Rising From the Ashes Oral History Collection
This collection consists of both audio and video interviews concerning the Chimney Tops 2 Wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains during 2016. Between 2017 and 2022, around 150 interviews were conducted with residents of Gatlinburg, government officials, emergency responders, researchers in various fields, and others impacted by the wildfires.
The interviews in this collection were conducted by the Anna Porter Public Library (APPL) and the University of Tennessee Libraries. APPL recorded audio interviews during 2017, starting a few months after the wildfires. UT Libraries' interviews began in 2019 and continued through 2022 with a mix of both video and audio recordings. Individual narrators are not only residents of Gatlinburg, but also emergency responders, government officials, and researchers exploring the effects of the fire.
Dates
- 2017-2022
Language of Materials
The material in this collection is in English and Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite, and a minimum of 2 business days are needed to retrieve these items for use. Researchers interested in consulting any of the collections are advised to contact Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact Special Collections.
Extent
In Development Terabytes
Overview
This collection consists of both audio and video interviews concerning the Chimney Tops 2 Wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains during 2016. Between 2017 and 2022, around 150 interviews were conducted with residents of Gatlinburg, government officials, emergency responders, researchers in various fields, and others impacted by the wildfires.
Biographical / Historical
After a severe drought in the area, the Chimney Tops 2 Fire was originally reported on the November 23, 2016, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fire would eventually spread into the city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on November 28, moving quickly due to the strong winds on that day. This led to widespread destruction which displaced many residents of the city and resulted in the deaths of 14 people.
The interviews contained in this collection are an effort to capture this event as experienced by the Gatlinburg community, as well as provide material for artists to draw upon. Some interviews occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in both in-person and remote interviews being conducted.
Arrangement
The interviews are arranged alphabetically by narrator last name.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository