Alex Haley Research Regarding Tennessee Anecdotal History
Alex Haley, Anne Klebenow, and a number of student researchers collected these anecdotes about Tennessee history during their work on 200 Years through 200 Stories: A Tennessee Bicentennial Collection (1996). Among the topics covered are the Bell Witch, the beginning of the Ku Klux Klan, the Scopes Trial, and the Civil War. The first part of the collection houses files that the team used to compile the final edition of their book. It is followed by materials documenting notable personalities in East, Middle, and West Tennessee. The collection ends with interviews on audio- and videotape, releases related to these interviews, and manuscripts of and maps intended for the book.
Dates
- circa 1986-circa 1996
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
27 Linear Feet
Abstract
Alex Haley, Anne Klebenow, and a number of student researchers collected these anecdotes about Tennessee history during their work on 200 Years through 200 Stories: A Tennessee Bicentennial Collection (1996). Among the topics covered are the Bell Witch, the beginning of the Ku Klux Klan, the Scopes Trial, and the Civil War. The first part of the collection houses files that the team used to compile the final edition of their book. It is followed by materials documenting notable personalities in East, Middle, and West Tennessee. The collection ends with interviews on audio- and videotape, releases related to these interviews, and manuscripts of and maps intended for the book.
Biographical/Historical Note
Alex Haley (1921-1992) began this research into Tennessee history in response to Governor Lamar Alexander's 1986 request that he write a commemorative book for Tennessee's 1992 bicentennial. The vast majority of this work was conducted in his official capacity as a University of Tennessee Adjunct Professor. Although Haley died before the work was finished, his co-editor, Anne Klebenow, completed the project and published 200 Years through 200 Stories: A Tennessee Bicentennial Collection in 1996.
Arrangement
This collection consists of twenty-seven boxes divided into seven series:
Missing Title
- Series I: Book Files
- Series II: East Tennessee Personalities
- Series III: Middle Tennessee Personalities
- Series IV: West Tennessee Personalities
- Series V: Audio Tapes
- Series VI: Releases Obtained
- Series VII: Manuscripts and Maps
Acquisition Note
This collection is the property of the University of Tennessee's Archives.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository