The WTHSC is available as a public resource as a unit of the University of Tennessee at Martin. Though it is maintained at a public institution, its acquisitions and equipment are provided and supported primarily by private funds.

PRINTED MATERIAL
The WTHSC houses an ever-growing book collection, over four thousand volumes, focusing on regional history and culture, genealogy, and related studies. You can see from the collection policy that the largest share focuses on Tennessee history and genealogy. The collection includes religious, military, and natural history as well. Regions that are historically or ethnically important to Tennessee residents are included. North Carolina is well documented at both the state and select local levels. Kentucky is well represented as well, particularly counties west of the Tennessee river.

The collection also includes a wide variety of research and writing guides to genealogy and general family history. Regional native American and foreign genealogy, general collection guides to national research institutions, and family histories are all available.

You can find printed material by title, author, or subject searches using the Paul Meek Library catalogue.

Our collection is always growing and we appreciate learning about new material or finding out something we didn’t know about or don’t have. The Curator may be contacted at speccoll@utm.edu .


MICROFILM
The collection includes microfilmed newspapers, census records, public records, and manuscript materials on microfilm. While the collection is growing, not every county in the state will have microfilmed records available. Researchers will want to check the microfilm information sheets and the catalogue before making a visit to the WTHSC to use our collection.

You will need Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to look at and print the microfilm information sheets. It may be downloaded at not cost here.

Microfilm Information sheets
These information sheets provide up-to-date listings of our microfilmed public records, newspaper, and manuscript collections. We add to our holdings regularly, so these information sheets change periodically. Remember to use the library catalogue to find printed material like books and periodicals. Microfilm is catalogued there as well, though individual reels might not be noted. The catalogue can be used to check our holdings by GSU film number, as well.


GENERAL HELPS

TENNESSEE COUNTIES
Shelby County
Houston County
Stewart County
Dyer County
Humphreys County
Tipton County
Fayette County
Wayne County
Lauderdale County
Madison County

KENTUCKY COUNTIES
Carlisle County
Fulton County
Hickman County




HOURS AND DIRECTIONS
The WTHSC is accessible to researchers on the same schedule as the Paul Meek Library. Click here for general hours information. Specialized reference help is available from the Special Collections staff, but only during weekday business hours.

Weekdays between 8am and 3pm off-campus visitors’ vehicles require a parking permit, available at no cost from the Circulation Desk staff. Parking is available adjacent to the library after 3pm daily and on weekends without a permit.


© 2002 The University of Tennessee at Martin Paul Meek Library. Submit questions, comments, and suggestions with our Suggestion Form.