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 Tennessee Department of 
 
 Library, Archives, and 
 
 History 
 
 TENNESSEE HISTORICAL 
 COMMITTEE 
 
 PRINTING DEPARTMENT 
 
 TENNESSEE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL 
 
 NASHVILLE 
 

 I LIBF^RY OF CONGRESS 
 
 Alia 1519?;^ 
 
 DOCUMENTS PJVI3ION 
 
 .1.' -L. ■ -■■-■-^^>*-i — -| rmnMinaa arn i — i '~in iiii 
 
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY, 
 ARCHIVES AND HISTORY 
 
 It is a matter of astonishment that the Department of 
 Archives and History of the State of Tennessee was estab- 
 Hshqd as recently as the year 1904. Still more astonishing 
 is the fact that apparently this department was created 
 without act or resolution of the Legislature. 
 
 For some time prior to 1904 the late Robert T. Quarles 
 had been making strong efforts with mepibers of the General 
 Assembly for the establishment of a Department of Archives 
 and History and encountered chilling indifference on the part 
 of many members, yet obtained a little cooperation on the 
 part of a few. 
 
 ROBERT T. QUARLES FIRST ARCHIVIST 
 
 In an affidavit made by Mr, Quarles on Sept. 18,1906, in 
 connection with the papers discovered by him pertaining to 
 the boundary line between Tennessee and North Carolina, he 
 uses the following language: 
 
 "The Department of Archives and History was establishd by the 
 Leglislature of Tennessee in 1904, and I was soon after appointed 
 Archivist of the State of Tennessee." 
 
 Mr. Quarles told the writer at the time that he was ap- 
 pointed State Archivist by Gov. McMillin. Doubtless what 
 Mr. Quarles de,emed as the establishment of the Department 
 of Archives and History was the fact that the Legislature 
 made appropriations by which the work was carried on. Yet 
 these appropriations were not made in the name of the De- 
 partment of Archives and History until 1907. 
 
 Prior to the establishment of the Department of Archives 
 and History in 1904, the valuable papers, documents and 
 records of Tennessee were in the general charge of the Secre- 
 tary of State, but in practice, as the departments became 
 congested, large quantities of papers, documents and books, 
 
— 4 — 
 
 not in current use, were stored in the basement of the Capitol, 
 in a crypt, where damp atmosphere, ashes, oil, grease, rodents 
 and other agencies of destruction caused the injury and par- 
 tial or total demolition of many priceless historical records. 
 It is also extremely painful to state that many wagon loads 
 of these stores were, carted off to the dumping grounds, and 
 many others were sold for waste paper. 
 
 In 1901 the Legislature awoke to the necessity of provid- 
 ing for the proper preservation of the Archives of the State, 
 as is shown by the adoption of House Joint Resolution No. 
 60 which reads as follows: 
 
 Whereas, For the want of proper space in the various offices in 
 the Capitol building, the archives, books and documents of great 
 value and historical interest have been placed in the basement of 
 the building where they are molding and decaying. And, Whereas, 
 A large number of said books consists of duplicate sets of the Su- 
 preme Court Reports, which could be sold and the money turned into 
 the treasui'y, and Whereas, There is sufficient space in the Capitol 
 building for the proper preservation of all the archives of the State, 
 therefore, 
 
 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives. Senate concurring. 
 That the House and Senate Committees on Public Grounds and 
 Buildings be directed to investigate and report the proper steps to 
 be taken and the probable cost of preparing proper space for the 
 preservation of the Archives of the State, and what disposition can 
 be made of the duplicate sets of Supreme Court Reports belonging 
 to the State. 
 
 Adopted March 13, 1901. 
 
 E. B. WILSON, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 NEWTON H. WHITE, 
 Speaker of the Senate. 
 Approved March 16, 1901. 
 
 BENTON McMILLIN, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 Nothing was done by this committee and near the end of 
 the session the resolution was reported among those "lying 
 over." 
 
 However, in the report of the special committee to investi- 
 gate the condition of the Capitol, which report was made on 
 
— 5 — 
 
 March 28, 1901, appears the following recommendation of 
 James H. Yeaman, the architect employed by the committee : 
 
 "Twentieth, I recommend that enough of the attic be prepared 
 with floors, walls, ceilings and dormer windows all complete and 
 made a suitable place for a new archives room." 
 
 , In 1903 Mr. Quarles succeeded so effectually in interest- 
 ing Gov. McMillin in the condition of the valuable papers 
 stored in a damp part of the basement of the Capitol that the 
 Governor devoted a portion of the appropriations for the 
 repair of the Capitol to the removal of papers to a dry sec- 
 tion occupied by the Armory. 
 
 This provision appears in the Miscellaneous Appropriation 
 Bill for 1903, as follows: 
 
 "For preserving the archives of the State of Tennessee, $1,200, 
 Provided it shall be expended under the direction of the Governor." 
 
 TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY COOPERATES 
 
 In 1905 the Tennessee Historical Society cooperated in the 
 effort to induce the Legislature to establish a department of 
 Archives. This attempt was virtually a failure although 
 through the endeavors of the Tennessee Historical Society, 
 Hon. Thomas M. Owen and Dr. Dunbar Rowland made strong 
 addresses to the Legislature, as shown by House Joint Reso- 
 lution No. 3, as following: 
 
 "Whereas, The Hon. Thomas M. Owen and Dunbar Rowland, ar- 
 chivists, respectively of Alabama and Mississippi have been invited 
 by the Tennessee Historical Society to visit Nashville on January 
 10 and 11; and 
 
 Whereas, The object of this visit it to discuss the best method 
 for the collection and preservation of the public records and State's 
 history; Therefore, be it resolved 
 
 "1. That these distinguished gentlemen be invited to address a 
 joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives at such an 
 hour as may be fixed by the joint action of the two bodies, on the 
 morning of January 10th: 
 
 "2. That a joint committee from the Senate and House of Repre- 
 
— 6 — 
 
 sentatives be appointed by the respective chairs to notify these 
 gentlemen of the wishes of the two bodies, and to make such ar- 
 rangements as to carry out the object of the resolution. 
 
 WILL K. ABERNATHY, 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 J. I. COX, 
 Speaker of the Senate. 
 Approved January 11, 1905. 
 
 JAMES B. FRAZIER, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 This action was supplemented by House Resolution No. 17 
 which stated: 
 
 "Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, That the hour for 
 the address to be deliv^ered by Hon, Thos. M. Owen and Hon. Dunbar 
 Rowland, by invitation of House by Resolution No. 3, be fixed as a 
 special order for Tuesday, January 10, at 11 a. m. 
 
 WILL K. ABERNATHY. 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives." 
 
 Nevertheless the Legislature did nothing. It did not dur- 
 ing the session even make an appropriation of any kind for 
 the benefit of the Archives of the State. 
 
 APPROPRIATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 In 1907, however, while the Department of Archives and 
 History was not created, an appropriation was made for the 
 Department of History and Archives. 
 
 The General Assembly for the biennium 1907-1908 appro- 
 priated $4,000.00 for the Department of History and Ar- 
 chives, apportioned as follows: 
 
 Secretary to be, appointed by the Governor, salary not 
 to exceed $1,500 per annum. Office expenses, per annum, 
 $500. 
 
 In 1907 also a resolution was adopted by the Legislature 
 as follows: 
 
 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15 
 
 "Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate con- 
 curring, That a committee of three from the House and two from 
 
— 7 — 
 
 the Senate, be appointed by the respective Speakers thereof to ex- 
 amine the old records and archives of the State, and report as to the 
 condition in which it finds them, and what, if anything, should be 
 done for the preservation and care of same; and ascertain if the 
 Tennessee Historical Society or any individual have collections of 
 relics, etc., they would under the proper conditions be willing to 
 donate to the State. 
 
 Adopted January 25, 1907. 
 
 JOHN T. CUNNINGHAM, JR., 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 E. G. TOLLETT, 
 Speaker of the Senate. 
 Approved January 30, 1907. 
 
 MALCOLM R. PATTERSON, 
 
 Governor." 
 
 Report of Committee of 1907 
 
 On March 20, 1907 the following report was made by the 
 committee appointed to investigate the State Archives under 
 House Joint Resolution No. 15: 
 
 "We, your Joint Committee, appointed by House Joint Resolu- 
 tion No. 15, to examine the office of Archivist of the State and re- 
 port upon its condition and its needs, beg to say that we have 
 performed that duty, and we find and report that the work so 
 far accomplished has been splendidly performed and that Mr. Quarles, 
 the officer in charge of the Archives, is entitled to the thanks 
 of the people of the entire State, for his great interest and pain- 
 staking care in rescuing, classifying and preserving the ancient 
 records and documents of the State of Tennessee. His office apart- 
 ments, although in the attic of the Capitol, are models of neatness 
 and of record classification, and his department is one of the most 
 interesting of the official departments of the State, and well worthy 
 of a visit from every member of the Legislature, or other visitor at 
 the Capitol. 
 
 "We recommend a continuance of the appropriation for this de- 
 partment and think that better quarters or rooms should be pro- 
 vided for this important and most interesting branch of the public 
 service. 
 
 "We were also directed by the said resolution to examine and 
 inspect the collections of the Tennessee Historical Society, as well 
 as the curios, relics, etc., of General Gates P. Thruston, and as- 
 certain their probable value, and upon what terms and conditions 
 they could be obtained as the property of the State of Tennessee; 
 
— 8 — 
 
 and we are glad to be able to report that the Tennessee Historical 
 Society has signified its willingness to present to the State all of 
 its historical documents, ancient relics, and other treasures so closely 
 interwoven with the past history of the State, and worth many 
 thousands of dollars, upon the simple promise and undertaking of 
 the State to provide a suitable place for the preservation and 
 safekeeping of these splendid gifts. 
 
 "General Thruston has also geological specimens of the State, as 
 well as curios and Indian antiquities, which are invaluable and 
 can never be duplicated and he generously offers these as a gift to 
 the State upon the same terms and condition, and expresses a de- 
 sire to contribute, besides, a fixed and permanent sum to be ex- 
 pended annually for their care and preservation; and these generous 
 offers should be accepted with an emphatic expression of thanks to 
 the donors as the State's noble benefactors. 
 
 In view of these facts, and of the crowded condition of the 
 Capitol and the evident need for more room to accommodate the 
 several departments of the State, we recommend the purchase by 
 the State, as soon as may be, of a building convenient to the Capitol, 
 to be occupied by the State Archivist with the Archives and the 
 gifts of General Thruston and Tennessee Historical Society by 
 the Supreme Court of the State, the Court of Appeals, and the 
 office of the State Librarian. 
 
 We understand that the Bishop's residence and grounds, im- 
 mediately south of the Capitol can be had under an option formerly 
 granted to the State, for the sum of twenty-three thousand, five 
 hundred dollars ($23,500.00), and we earnestly urge its purchase by 
 the State immediately and for the purposes above set forth. 
 
 Respectfully submitted this March 20th, 1907. 
 
 T. E. GORDON, 
 JAMES ARMITAGE, 
 W. T. GALLOWAY, 
 J. M. GRAHAM, 
 F. M. McRAE. 
 
 This report was adopted, but the only portion of it carried 
 into effect was the continuance of the appropriation for the 
 maintenance of the Departmejit of History and Archives. 
 
 Four thousand dollars was appropriated for this depart- 
 ment by the Legislature for the biennium of 1909-1910 and 
 distributed in the; same way as for the biennium of 1907-1908. 
 
 For the biennum of 1911-1912 five thousand dollars was 
 appropriated for this department, consisting of the same 
 
— 9 — 
 
 items as in the two preceding biennia with the addition of 
 $500 per annum for an assistant clerk. 
 
 Mr. R. T. Quarles served as State Archivist until his death, 
 March 5, 1913, and was succeeded by his son Robert T. Quar- 
 les, Jr., who served until the appointment of Dr. Gus W. Dyer 
 in 1914. 
 
 For the biennium of 1913-1914 the Legislature appropria- 
 ted for this department $6,000, distributed as follows: 
 
 Secretary, to be appointed by the Governor at a salary not 
 to exceed $1,500 per annum, $3,000. Clerk, $500 per annum, 
 $1,000. 
 
 Office expenses, $1,000 per annum, $2,000. 
 
 In view of the writer's contention that the Department of 
 Archives and History was never established by Legislative 
 act or resolution, the following newspaper story, which ap- 
 peared in the Nashville Banner of March 25, 1915, may be 
 of interest: 
 
 RESIGNATION OF PROFESSOR DYER ASKED 
 Head of Non-existent Department Remains as Custodian Anyhow 
 
 Efforts are being made by Gov. Rye to obtain the resignation of 
 Prof. Gus Dyer, who was appointed by Gov. Hooper as keeper of 
 archives. According to an interpretation by Gov. Rye and his ad- 
 visors, there is no such thing as the State department of Archives, 
 and hence there is no obligation on the legislature to provide for its 
 support. 
 
 So far Prof. Dyer has declined to resign from an office which 
 the governor claims is non-existent, one reason being that he is in 
 charge of valuable material belonging to the State, and that no 
 one has been selected to assume the responsibility. Just now the 
 department is engaged in a most important work in connection with 
 the records of the confederacy. The positiori is also taken that 
 as Gov. Rye does not recognize the position of keeper of archives 
 he need not worry about the resignation of any such 'alleged' of- 
 ficial. 
 
 "Perhaps an explanation of the solicitude of the administration 
 has been prepared for introduction in the legislature creating a de- 
 partment of archives and history, to be under the supervision of a 
 director. As this is practically the same as keeper of archives and 
 as Prof. Dyer's appointment was for two years, there might be 
 some doubt as to the right of the legislature to legislate Prof. Dyer 
 out of office in this way, and the appointment to the position would 
 
—lo- 
 be delayed for a year or more. With so many applicants for office 
 and so few offices, to apportion around, this of course might be 
 a consideration." 
 
 Only five days after the appearance of this article the 
 Senate passed the following resolution: 
 
 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 54 
 
 (By Mr. Ashcroft) 
 
 "Whereas, What is known and termed in the appropriation Bill 
 published in the Acts of 1913, as the Department of History and 
 Archives, exists only by reason of the provision made in said ap- 
 propriation Bill, which appropriation expired with the end of the 
 Biennial Period, March 19, 1915; and which said appropriation pro- 
 vided for the appointment of a secretary by the Governor at a 
 salary of $1,500.00 per annum, and a clerk at $500.00 per annum, 
 and office expenses of $1,000.00 per annum; and whereas, said De- 
 partment since March 19, has no legal existence under any law: 
 
 Therefore be it resolved, by the Senate, the House concurring that 
 the Governor be, and he is hereby employed and directed to forth- 
 with appoint or employ some suitable person to take charge of the 
 records, documents and other property belonging to said Department, 
 preserve and take care of the same, at a salary not exceeding $50.00 
 per month until such time as the Legislature may make permanent 
 provision for the care and preservation of the department above 
 referred to. 
 
 Adopted March 29th, 1915. 
 
 ALBERT E. HILL, 
 Speaker of the Senate. 
 
 WM. P. COOPER 
 Speaker of the House- of Representatives. 
 
 Approved March 30, 1915. 
 
 TOM. C. RYE, 
 
 Governor." 
 
 Robt. T. Quarles, Jr. was then again plac'ed in charge of 
 the State archives and served until 1918, when he was suc- 
 ceeded by Willoughby S. WiUiams. 
 
 Parenthetically, it will be noted that the Legislature in 
 its resolutions, acts and appropriations invariably uses the 
 expression "Department of History and Archives," whereas, 
 
—li- 
 the stationery and signs of this department have always read 
 "Department of Archives and History." 
 
 The appropiration for the biennium of 1915-1916, however, 
 was as follows: Clerk to be appointed by the Governor at 
 salary not to exceed $900.00 per annum— $1,800.00. Office 
 expenses, per annum $1,000.00— $2,000.00. 
 
 For the biennum of 1917-1918 the appropriation was as 
 follows : Chief Clerk, to be appointed by the Governor at a 
 salary not to exceed $1,200.00 per annum— $2,400.00. Office 
 expenses, $600.00 per annum— $1,200.00. 
 
 Mr. Williams served until his death in 1919. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND ARCHIVES ABOLISHED 
 
 In 1919 the Department of History and Archives was 
 abolished by House Bill No. 319 which reads as follows: 
 
 HOUSE BILL NO. 319 
 
 (By Dr, Griffin. Lake County) 
 
 AN ACT to abolish the Department of History and Archives, and 
 transfer all articles, books and papers thereof to the State 
 Library, and require the State Librarian, without additional 
 salary to look after 'the same; and authorizing the appointment 
 of a porter by the State Librarian to aid in the additional work 
 imposed by this Act. 
 
 SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General assembly of the State 
 of Tennessee, That the Department of History and Archives be, and 
 the same is hereby abolished, and that all articles, books and papers 
 in charge of said department be, and the same are transferred and 
 made part of the State Library, and it shall be the duty of the State 
 Librarian, without additional salary, to look after and care for all 
 books, papers and articles in said Department of History and Archives. 
 
 SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, That the State Librarian be 
 authorized to employ, if needed, in caring for and looking after the 
 articles, books and papers belonging to the Department of History 
 and Archives, an extra porter for that purpose, who shall be paid 
 not more than the sum of sixty dollars per month, on warrant drawn 
 by the Comptroller of the Treasury. 
 
—12— 
 
 SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of 
 laws in conflict with this Act be, and the same are hereby repealed, 
 and this Act take eff"ect from and after its passage, the public 
 welfare requiring it. 
 
 Passed March 25, 1919. 
 
 SETH M. WALKER, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 ANDREW L. TODD, 
 • Speaker of the Senate. 
 Approved March 29, 1919. 
 
 A. H. ROBERTS, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 Since that time the Department of Archives and History 
 has been a part of the State Library ; and under the efficient 
 administration of John Trotwood Moore, has been better 
 taken care of than ever before, and although handicapped by 
 over crowded quarters and insufficient appropriation is daily 
 proving its indispensability and serviceableness. 
 
 The appropriation for the State Library for the biennium 
 1919-1921 was as follows: 
 
 Salary of Librarian, who shall serve as Archivist, 
 
 $2,400 per annum $4,800.00 
 
 Salary of two (2) Assistant Librarians, $1,200 each 
 
 per annum 4,800.00 
 
 For Library expenses to be expended under the 
 direction of the Library Commission, $1,000 
 
 per annum 2,000.00 
 
 Archives expenses, $500 per annum __ 1,000.00 
 
 For the purpose of new books to be expended under 
 the direction of the Library Commission, 
 
 $2,500 per annum 5,000.00 
 
 For the biennium 1921-1923 the appropriation for 
 
 the State Library was: 
 Salary of Librarian who shall serve as Archivist, 
 
 $2,400 per annum $4,800.00 
 
 Two (2) Assistant Librarians $1,350 each per an- 
 num 5,400.00 
 
—13— 
 
 For Library expenses to be expended under the di- 
 rection of the Library Commission $1,000 
 
 per annum 2,000.00 
 
 Archives expenses, $500 per annum 1,000.00 
 
 For purpose of new books to be expended under 
 the direction of the Library Commission 
 $2,500 per annum 5,000.00 
 
 Especial attention is called to the fact that during the 
 past two years only $500 per year has been appropriated 
 for the Archives of the State, and the same sum per year has 
 been provided for the Archives during the current biennium. 
 It is earnestly to be hoped that subsequent legislatures will 
 be disposed to deal more liberally with regard to this im- 
 portant department of the State. 
 
 THE TENNESSEE STATE LIBRARY 
 The Tennessee State Library was created as a separate de- 
 partment of the state by act of the Legislature passed Janu- 
 ary 20, 1854, and the Secretary of State was constituted, in 
 section two of the act, as ex officio State Librarian. But 
 afterwards the librarians were elected by the Legislature 
 until 1901 when the Governor, the Attorney General and the 
 Chief Justice were, by act of the Legislature, Chapter 52, of 
 the Acts of 1901, constituted the State Library Commission, 
 having the state library in their charge and by whom the 
 state librarian is selected. 
 
 In the report of Miss Mary Skeffington, the state librarian 
 covering the biennium of 1903-1904, is published a letter 
 written her by Judge John S. Wilkes, by order of the Su- 
 preme Court, in which various recommendations are made, 
 especially recommending the appropriation of more money 
 for the purchase of books. In that report of the librarian, 
 recommendation No. 4 reads as follows: 
 
 That the State Library Commission join in the movement of the 
 Tennessee Historical Society to secure the passage of a bill creat- 
 ing the Department of History and Archives and securing an ap- 
 propriation for a handsome building, to include the State Library, 
 Department of History and the Tennessee Historical Society. 
 
—14- 
 
 TENNESSEE STATE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE 
 
 Immediately on the assembling of the Legislature of Ten- 
 nessee, January, 1919, Mr. John Trotwood Moore began to 
 initiate a movement whereby the history of the soldiery and 
 allied work of Tennessee in the world's war might be gather- 
 ed together and preserved, and through his instrumentality 
 the following joint resolution was passed: 
 
 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12 
 (By Messrs. Houk and Patton) 
 
 Whereas, the conduct of Tennessee men and the historic courage 
 of her women have gained for Tennessee the proud title of the 
 "Volunteer State"; and 
 
 Whereas, the Tennessee soldiers, by their valorous and chivalrous 
 deeds on the battlefields of Europe in the World war, have shed new 
 luster on our State, therefore be it 
 
 Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That 
 the Governor of the State be and he is hereby authorized and re- 
 quested to appoint a committee of twenty-five (25) citizens of the 
 State to be known as the Tennessee State Historical Committee, 
 whose duty it shall be to collect, compile, index and arrange all data 
 and information of every kind and character relating to the part 
 that Tennessee has played in the great world war and turn the same 
 over to the State Archivist or the State Librarian for safekeeping 
 for the future historians of the State; and be it further 
 
 Resolved, That this committee shall serve without compensation, 
 and that the Governor be requested to direct the sympathetic help of 
 every department of the State government to assist in this under- 
 taking. 
 
 Adopted January 23, 1919. 
 
 ANDREW L. TODD, 
 Speaker of the Senate. 
 
 SETH M. WALKER, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 Approved January 24, 1919. 
 
 A. H. ROBERTS, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 On March 1st, 1919, Mr. Moore was elected by the State 
 Library Commission to the office of State Librarian, and at 
 once succeeded in having legislation enacted whereby the 
 
—15— 
 
 scope and duties of the Tennessee State Historical Committee 
 were very much enlarged, as will be seen from the following 
 resolution passed: 
 
 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 76 
 (By Messrs. Patton and Houk) 
 
 Whereas, the conduct of Tennessee soldiers and citizens and the 
 heroic conduct of her women have gained for Tennessee the proud 
 title of the "Volunteer State"; and. 
 
 Whereas, Tennessee citizens and soldiers by their valorous and 
 chivalorous deeds on the battlefields of Europe in the war now clos- 
 ed and in all the wars in which Tennesseans have been engaged from 
 the foundation of the State, have shed new luster on the name of 
 Tennessee; and 
 
 Whereas, the State of Tennessee was the first in which the white 
 man's civilization was planted west of the Alleghany Mountains and 
 the State thereby became the torch bearer of civilization in all the 
 great valley of the Mississippi; and, 
 
 Whereas, a full, complete and comprehensive history of Tennes- 
 see has not yet been wi'itten in past for the reason of the lack of col- 
 lected material on which to base such history; 
 
 Therefore, be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of 
 Tennessee, That the Tennessee State Historical Committee, which 
 has been appointed by the Governor of the State under authority of 
 Senate Joint Resolution No. 12, shall have the duty imposed upon it 
 to collect, compile, index and arrange all data and information of 
 every kind and character relating to the part that Tennessee has 
 played, not only in the great world war which is now closed, but in 
 all the wars in which citizens or soldiers of Tennessee were engaged; 
 and also all data of every sort and kind which illustrate the life, 
 history, development, resources, progress, personalities, artists, au- 
 thors, orators, inventors,and statesmen of the State, and all such 
 data or information on these subjects shall be turned over to the 
 State Librarian for safe-keeping for the future history of the State. 
 
 Be it further resolved. That this committee shall serve without 
 compensation and that the Governor be requested to direct the sym- 
 pathetic help of every department of the State government to assist 
 in this undertaking. 
 
 Adopted March 25, 1919. 
 
 ANDREW L. TODD, 
 Speaker of the Senate. 
 
 SETH M. WALKER, 
 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 Approved March 29, 1919. 
 
 A. H. ROBERTS, 
 
 Governor. 
 
—16— 
 
 The Legislature of 1921 added still more to the scope and 
 duties of the Historical Committee, and made an appropria- 
 tion of ten thousand dollars for the ensuing biennium to be 
 spent in furthering its interest, etc, viz: 
 
 SENATE BILL NO. 164 
 
 AN ACT to provide for the collection, preservation and publication of 
 material relative to the history of Tennessee, including the military 
 records of its citizens; to define further the powers and duties of 
 the Tennessee Historical Committee and to provide for filling 
 vacancies therein; to provide for marking battlefields and other 
 historic places within the State, and for a historical museum; and 
 to appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars annually for carry- 
 ing out the provisions of the Act. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State 
 of Tennessee, That it shall be the duty of the State Historical Com- 
 mittee, appointed by the Governor of Tennessee, by authority of 
 Senate Joint Resolution No. 12, Acts of Tennessee, 1919, to collect 
 for permanent preservation in the Archives of Tennessee the indiv- 
 idual records of the Tennessee soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines 
 who saw service in the great world war. These records shall be col- 
 lected on cards, showing the date and place of birth; date of enlist- 
 ment, branch of service and date of death of when mustered out, of 
 every soldier, sailor, airman and marine, together with all the orig- 
 inal letters, maps, papers, official documents, medals, mementos and 
 souvenirs possible to ' be collected and all other papers which will 
 throw historical light on the valiant part enacted by Tennessee in 
 the world war. And these records, maps, medals, original letters, 
 papers, official documents, relics, mementos and souvenirs shall be 
 filed in a suitable file, each county's records separately kept, and all 
 preserved in a fire-proof place in the Archives of the State of Ten- 
 nessee. 
 
 Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That all of the records of the State's 
 world war activities, both civil and military, including the Red Cross, 
 medical corps, hospitals service, sale of Liberty Bonds, War Saving, 
 Stamps and patriotic organizations of all kinds as well as individuals 
 who gave patriotic service at home or abroad, shall be collected by 
 said committee and properly preserved in the Archives of the State. 
 
 Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That the State Historical Committee 
 shall collect from the files of old newspapers, court records, church 
 records, private collections and elsewhere, historical data pertaining 
 to the State of Tennessee and the territory including therein from the 
 earliest times; to have such material properly edited, published by the 
 State Printer and distributed under the direction of the committee; 
 to care for the proper making and preservation of battlefields, houses 
 
—17— 
 
 and other places celebrated in the history of the State; to provide 
 and maintain a historical museum; to diffuse knowledge in reference 
 to the history and resources of Tennessee; to encourage the study of 
 Tennessee history in the schools of the State, and to stimulate and 
 encourage historical investigation and records among the people of 
 the State; to make an annual report of its receipts and its work and its 
 needs to the Governor, to be by him transmitted to the General As- 
 sembly. 
 
 Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the Tennessee Historical Com- 
 mittee shall have power to adopt a seal for use and for official busi- 
 ness; to adopt rules for its government not inconsistent with this Act; 
 to fix a reasonable price for its publication and to devote the revenue 
 arising from such sales to extending the work of the Committee; to 
 employ an assistant secretary at a salary of not more than one hun- 
 dred and fifty ($150.00) dollars per month who shall do the copying, 
 stenographing, collecting and compiling of the historical data collected 
 by the committee; and to employ any additional help that may be nec- 
 essary to collect and preserve the records; to control the expenditures 
 of such funds as may be appropriated for its maintenance: provided 
 that at least one copy of its publications shall be furnished free of 
 charge to any public school library or public library in Tennessee, 
 state officers and members of the General Assembly making applica- 
 tion for same through the constituted authorities. 
 
 Sec, 5. Be it further enacted, That the director of the library, 
 archives and history of the State shall be chairman of the Tennes- 
 see Historical Committee and shall maintain an office for the secre- 
 tary of the committee in the state library or some other place design- 
 ated by the committee; that in collecting history and visiting his- 
 torical places for the purpose of collecting historical data thereon 
 or establishing markers at historical points in the State or while 
 otherwise traveling in the interest of this department the actual ex- 
 penses of the chairman of the committee or the secretary of the com- 
 mittee shall be paid from the fund herein provided in this Act. 
 
 Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That in case of death or resigna- 
 tion of one of the committee the remaining members shall elect his 
 or her successor. 
 
 Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That an executive board of ten 
 members of the Historical Committee, appointed yearly by the Chair- 
 man shall meet the Chairman at the State Capital at least twice 
 yearly at the call of the Chairman to transact business and receive 
 the report of the secretary, and the entire committee shall meet once 
 yearly for the same purpose. The actual expenses of the executive 
 committee incurred while attending these meetings shall be paid from 
 the fund hereinafter appropriated for the purpose. 
 
 Sec. 8. Be it further enacted. That any State, county, town or 
 other public official in custody of public documents is hereby author- 
 ized and employed at his discretion to turn over to said committee 
 any official books, documents, records, official papers, newspapers files, 
 
—18— 
 
 printed books or portraits not in current use in his office and said 
 committee shall provide for their permanent preservation. But 
 when so surrendered, copies therefrom shall be made and certified 
 under the seal of the committee upon application of any person, which 
 certificate shall have the force and effect as if made by the officer 
 originally in charge of them and the committee shall charge for such 
 copies the same fees as said officer is by the law allowed to charge. 
 
 Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That for carrying out the purposes 
 and objects of this Act the sum of ten thousand ($10,000) dollars or 
 so much thereof as shall be needed over and above all the funds 
 derived from the sale of the publications of the committee and all 
 of the fees collected under Section 5 of this Act, is hereby annually 
 appropriated, and upon order of the chairman of the committee the 
 State Comptroller is hereby empowered and directed to draw his 
 warrant for the sum from the State Ti^'easury. 
 
 Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That this Act shall take effect 
 after its, passage, the public welfare requiring it. 
 
 In acordance with the above mentioned legislation the 
 Tennessee State Historical Committee was duly organized, 
 with the following officers and members: 
 
 JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE, Chairman. 
 
 JOHN H, DEWITT, Secretary. 
 
 A. P. FOSTER, Assistant Secretary. 
 
 GEN. L. D. TYSON, Knoxville. 
 
 HON. A. V. GOODPASTURE, Clarksville. 
 
 R. H. YANCEY, Nashville. 
 
 ROBERT S. FLETCHER, Jackson. 
 
 S. G. HEISKELL, Knoxville. 
 
 MRS. CLARA COX EPPERSON, Cookeville. 
 
 COL. LUKE LEA, Nashville. 
 
 SENATOR E. E. PATTON, Knoxville. 
 
 SAMUEL L. KING, Bristol. 
 
 W. E. BEARD, Nashville. 
 
 MISS LIZZIE BLOOMSTEIN, Nashville. 
 
 COL. W. J. BACON, Memphis. 
 
 J. I. FINNEY, Columbia. 
 
 COL. HARRY S. BERRY, Hendersonville. 
 
 COL. CAREY F. SPENCE, Knoxville. 
 
 E. M. BOYD, Cookeville. 
 
 JOHN H. DeWITT, Nashville. 
 
 MISS DAISY BARRETT, Chattanooga. 
 
 W. E. McELWEE, Rockwood. 
 
 MISS ZELLA ARMSTRONG, Chattanooga. 
 
 HALLUM W. GOODLaE, Nashville. 
 
 A. P. FOSTER, Assistant Secretary. 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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