Maryville College Archives to expand digitization efforts with Tennessee America 250 grant
May 12, 2026
Maryville College is a recipient of a $12,195 grant for Tennessee America 250 initiatives from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. The grant award will be used for the purchase of a book scanner and hiring of a contract archivist to digitize and provide online public access to rare and unique archival material documenting early Tennessee history from the Maryville College Archives.
According to Maryville College Archivist Amy Lundell ’06, the collections to be digitized as part of the project “Voices of an Emerging State: Preserving Tennessee’s Early History for America” include the Rev. Robert Henderson’s letters to Col. Francis Ramsey of Ramsey House in Knoxville (1807-1820); rare early 19th century East Tennessee newspapers (1820s-1850s); locally authored, printed and bound sermons, tracts and proceedings (1813-1833) on religious topics, the War of 1812, Cherokee court cases, and manumission of slaves; and, if time permits, the Dorothy Horne and Oliver Hamby Ballad Collection of ballads collected in the Tennessee Valley in the 1930s and the scrapbook of Maryville College’s fifth president, Dr. Samuel Tyndale Wilson, which contains numerous newspaper articles and notes from the early to mid-19th century. By digitizing and providing access to these archival collections via the Maryville College Digital Archives, members of the public will be able to learn more about Tennessee’s early religious history, publication history and folk music.
The State of Tennessee made available funding to be administered by the Tennessee State Museum, on behalf of the Commission to support statewide America 250 activities.
The second round of the Tennessee America 250 grant program was a highly competitive process. In total, the Commission received 365 applications, totaling $6,364,017 in requests. The Commission has made full or partial awards for 194 grants across the state, representing 73 counties, for a total of $2,267,058 awarded. A complete list of second round Tennessee America 250 grantees, counties and amounts is posted at www.tn250.com.
“I am inspired by the excitement across the state to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum and chair of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. “This year will be filled with exhibitions, programs, festivals, and preservation of our local and state history. We hope that these projects inspire Tennesseans across the state to engage with the anniversary in 2026.”
“To be able to be involved with the celebration of our country’s 250th through this project is an exciting prospect,” Lundell said. “The heart of the mission of the Maryville College Archives is to preserve and provide access to the history of Maryville College.
“I am thankful to the Tennessee America 250 grant program for choosing to fully fund our project of digitizing some of our earliest archival material,” she continued. “This grant allows us to purchase a much-needed book scanner and provide access to fascinating collections that we wouldn’t have been able to digitize for quite some time. Our project will allow us to share the ideas, beliefs, interests and daily life of the men and women of East Tennessee’s early years to all Tennesseans and the world beyond.
The Tennessee America 250 Project Support Grants and Community Support Grants had maximum request amounts of $20,000 and $25,000, respectively. All projects funded in the second round must be completed by April 30, 2027.
About Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial
The Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial was legislatively established by Public Chapter 384 of the Tennessee General Assembly in 2019. The Assembly created the Commission to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and recognize Tennessee’s integral role in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. For more information on Commission activities, please visit www.tn250.com.
About Tennessee State Museum
Celebrating its 88th Anniversary in 2025, the Tennessee State Museum, is the administrative attachment of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. The Museum is located on the corner of Rosa L Parks Blvd. and Jefferson Street at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. It is home to thousands of years of Tennessee history, art, and culture. The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on exhibitions and events, please visit TNMuseum.org.