The Tennessee State Library and Archives is offering citizens the opportunity to participate in a statewide preservation project for historical Civil War artifacts and photographs called “Looking Back: The Civil War in Tennessee.”
The project, sponsored by the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, provides citizens with free digitization services, copies of the digital images, and the opportunity to have their Civil War manuscripts and artifacts preserved digitally at the State Library and Archives for future generations.
The archivists will scan or take digital photographs of the materials, some of which will be featured in an upcoming exhibit, “Looking Back: The Civil War in Tennessee.” Archivists plan to visit all 95 of Tennessee’s counties in search of material.
“This is an important project for the Tennessee State Library and Archives,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “The Civil War was a major event in our state’s history, so we need to take appropriate steps to make sure these treasures are properly preserved for future generations.”
The next virtual exhibit will take place 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 21 in Hohenwald at the Lewis County Public Library. TSLA staff, with the cooperation of local archivists and librarians, will digitize and provide guidance on basic conservation techniques on-site. They will not actually take possession of the items from their owners.
For more information on “Looking Back: The Civil War in Tennessee,” please visit tn.gov/tsla/cwtn
or contact Jami Awalt at 615- 253-3470 or civilwar.tsla@tn.gov. For more information on Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial events, please visit tncivilwar150.com.