Contributed by Shelby Womack, Communications Assistant

On Monday morning the National Archives released the 1940 census records to the public. Within three hours, the 1940 census website had 22.5 million hits and had been viewed by 1.9 million separate individuals. The site promptly crashed because of the overload of visitors. So what’s the big deal? Well, let me tell you.

As you probably know, the US government takes a census every 10 years. However, there is a mandatory waiting period of 72 years before the results can be released to the public. If you do the math, this means we get census results every 10 years, two years after the current census takes place. The 1940 census gives us a glimpse into the lives of the everyday public living in a nation still staggering from the effects of the Great Depression and only a year away from the attack on Pearl Harbor and entanglement in another World War. We get information like the value of their homes, highest level of education completed, occupation, and annual income along with some other information like their farm schedule and, if the person was a woman, whether she’d been married more than once.

The information is not yet entered into a database, but if you know the location and you've got some time and patience, you can search through the images of the census sheets. This means you can look up anyone from grandparents or great-grandparents to famous historical figures. If you go here, for example, and go to page 15, line 13, you'll find N. B. Hardeman and the rest of his household. You'll see that the home Brother Hardeman, his wife, their daughter, son-in-in law, and grandson lived in cost a whopping $4,000 and that N. B. Hardeman and his wife Joe both had six years of college education. Joe was a music teacher and their grandson, only 13, was still in school. Try and see if you can find some family members or famous people in history! To help you get the hang of the site, see if you can find some historical figures using the following clues:

Happy hunting and let us know what you find!

Contributed by Shelby Womack, Communications Assistant

First off, it was great to see so many alumni during Lectureship! We hope you were blessed by your week here. Many of you who came to visit the Historical Room during the week expected to see Erin Adams who, as you found out, isn’t here anymore. Last fall, Erin was offered a job as Executive Director at the Lee-Fendall House in Alexandria, Virginia. Erin Adams was invaluable to the preservation of this university’s history and we were sad to lose her, but we’re so happy for this opportunity she was presented with and know that she’ll be a huge asset and blessing to her new job.

This did, however, leave the University with the task of finding a new Archivist. We are pleased to announce that James Mitchell has joined the faculty of Freed-Hardeman University as our Lead Archivist. James is an ’07 Freed-Hardeman Graduate with a BA in History with an English minor. He will be receiving an MDiv from Harding School of Theology in May and is looking to work on a degree in Library Science in the fall. During his time at Freed, James worked for the FHU library in the audiovisual department as a student worker. While working on his Masters, he was the night supervisor in the AV department and was later the supervisor of the main library during the summer until he left in December of ‘08. James has always had a love for libraries and all the sub-departments included in that and a passion for history, which makes him perfect for this new career.  James brings with him a lot of new ideas for the growth and preservation Archives & Special Collections, so stay tuned!  As always, you can see the goings-on in the Archives on our Twitter, Facebook page, or right here on the blog.

Thanks to our readers, who have been generous in their support over the blog, Twitter, and Facebook!

As we walk through this process, David and I find our expectations about the hows and whats of the NRHP listing process challenged. Common misconceptions arise, naturally, as people receive mixed information through the media, through neighbors, and through the uninformed. Because some of these misconceptions have come from supporters of FHU, this is a great time to set the facts of National Register listing straight!

First let me point you to the source: the National Register of Historic Places

1.What will putting Old Main on the list do for FHU? At heart, putting Old Main on the NRHP is a sort of moral victory. We announce to the community and to our supporters that we value FHU's long heritage and the work of those before us who established a solid foundation on which to build the school. Practically, the NRHP can be a boost to FHU's fundraising efforts as it sends the message to funders, donors, and other supporters that we believe in this building and are committed to keeping the legacy of the school (in this case, in tangible form) alive and active in the community. Placing the building on the list also allows the school to take full advantage of established infrastructure. A building already on the grid, plumbed, electrified, connected to city water and sewage services represents the investment of funds, labor, and other resources. To tear down this building is to deny that investment.

2. Will FHU be required to follow someone else's set of rules about how the building is used, treated, or repaired? Because FHU is a private institution, it has the sovereignty to conduct its own affairs as determined by the Administration and the Board of Trustees. Placement on the NRHP does not bind the University to any restrictions as to use, management, or upkeep of the building. Restrictions set in when funding or support is solicited and accepted. As part of the planned renovation of the building, the Office of University Advancement will pursue grant funding as well as other streams of support. As with any gift, the donor or funder may decide it is in his or her best interest to place restrictions on the money. For example, if we were to receive a gift from a private donor and one condition of the gift was that we never paint the bell tower, columns, porch railings, or window frames any color but white, the University would be bound to those terms if it accepted the donation. The same holds true for grant funders or federal assistance programs. The acceptance of money from grant institutions or the federal government comes with restrictions. If the University accepts such funding, it is then under obligation to meet and comply with all restrictions imposed in the initial contract. Any restriction the University cannot comply with, for any reason, should prohibit the University from accepting the funding. The acceptance of federal student loans, federal work study, or GI benefits does not commit the University to any actions related to its status on the NRHP.

3. Is there any protection against demolition? No. The Union Avenue South Methodist Episcopal Church used to stand at the corner of Union Avenue and S. Cooper Street in Memphis. Placed on the NRHP in 1987, the building was recently purchased by CVS Pharmacy. They demolished the building in order to build a pharmacy at that intersection. Hubert T. McGee, architect of the building, is also the architect of Old Main and several other businesses and residences in Memphis, Dyersburg, Savannah, Jackson, and Henderson. He has additional buildings around St. Louis, MO and in upstate New York. The building was not abandoned, falling apart, or otherwise presenting a significant danger or risk to the community. It was simply not needed in its previous capactiy, and was sold to an owner who did not desire to maintain it.

Keep those questions and ideas coming!

A professional archivist has invested in a career in which every single day is its own beautiful, challenging adventure. Maybe it is working through important documents that bring to life the story of your institution, or fighting the good fight against pests, time, and inherent vice. Personally, I get a lot of joy out of seeing my student workers master a skill they will draw on time and time again in their own cultural resource careers. Today is a joy a little different.

Since April, David Newberry (Assistant Vice President for University Advancement) and I have been working quietly and urgently to secure a nomination for the Old Main Administration Building on the National Register of Historic Places. This program, overseen by the National Park Service, is pretty straightforward: The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. At the meeting of the Board of Trustees’ Building and Grounds Committee this week, the decision to move forward with this application was approved.

As a seventh-generation Chester Countian and an alumnus and employee of FHU, I am so eager to share the history of this incredible building with the nation! In doing so, we honor the vision and design of Hubert McGee, architect. The care of Jess O’Dair, chief carpenter. The skillful masonry of Walter Thorogood and Will Roberts. The heavy labor of many unnamed local laborers. The building is also a quieter history: the bricks kilned on site and the lumber milled in the neighborhood speak to the natural bounty that made A.G. Freed and N.B. Hardeman think that this community was an ideal location for a school.

Here’s what is going to happen: The Tennessee Historical Commission is the first step. The THC functions as the State Historic Preservation Officer for Tennessee. We must present an application, complete with contemporary and historic photo documentation of the building. Once the THC has examined the application and supporting materials, they will hold a public meeting here in Chester County to solicit the opinions and voice of the community. Once the concerns of the community have been addressed, they will make a recommendation to the Department of the Interior for or against nomination. Upon the THC’s recommendation, we will then prepare and submit and application to the Department of the Interior through the National Park Service, who oversees the list and sets forth all criteria and requirements.

Over the next few weeks, the blog will discuss various issues that arise while preparing the application. Hopefully something we learn in the process can be of benefit to you in your own community. Kristi Montague has been invaluable in this early stage, taking all the necessary photographs.  The faculty and staff of the School of Arts & Humanities and Jeff Barkman and the Sodexo Facilities crew also deserve thanks for making it possible for us to access every nook and cranny of Old Main for documentation.

What are your thoughts? Go with us on this journey! Help us demonstrate that this place matters!

Contributed by Shelby Womack, Communications Assistant

If you've ever been anywhere near Freed-Hardeman during the spring semester, you know what Makin' Music is. It's a pretty big deal on campus, and has been since 1977. We recently ran into some slides back in Archives from Makin' Music and thought we'd share with you. Do you know anyone in the pictures? Do you know which show the mystery ones are from? Are there any specific Makin' Music shows you'd like to see pictures from? There are tons more MM photos, we might be able to help you out. All the pictures are up on our facebook page at Freed Hardeman Archives & Special Collections!