Local History

Linc/2-1-1 community information

Our LINC/2-1-1 Community Information Database includes several resources for local history:

• Historic Preservation
• Historical Societies
• History Museums

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress has over 1,000 digitized items related to Memphis. View them HERE. There are also over 200 items for Shelby County.

Of particular interest are these 1910 Haines Photo Company shots:

• Panoram of Memphis, Tenn.
• Panoram no. 2, Memphis, Tenn.
• Street scene no. 3, Memphis, Tenn.

Also, J. C. Coovert Cotton Field Panoramic Photos:

• King Cotton
• White cotton, black pickers, and a gin
• Dixie’s field of the cloth of gold

And sheet music of blues and jazz classics:

• The March of the Chickasaw Guards (sheet music)
• The Beale Street Blues (sheet music) (recording)
• The Memphis Blues (sheet music)

Memphis Heritage – Newman’s Memphis

The Don Newman Photography Collection includes thousands of photos around Memphis from the 1940s through the 1960s. Many feature buildings and street activity. View the collection HERE.

National Archives

The National Archives holds a couple of items of particular interest including:

• When Nixon Met Elvis Exhibit
• Martin Luther King, Jr., and Memphis Sanitation Workers

Rhodes College DLynx Digital Archive

This digital archive holds many items related not only to Rhodes College but to the overall city as well, such as the Memphis and the Mid-South collection that includes historical maps, oral histories, and Beale Street historical documents.

Shelby County Register of Deeds

The Shelby County Register of Deeds has many archive records available on their website HERE, including:

• Memphis City Directories, 1849-1943
• Birth Records, 1874-1916
• Death Records, 1848-1966
• and more…

Tennessee Virtual Archive

The Tennessee Virtual Archive is home to the Tennessee State Library & Archives digitized collections. This includes nearly 400 items for Memphis found HERE and another 400 for Shelby County HERE (some overlap).

University of Memphis Digital Repository

The University of Memphis Digital Repository holds documents related to regional history including the Civil War, Civil Rights, and the African American Community including a collection on Benjamin L. Hooks.

Withers Digital Archive

The Withers Collection Museum & Gallery has digitized many of the 1.8 million photos of famed photographer Dr. Ernest C. Withers including photos of many civil rights leaders and legendary blues and jazz performers. View the archive HERE.

Crème de Memph Blog

A blog by a devoted researcher provides a deep cut look at the history of many Memphis buildings, zoning cases, and more. View the blog HERE.

Historic-Memphis Website

What initially started out as a brief section on Memphis History for the Memphis Tech High Alumni Website has grown into an entity of itself. A small group of dedicated researchers have pulled together many stories and images of Memphis’ past. View the website HERE.

Memphis Historical Railroad Pages

A group of researchers used many items from the Memphis/Shelby County Room to develop this fascinating site detailing the history of railroads in Memphis. Visit the page HERE.

Our Memphis History

Our Memphis History is made up of researchers, hosts, writers, editors and guests. They use all mediums including blog posts, podcasts, articles and public appearances. 

questions?

Visit or call the Library or submit a question online.