Benjamin R. Strong Diaries
This collection contains correspondence, diaries, and business records from Benjamin R. Strong and his family. There is also material dealing with the conduct of his estate by Hugh Lawson McClung.
Dates
- 1848-1946
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
2 Linear Feet (2 record boxes)
Abstract
This collection contains correspondence, diaries, and business records from Benjamin R. Strong and his family.
Biographical/Historical Note
Benjamin Rush Strong was born on March 24, 1847 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Joseph Churchill Strong (1808-1878) and Sophronia (Marrs) Strong (1817-1867). Strong was a leader in Knox County's civic affairs, as well as being one of the state's foremost dealers in real estate. He was a staunch supporter of public education, which is reflected in the provisions of his will. It was his desire to "assist to practical education many unfortunate youths chained down by poverty and environment." His will included grants to the University of Tennessee for the construction of a women's dormitory to be named after his mother, Sophronia Strong, and for the acquisition of an agricultural campus. The dormitory was completed in 1923. Other bequests were directed to seven county school systems, the Knox County Industrial School, and also provided for the construction of an art center museum. The Rush Strong School in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee is named after him. Strong died on March 2, 1915 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville.
William Monday was born on April 3, 1862 to Mary (Strong) and James Monday in Knoxville, Tennessee. Also called W. E., Monday was the nephew of Benjamin Rush Strong; the son of Benjamin's sister Mary (Strong) Monday. W. E. Monday eventually became Benjamin Strong's business partner in real estate and his personal friend. Much of the correspondence in this collection concerns the large Monday family which descended from Mary (Strong) Monday. William Monday died on November 17, 1946 and is buried in Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Arrangement
Collection consists of two boxes divided into two series:
- Series I: Correspondence and business records of Strong, William Monday and others.
- Series II: B. R. Strong Diaries
Acquisition Note
Ronald Allen Donated this collection to the University of Tennessee Libraries, Knoxville, Special Collections in 1977.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository