th graders to 8th graders
Website: Click here to register! Additional summer camp information is available on our website as well as the required forms for registration.

Please contact camp director, Casey.Gymrek@tn.gov for any questions.

Movers and Shakers: Awakened Reformers of the 1800s Workshop Series

Only a few dates left! Please join the Tennessee State Library and Archives Education Outreach team for this primary source workshop. Designed for Tennessee educators teaching topics such as:

* Sectional differences between the North and South, 1800-1850
* Second Great Awakening
* Abolition
* Underground Railroad
* Early Women's Suffrage

Standards covered in this workshop include (from standards updated in 2017) 4.25; 4.26; 8.41; 8.42; 8.43; AAH.09; TN.15; TN.25; TN.26.

Lunch and six professional development hours provided.The workshop will run from 9:00-3:00 on the scheduled dates.

For the 2018-2019 school year, we have visited Jackson, Memphis, Jonesborough, Knoxville and Harrogate. We are half-way through our workshop series! Be sure to catch us this spring in the following cities: Union City, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Cookeville, Nashville, and Columbia.

To register, visit our website, choose the city and date most convenient for you, and register at the link provided. Seats in the workshop are limited.

Upcoming Conferences

Nashville Parent Summer Camp Adventure Fair, Cool Springs - February 16

Tennessee Council for the Social Studies, Gatlinburg - March 7-8

New TEVA!

We are excited to announce our new and improved Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)! The updated site is filled with user-friendly keyword searches and digital collections. Let us know what you think. Happy searching!

Contact Us!

If you would like to have the Library and Archives provide professional development for teachers in your community, please contact Kelly.Wilkerson@tn.gov

Our mission is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness and accountability in a customer-centered environment.

sos.tn.gov/tsla/education