Scope and content: A series of oral history interviews with former Nashville Mayor Beverly Briley, conducted 21 Mar. 1980-22 May1980 by Paul Clements as part of the Century III Nashville: Nashville Heritage Project. Briley discusses such topics as his childhood and early life; his career as a lawyer and judge; Nashville politics; urban renewal and housing in Nashville; the events of Nashville's civil rights movement and race relations in the city;...

Scope and content: Six audio recordings of interviews with ten individuals relating to their recollections about Nashville people and places. A few recordings are of poor quality or have tape or microphone noise. Contents include: One series of short interviews with five individuals concerning the Hermitage Hotel, recorded in 1977, probably just before the building was shuttered by codes enforcement, due to its deteriorating condition. Most individuals...

Scope and content: Primarily through photographs, musical recordings, interviews, and clippings, this collection documents the career and legacy of Nashville's legendary African-American harmonica player DeFord Bailey (1899-1982). The collection was gathered by Bailey's friend and biographer David C. Morton over many years, some of which served as research material for his 1991 biography, DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music, co-written...

Scope and content: A small quantity of documents dating ca. 1939-1978 relating to the McKissack & McKissack architectural firm of Nashville, Tenn. Materials include two histories of the organization written prior to 1950; the firm's application for National Defense Construction Projects with the Federal government during World War II, including highlighting its work at the Tuskegee Army Airfield where the 99th Pursuit Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen) would...

Scope and content: Oral history interview with Nashville businessman and civic leader Nelson Andrews, conducted 25 Aug. 2006 by Cabot Pyle as part of The Turner Interviews series of the Nashville Public Library's Nashville Business Leaders Oral History Project. During the 1 hour and 46 minute interview, Andrews discusses such topics as Nashville during the 1940s when he first came to town as a child; leadership; attending Vanderbilt; the advantages...

Scope and Content: Four audio interviews (with transcripts) conducted in 2012 by the Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library, in partnership with the Metro Arts Commission and Metro Parks. Each interviewee discusses the positive impact they believe the 28th Connector Project will have on their community. They discuss the separation of North Nashville from the rest of Nashville following the construction of Interstate 40 between...

Abstract: Thirty interviews conducted with Nashville elders, recalling in autobiographical form their major life events and experiences. Most are audio recordings although a few may exist only as full or partial transcripts. Interviews were conducted as part of the statewide initiative known as Homecoming '86, a celebration of local communities and their history. Planning documents for the oral history project are also part of the collection. Scope...

Scope and Content: The collection contains correspondence, reports, meeting materials, educational materials, photographs and videotapes relating to the personal life, academic, and professional experience, and community service of Nathaniel A. Crippens, a Nashville educator, author, and community activist. Crippens' career as an educator began in segregated schools and much of his later career focused on the ongoing issues arising from school desegration...

Abstract: The Nashville Electric Service Public Relations Records (NESPRR) includes approximately 16 linear feet of material covering a range of subjects relating to the history of the electrification of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, spanning the time frame of circa 1866 to 1989, with the bulk of the collection concentrating on 1900 to 1989. The materials found in the NESPRR collection help demonstrate how the use of electricity evolved from its...

Scope and content: Original typescript or manuscript letters written and submitted to the editor of the Nashville Banner newspaper from Jan. 1992 to Jan. 1993 by members of the general public, public figures, and Nashville Banner readers, concerning a wide variety of topics. Some of the letters may have been published in the Banner's editorial pages, although many likely were not. Subjects vary considerably. Some subjects are seasonal or unique to...