Nellie Kenyon Collection
This collection houses scrapbooks, photographs, magazines, newspapers, programs, menus, and invitations documenting the life and work of Tennessee journalist Nellie Kenyon.
The collection is divided into four series:
Series I: Scrapbooks, circa 1914-circa 1970. This series consists primarily of scrapbooks containing notes, publications, and correspondence documenting the work of Nellie Kenyon.
Series II: Magazines and Newspapers, 1878-1970 April 14. This series documents the news media coverage of the John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy assassinations. The following magazines were included in the collection: Life, Look, and Post. The following newspapers were included in the collection: The Dallas Morning News, The News (Mexico City), and The Chattanooga Times.
Series III: Photographs, circa 1933-1939, undated. This section includes several photographs of high profile individuals involved in politics including Winston Churchill, the Kennedys, and Richard Nixon. Some photographs are personally autographed to Nellie Kenyon.
Series IV: Programs, Invitations, and Menus, 1949, 1956, undated. This series houses menus, programs, and invitations from gubernatorial conferences, award banquets, and inaugural events.
Dates
- 1878-1970
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
3 Linear Feet (12 boxes [7 flat boxes, 1 half box, 1 quarter box, 3 oversize boxes])
Abstract
This collection houses scrapbooks, photographs, magazines, newspapers, programs, menus, and invitations documenting the life and work of Tennessee journalist Nellie Kenyon.
Biographical/Historical Note
Nellie Kenyon was born on November 28, 1898. Although she had little formal education in her youth, she spent most of her professional life writing for such Tennessee newspapers as The Nashville Tennesseean and The Chattanooga News. Her work dealt primarily with reporting on federal trials. These stories include her coverage of the Scopes Monkey Trial in July 1925; her exposure of a baby-selling operation in Memphis (which obtained infants under questionable circumstances and placed them in adoptive homes, including the homes of Hollywood movie stars, for a large fee) in 1950; and her coverage of the Jimmy Hoffa trial in January 1964. Even after her official retirement in 1970, Kenyon occasionally wrote on special assignments. She died in February 1982 and is buried in Hamilton County.
Arrangement
Collection consists of twelve boxes divided into four series:
- Series I: Scrapbooks, circa 1914-circa 1970
- Series II: Magazines and Newspapers, 1878-1970 April 14
- Series III: Photographs, circa 1933-1939, undated
- Series IV: Programs, Invitations, and Menus, 1949, 1956, undated
Acquisition Note
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 1974.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository