Age Group:
Adults- Registration is required for this event.
- Registration is no longer available for this event.
Program Description
Event Details
McClung Computer Classroom, Third Floor
East Tennessee Roots & Resources is free and open to the public; however, pre-registration is required for sessions.
Session Description
Libraries across the country have rooms filled with personal diaries, heartfelt letters, detailed account books, revealing church minutes, and other records that shine a light into the lives of our ancestors. While more of these original documents are being converted to digital files every day, the vast majority of these records are not available online. But nearly every library has a catalog online, and the careful genealogist can use the catalog to find manuscript collections that will reveal new information about their ancestors. In this session, participants will discuss what treasures lie waiting for you in manuscript collections, how to track them down from home using the internet, and how to use what they find to enrich the story of their family.
Presenters
Charles A. Sherrill has written and lectured extensively about Tennessee genealogical research for 40 years. He retired as State Librarian and Archivist of Tennessee in 2022. His publications include the NGS Guide to Research in Tennessee, two family genealogies, the two-volume Tennessee Convicts, and The Reconstructed 1810 Tennessee Census. Chuck has been the editor of The Middle Tennessee Journal of History and Genealogy since 2002.
About East Tennessee Roots & Resources
East Tennessee Roots & Resources is three days (November 7-9, 2025) of engaging lectures, hands-on research, and access to the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection and Knox County Archives. Whether you’re starting your genealogy journey or tackling decades-old mysteries, the East Tennessee History Center is where you’ll discover your story.
About the East Tennessee History Center
At the East Tennessee History Center, Discover Your Story isn’t just a tagline—it’s an invitation. Whether your roots run deep in East Tennessee or you are exploring a newfound interest, the History Center offers a gateway to the people, places, and events that shaped the region. With a family friendly museum, governmental archives, and a heralded special collections and genealogical library under one roof, the History Center is where personal past meets regional history.
The East Tennessee History Center is a facility of Knox County Public Library and is operated in programmatic partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society. It is located at 601 S. Gay Street in the heart of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please call 865-215-8899.