The Tennessee State Library and Archives



The Tennessee State Library and Archives Find more genealogy blogs at FamilyTree.comThe Tennessee State Library and Archives is run by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office. The library has a wealth of information for genealogists, including online resources, videos, and programs.

There is a helpful page for genealogists who want to visit the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The Library Reading Room, the Microfilm Reading Room, and the Manuscripts at the Tennessee State Library and Archives are open on Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon (Central Time). Legislative History is open at the same dates and times.

The Library and Archives will always be closed on Mondays (and federal holidays). Genealogists who know that they need archival materials retrieved for them can obtain them between 8:00 in the morning and noon, or from 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. It is advised that you call ahead to make your request.

Cameras are not allowed in the Archives and Manuscripts Reading Area. Backpacks are not allowed in the main area of the Library or in the Archives. Those who want to visit must present a state or federal ID card when they enter the building, and will then be issued a registration card.

The Tennessee Electronic Library offers free online access to great resources for Tennesseans. There is a section that is dedicated to Genealogy. Some of the resources it offers include access to journals and newspaper articles.

Those that want to browse through Tennessee Records must first validate their Tennessee zip code and telephone number. The records include birth, death, and tax lists. These are made available through a partnership with Ancestry.com. A genealogist who is a Tennessean can access those records for free (even without having an Ancestry.com subscription).

Genealogists who live in Tennessee can also access ProQuest’s HeritageQuest Online via the Tennessee Electronic Library. Doing so requires you to validate your Tennessee zip code and telephone number. ProQuest’s HeritageQuest Online includes digitized copies of federal census records, full-text family and local history books, Freedman’s Bank records, and more.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives also has the Tennessee Civil War GIS Project accessible on its website. Genealogists can use the search engine on the website to search for County Data from a specific county in Tennessee. The information is from the 1860 Census and Civil War Unit Histories. The map can be zoomed in to focus on a specific county or battlefield.

TEVA the Tennessee Virtual Archive, is also available online. It includes the Library Photograph Collection that is a project of their Online Photo Database. Genealogists can download these photos directly from the website. Other collections include: “Women in the Civil War”, “Civil War Military Records”, “Quilts” and more.

Image by Matt Turner on Flickr.

Related Articles at FamilyTree.com:

* Tennessee Vital Records for 1962

* Tennessee Genealogy

* History and Your Ancestors From Tennessee

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