Tennessee figured prominently in the quest for woman suffrage when a young man’s vote in the Tennessee Legislature, August 1920, changed the course of political history for Tennessee and the nation. Young Harry Burn of Athens cast the tie-breaking vote that made Tennessee the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, thus giving...
Lectures
Love history and want to learn more? Explore a variety of historical topics as authors, scholars, and local historians present the latest research and books, as well as new looks at old subjects. Lectures are open to the public and are free of charge unless otherwise stated.
Previous Lectures
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The Road to Suffrage: Knoxville | A Program of the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Centennial Collaborative@ East Tennessee History CenterMarch 18, 2018 - 9:00am to March 19, 2018 - 11:45am
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@ East Tennessee History CenterMarch 14, 2018 - 8:00am to March 15, 2018 - 8:45am
In a Brown Bag Lecture on Wednesday, March 14, Jack Neely will explore local participation in World War I, both in terms of our contributions to the armed forces and through local industry and charity, as well as Knoxvillians’ influence on the national effort, along with one especially peculiar case of alleged espionage. He’ll also discuss some...
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@ East Tennessee History CenterFebruary 18, 2018 - 9:00am to February 19, 2018 - 10:45am
The public is invited to enjoy the movie classic “Sergeant York” staring Gary Cooper about the WWI Medal of Honor recipient, from Pall Mall, Tennessee, with commentary by Dr. Michael Birdwell, professor of History at Tennessee Tech University. Professor Birdwell has studied the life of World War I hero Sgt. Alvin C. York for more than a quarter...
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@ East Tennessee History CenterFebruary 11, 2018 - 7:00am to February 12, 2018 - 7:45am
Only after lengthy debate and soul-searching about national identity did America enter the Great War. In a special Sunday lecture on February 11, Michael Neiberg, PhD, will track American responses to the 1914 outbreak of the war, the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, and debates on national preparedness in 1916. By 1917, most Americans, even...
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@ East Tennessee History CenterNovember 17, 2017 - 7:00am to November 18, 2017 - 7:45am
During the depths of the Great Depression, some 76,000 men, ages 17-25, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tennessee, building bridges, dams, and roads, stocking fish, building state parks, and providing rescue relief. Much of their work remains today. Through short segments of his PBS film and excerpts from his book, Mr. Jamerson...
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A Panel of Authors, Moderated by Julia WattsNovember 12, 2017 - 9:00am to 10:30am
Edited by Julia Watts and Larry Smith, Unbroken Circle is an anthology highlighting people and stories from the American South. Participating authors include Knoxvillians Julia Watts, L. Mahayla Smith, Melanie Haws, Tom Ray, David Hunter, and from Memphis, Charles Dodd White.
Presented by the Friends of the Knox County...
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@ East Tennessee History CenterNovember 8, 2017 - 7:00am to November 9, 2017 - 7:45am
In a Brown Bag Lecture on Wednesday, November 8, Jack Neely will explore the history of epidemics and major outbreaks in East Tennessee and how they shaped our community. The program is part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read, featuring Emily St. John Mandel’s post-apocalyptic novel, Station Eleven, the story of a small...
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The First in a Three-Part Series on WWI in AmericaNovember 5, 2017 - 9:00am to November 6, 2017 - 10:45am
The first in a three-part series presented by the University of Tennessee Center for the Study of War and Society in partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society will feature Josh Jeffery and Ryan Gesme, graduate students from the University of Tennessee Department of History, will present original research from their recent...
