Austin Peay State University faculty edits Diary that provides glimpse of Clarksville during Civil War
August 5, 2020
Clarksville, TN – In the mid-1980s, an old store ledger was found inside a local smokehouse. At first glance, it seemed like little more than trash, but then someone opened the yellowed, water-stained pages and read surreal accounts of Clarksville during the Civil War.
“Clarksville is almost depopulated,” the ledger recorded. “All the escaped soldiers have been ordered to the main army via Clarksville before the Yankees get in. I ripped the stripes off a young man’s coat over at Uncle W’m’s this evening that he might not be detected on his journey. Once I enjoyed sewing them, but now I take them off as willingly.”
Celebrating a Tennessee Triumph: New monument to honor Clarksville’s suffragists
August 16, 2019
Clarksville, TN – On a July afternoon in 1914, more than 75 people crowded into a house on Madison Street for a meeting of the newly established Clarksville Equal Suffrage League.
The women who joined the league that afternoon spent the next six years facing ridicule and threats of violence in the pursuit of their goal – earning women the right to vote.
Customs House Museum receives restored Civil War diary
June 29, 2017
Local Groups, Individuals provide funds to have Civil War Diary cleaned, restored, returned to Custom House Museum
Clarksville, TN – An important record of Clarksville’s past returned, cleaned and restored, this month to Customs House Museum and Cultural Center thanks to help from several local organizations and individuals.
Serepta Jordan’s diary from 1857 to 1864 in New Providence records murders, slave insurrections, the building of Fort Defiance (then known as Fort Sevier), mustering of troops, battles fought and lost during America’s Civil War, along with births, deaths, marriages, and details of daily 19th-century life.
Austin Peay State University history professor Minoa Uffelman part of team to restore Civil War-era diary
February 28, 2017
Clarksville, TN – Military conflicts are not fought in isolation, and the American Civil War was no different. While civilians like Serepta Jordan never lifted a musket, Jordan and millions like her felt its impact, and it is precisely that neglected perspective that made the discovery of her diary by area historians so significant.
A working-class woman living in Clarksville during the war, Jordan was not a name remembered by history.
Learn about Period Toy Making at Fort Defiance Civil War Park, Saturday
February 13, 2017
Clarksville, TN – On Saturday, February 18th Phyllis Smith presents “Period Toy Making” as part of a new educational programming series, Life in the 1800’s at Clarksville’s Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center. The presentation will start at 1:00pm.
This new series is sponsored by The Friends of Fort Defiance.
Clarksville’s Customs House Museum receives Tennessee Grant for Serepta Jordan Diary project
February 11, 2017
Serepta Jordan’s writings recorded Clarksville life from 1857-64
Clarksville, TN – A large measure of teamwork is going into the restoration and publication of the diary of Serepta Jordan, who recorded her life in Clarskville from 1857 to 1864 in crisp hardwriting in a repurposed leather-bound ledger book.
The diary is part of the collection of the Clarksville’s Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, which welcomed a $3,000 Archive Development Grant on Thursday delivered by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett.
Learn about Civil War Soldiers at Fort Defiance Saturday presentation
January 18, 2017
Clarksville, TN – Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center will host historical interpreter William Parker’s presentation of “A Soldier’s Burden” at 1:00pm Saturday, January 21st as part of a new educational programming series, Life in the 1800’s.
Learn about Period Toy Making at Saturday presentation
November 15, 2016
Clarksville, TN – Join Clarksville Parks and Recreation at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 19th at Clarksville’s Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center when Phyllis Smith presents “Period Toy Making” as part of a new educational programming series, Life in the 1800’s.
This new series is sponsored by The Friends of Fort Defiance.
Civil War diary edited by APSU faculty wins Duke award
October 28, 2015
Clarksville, TN – In 1862, the author of “The American Stud Book,” a breed registry for thoroughbred horses, became one of the least popular people in Montgomery County. His name was Col. Sanders Bruce, and as an officer in the Union Army, he oversaw the military occupation of Clarksville during the Civil War.
“Well upon Christmas day Colonel Bruce with his ‘whiskey jug’ and several regiments took possession of this place and here they have been ever since,” Nannie Haskins Williams, a 16-year-old Clarksville resident, wrote in her diary a year later. “And here I am too still writing in my journal about those detestable blue coats for whom I have such a disgust.”
Historical book signing to take place this weekend at Fort Defiance
March 27, 2015
Clarksville, TN – Are you an avid bookworm or just interested in learning about some of Clarksville’s history? There’s still time left to read the latest books that can be signed by local writers!
“The Diary of Nannie Haskins” by Minoa D. Uffelman, Ellen Kanervo, Eleanor Williams and Phyllis Smith; and “Franklin House” by Carolyn Ferrell with both be available for purchase at the Fort Defiance Interpretive Center for those who do not already own a copy.