The Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War has partnered with the Veteran’s Success Center to honor the lives and military service of people in our region. This Veteran’s Day event will showcase interviews with Tennessee veterans from World War II up to the present day. There will be artifacts on display related to […]
Center Director Dr. Chris Magra gave an invited lecture at the Blount Mansion in Knoxville, TN on September 28. He talked about his own research on one of the founders of the state of Tennessee. William Blount was an ardent Federalist, and he was one of a few dozen men to sign the United States […]
This weekend, Center Director Chris Magra will be speaking at Gold Star Mother & Family Day, hosted by the Veterans Heritage Site Foundation. Please join us as we thank those who have served and their loved ones who have made incredible sacrifices. If you know someone who has lost a loved one in the line […]
The Center was honored to interview Captain William Robinson on Friday, August 8, 2023. He is the longest held enlisted P.O.W. in American history. He was held prisoner in Vietnam for over seven years. You can listen to this Tennessean’s story on our YouTube Channel. Just click here.
Our interns hard at work at Special Collections at Hodges Library. Thanks to Laura Romans and her crew at Special Collections for their great presentation and for pulling so many useful resources for us!
The Center is happy to welcome our latest group of interns. We’re looking forward to seeing the great work they produce!
The Center was honored to be invited to participate in the War Dog Ceremony at the UTK Veterinary College of Medicine on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Center Director Dr. Chris Magra talked about World War II and the history of war dogs. The U.S. Army officially started its K-9 Corps on March 13, 1942, in […]
The Center was honored to interview William Phelps this week. He was born and raised in Tennessee, and he was drafted into the U.S. army during World War II. Phelps served with the 101st Airborne Division at some of the most momentous moments of the war. He was there for D-Day. He helped liberate the […]
Major Kevin Mason (ret.) joined the Center for an interview on June 20, 2023. He attended Greeneville Middle School in Greeneville, TN from 1967 to 1968. He earned his M.A. in U.S. history in the UTK history department between 1995 and 1998. He and his wife plan to retire to Loudon, TN. Mason had a […]
The Center for the Study of Tennesseans & War was honored to have Robert Chittum in our office Thursday, May 4th, 2023, and have his story added to our Korean War Veterans collection. A native of Knoxville, Robert graduated from Knoxville High School in 1950, but had already signed up for the Marine Corps Reserve […]