Workshop: McClung 101–How to Research at the McClung Historical Collection

Learn where to look for your family genealogy and local history at the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection! The sheer volume of resources available at the McClung Collection can be intimidating, so this workshop will provide strategies both in the print and online collections to make the most of your time in the McClung Collection. We will learn about the history of the collection, general research guidelines, print resources, special collections, and digital collections. Many resources can be searched from home with your Knox County Public Library card. The workshop will last approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a guided tour of the McClung Collection.

About the presenter: Brandie Ledford is a reference assistant at the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection. She has a B.A. in History from Eastern Illinois University and M.Ed. from Western Washington University in Adult and Continuing Education. Recently a library director for 15 years in Iowa and Kentucky, she specialized in library programming, facility planning, and innovative new services. Brandie was appointed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to serve on the Iowa Commission of Libraries from 2012-2016 to represent small public libraries and was elected Commission Chair the last two years of her term. She currently facilitates the History Parlor Book Club at the East Tennessee History Center which meets on the second Thursday of each month in the auditorium at 10:00 a.m.

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 (www.knoxcountylibrary.org) and is operated in programmatic partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society (www.eastTNhistory.org). It is located at 601 S. Gay St. in the heart of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please call 865-215-8899.