Statewide effort to digitize WWI memorabilia currently underway
Archivists invite public to digitize their memorabilia
As part of the 100-year observation of World War I (1914-1918), the Tennessee State Library & Archives in Nashville has launched a statewide effort to archive and conserve manuscripts, artifacts and photographs from the war era.
As part of Over Here, Over There: Tennesseans in the First World War, the state library is sending professional archivists and conservators to communities across the state, and is asking people to bring their memorabilia in to be digitized.
They will help make the copies and offer conservation tips. You keep the originals. The digital copies will become part of a virtual exhibit commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the war and its impact on Tennessee.
People living in Tennessee are asked to bring in letters, photographs, diaries, military records, maps, sketches, weapons, uniforms and other items related to the war. All items must be original (no photocopies or reproductions) and they must be owned by the person bringing them to the event.
Myers Brown, an archivist working on the project, said work began in April 2016 and will continue until May 2019. He said previously held memorabilia-gathering events have been well-attended and have turned up some interesting finds.
“The things we see most generally are discharge papers, which is not surprising,” he said. “We also see a lot of photographs. Photography was well-established at that time, and a soldier could have a picture made and then applied to a postcard so there were a lot of those.
“Something that has been a little surprising, and we are glad to see, are episodes in the war that we haven’t heard a lot about. Things like American soldiers who went early, before America became involved, and didn’t serve in American units, but maybe in a British unit.”
He mentioned hearing from the family of a Summerville doctor who, upon graduating from medical school, went overseas where he was assigned to the Black Watch.
“He returned to Tennessee and became mayor and lived to be 100,” Brown said.
“In his papers was a letter from the Queen of England thanking him for his service.”
The Tennessee State Library & Archives has done a similar project related to the Civil War, and Brown says it garnered a lot of attention. He was uncertain how this project would fare because America’s involvement in World War I was only about one year.
“Though it was brief, it was significant. We have been very pleased at the response.”
To submit a reservation request, visit https://sos.tn.gov/tsla/OverHere_ WWI/events and print out the registration form and send it via email to WorldWarI.tsla@tn.gov.
Reservations are also accepted by calling 615-741-1883 and providing the information below or by faxing the form to 615-532-5315. A staff member will contact you to confirm your reservation time.
The archivists will be in Chattanooga at The Chattanooga Public Library from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 2.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.