Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-09
TENNESSEE,S PAST.
An Appeal from tie State Historical
Society.

To the People o. Tennessee: At the last
meeting Of the Historical Society of the
State, the undersigned were appointed a
committee to prepare and issue a circular
address to the people of Tennessee, in be-
half OF the general objects of this Associa-
ton. We enter upon the discharge of this
duty. impressed with filial veneratiOn and
regard for the land of our nativity. From
its first discovery, exploration and settle
ment. it has presented in its history exam
niles of adventure, enterprise, herOism, de-
yotion to liberty and self-government, 20
order and law, which eXtOr the admira-
ton. the esteem, the yeneratiOn and graft
tude of pOsterity. From the dawn Of civil
IiZatiOn and government i'm what is now
Tennessee, the least attentive student of
her progress, growth and maturity, will
discover that the pioneers and frontiersmen
of our proud State, were a remarkable race
of men-peculiarly qualified for the high
and novel duties of founding in the wilder
ness a new political community, and of
Governing il well-a race of men whose
civic. not less than their martial achieve
ments, are worthy of cOmmemOratiOn-a
race of men whose services and sacrifices
for the country have only been edualled by
their public and private virtues. These
virtues, these services, these achievements,
it is the province Of history to collect, pre-
serve and perpetuaiC. LabOring in this
wide and interesting field of historic re-
search, the Society which we represent has
already made some considerable progress;
but it is DESTROYS of exciting a still higher
interest, and of securing a more general CO.
operation on the part of our members and
friends in, every portion Of the State, in the
laudable design and objects Of the HistOri-
cal Society of Tennessee.
In the further execution of its duties,
this committee invites the attention of our
people TO a more specific enumeration Of
the objects OF the State Historical Society,
as indicated in its former circulars and re-
ports, as well as from those of similar aSSO-
| Citations elsewhere. We, therefore, appeal
earnestly to our fellOw-citizens Of our own
State, and literary friends everywhere, for
contributions TO the library and collections
of the Society, Of
l. All books, pamphlets and manuscripts
on the subjects of the discovery, exploration
and settlement Of Tennessee and her CO.
| terminus States; manuscript statements
and narratives of our pioneer settlers; old
| letters and journals referring 10 the early
| history and settlement Of every part Of our
| State: biographical notes Of our pioneers,
| and of eminent citizens, deceased facts il
| Illustrative of our Indian triL 5, their histO-
| nv, characteristics, sketches of their pTOmi-
nent chiefs, orators and warriors, with con-
| tributiOns of Indian implements, dress, or
naments and curiOsities.
?. Articles and proceedings of the Waiau-
ga Association, the Cumberland AssOcia-
ton, of the Association of the People south
! of French Broad and HOlstOn, and west OF
| Big Pigeon rivers; and the conventional
and legislative and judicial proceedings OF
the State of Franklin. Copies Of these, OF
parts Of them, may, we hope, still be found
| among the private files of some Of the lead
ers Of the day, slowed away in some anti
duated scrutOire, some old-time chest, il
| some humble cabin, closet or garnet, Of a
/ frontier man. lie regarded these relics of
another age as household gods, sacred tC
! virtue. 10 law, to patriotism. We charge
our Young men in all our older counties
| and the curious students Of our early histO-
" everywhere, 10 search for these manu-
| script records of their ancestors as for COL
den treasure. Unseen and hidden tOl
nearly hundred years, some Of them Il ay
vet be discovered and preserved for history
ana for a grateful pOsterity.
;. Files Of newspapers, books, pam
phlotS, college catalogues. minutes Of eccle
siastical conventions, aud other publication
relating to the internal Improvements, tho
educational interests and the public welfar,
Of Tennessee. These. whether bound o.
unbound, will he considered valuable an,
important contributions 10 the library O
/ the Society. Indeed. books IF all kinds
and especially such as relate 10 Western
history, travels and biography, in general
and Tennessee in particular, family geneal
ogieS, old magazines, pamphlets, historical
manuscripts, autographs Of distinguished
persons, coins, medals, paintings, portraits
statuary and engTavings, are respectfully
solicited.
(. Beside these, we desire to procure
through our members, our correspondent.
and other friends, the exact locality of tho
several war-paths OF the aboriginal iuhabi
tants of Tennessee, the sites OF theirtownS
villages and battle-ground, and, wEerl
practicable, the boundaries Of the differ EN-
tribes, and of their respective hunting
grounds. the Indian names of the noun
tains and streams and rivers of the State
with the significance of each, and the his
tory, traditions, religion, usageS and laws
neCtiOn, We NAV here mention that the
raths and traces of the early hunters, trap
pers, herdsmen and traders, who first visit
ed the country, and the channels and roads
through which the first immigrants subse-
auently moved TO and occupied and settled
our new country, the names of these pho
neers, the difficulties they encountered, the
stations and forts they erected, the track Of
| . aud communist of tho Indians
and the permanent occupancy by the white:
of the several sections of the State, the
commissioners who formed treaties Of
boundaries, commerce and peace, aud the
treaties themselves-theSe will all be in
tcreSting contributions to our archives and
collections. To these may be added draw
ings subscriptions Of our ancient mounds
fortifications, council houses and cemete-
ries, their size and exact locality.
r. From historical societies, and other
learned associations elsewhere, we solicit a
reciprocal exchange of books and other arti-
cles of which they may have duplicates
pledgiug ourselves to repay, to the extent
of our ability, such acts OF courtesy and
fraternal feeling, in kind if not IN degree,
From older societies, especially, we hope to
receive copy of their transactions. From
| authors ana publishers We asa tIle bOiiil'iI7
ment of a contribution 10 our library Of
their respective works, and from the editors
and publishers Of newspapers, magazines,
and other journals, we solicit the cOntribu-
ton of their publications, especially when
relating to history and IFS kindred sciences.
These will be carefully preserved for bind
ing.
| We respectfully request that all to whom
this circular Is addressed will feel disposed
to give to our appeal generous and prompt
response. May We hope soon to see our
Cabinet Of Historical Collections enriched
by the gifts of our friends, OF articles
which, while in the hands OF private and
individual owners, may be- lost by acct
dent, OF remain forever unknown to science
or art?
In conclusion, the committee hopes not
10 be considered as pFeSumptUous, WheIIl il
adds a suggestion or two TO or" country.
men in behalf OF this grccat work, TO which
Iheir attention .las been invited:
= tsle area Of Tennessee is so large, the
field Of our labor in the historic researches
we have undertaken is so extensive, thai
no isolated effort of single association
can cover the whole ground or successfully
cultivate the surface over which our inyeS
| tig.tiDnS uuSt necessarily extend. We