Eliza Allen’s Guitar, 1820s
This guitar belonged to Eliza Allen (1809-1861) of Sumner County, the forlorn bride of Sam Houston. A prized item in the Tennessee Historical Society’s [...]
General Andrew Jackson, 1818
The Tennessee Historical Society’s collections originated in 1818 when artist Ralph E.W. Earl founded the Nashville Museum. The museum exhibited oddities like the 14’ [...]
Germantown Friends Letter
The Tennessee Historical Society’s collections include a copy of the 1688 “Germantown Friends' Protest Against Slavery,” the first organized protest against slavery in the [...]
Tennessee State Capitol Ground Plan 1859
Construction began on the Tennessee State Capitol in 1845 and was not completed until 1859, when these plans for the grounds were created. Designed [...]
Napoleon’s Death Mask
Early in its history, the Tennessee Historical Society, like most historical societies at the time, collected oddities and curiosities from around the world, regardless [...]
Jane, a Slave
Some historical documents ask more questions than they answer, and this document in the Tennessee Historical Society collection at TSLA is no exception. Written [...]
Cossitt Library Postcard
This postcard in the Tennessee Historical Society’s collection depicts the Cossitt Library and Customs House, South Front Street, Memphis. Cossitt Library was the first [...]
State of Frankland Constitution
Now part of East Tennessee, the State of Franklin (originally Frankland) was a short-lived attempt to form a new state and later an independent [...]
Reeves State Flag
The Tennessee Historical Society’s collection includes a number of flags, including the original state flag designed by Lee Roy (LeRoy) Reeves of Johnson City [...]
Mummy
One of the Tennessee Historical Society’s most famous and popular items is our mummy, which is on display at the Tennessee State Museum. Nashville, [...]
