This section lists the societies of Tennessee, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.
Statewide and Regional Societies
County and Other Societies
Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1987.
The association covers the Forty Counties of the Mid-State Region.
They publish The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History and Indexes to Back Issues of the Publication are available.
The MTGS Messenger, their newsletter, is also published by the society.
A list of Professional Genealogical Researchers is also on the site.
Numerous publications can be purchased from the society, which include Family Bible DVD, Journal CD and Paper Copies of MTGS Journals.
Website:
http://www.mtgs.org
Tennessee Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1952. Many archives can be accessed in their Research Library, which incorporate:
- CD’s of Genealogical Data for in-house use
- Census Returns
- Early Newspapers
- Family Charts
- Tax Lists
- Vital Statistics
An Index to their quarterly magazine, Ansearchin’ News, is available. Some Articles related to Genealogical Research are also accessible, which incorporate:
- The Civil War
- Family Reunion Tips
- Genealogy Documentation
- Indentured Servants
- Interviewing Questions
- Records of Religious Associations
- Women and the Insane Asylum
Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- Alphabetical Index to Hardeman Co. Deed Books
- Carroll County Varied Records
- Court Minutes
- Fayette Co. Minute Book 1840-1844
- Family Charts
- J. M. Cox Funeral Home Books
- Memphis, Shelby Co. Selected Court Records and Survey Books 1820-1850
- Olbion Co. Court Minutes 1849-1862
- Settlers and their Descendants
- Shelby Co. Gravestone Inscriptions
- Shelby Co. Marriages 1819-1850
- Tax Records
- Weakley Co. Occupant Entry Records 1827-1833
- Williamson Co. Marriages 1800-1850
Books relating to the States of Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Virginia and Back Issues of their publication are also sold by the society. Many other books are also available for sale.
Website:
http://www.tngs.org
County and Other Societies
Benton County Genealogical Society
Their aims are to promote and encourage interest in genealogy, to collect and preserve genealogical materials and records, to help other genealogical societies and to publish a journal.
Numerous publications are sold by the society, including:
- Benton Co. Wills 1836-1910
- Family Bible Records
- Images of America
- Newspaper Death Notices 1876-1920 spread over 4 volumes
- Society Quarterlies 1989-2016
Website:
http://www.tngenweb.org/benton/gensoc.html
Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association
The Society is a Non-Profit association.
The Pond Creek and Lillamay, Sam’s Creek (PALS) Chapter of the Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association is currently conducting the Cemetery Restoration Project.
Cemeteries include Allen (River Road), G K Davis (Pond Creek Rd), Garland Hollow, George Sugg Allen (River Road), Hooper #1 and #2 (Sams Creek Rd), Johnny Hooper (Sams Creek Road), Lovell (Little Pond Creek Rd) and Vick (Sams Creek Road).
The association has a Library where many books are accessible, which incorporate:
- Biographies
- Harpeth River
- Natchez
- Railroad
- Schools
- Vietnam
- Volumes relating to America
- World War II
Some publications are available for sale, which include the Family History Book.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tncheath/cchga.html
Claiborne County Historical and Genealogical Society
Their aims are to encourage and promote interest in local history and to preserve public and private records relating to the county of Claiborne.
Photographs of William Booher Shoemaker (1826-1905) and Susan Edmonia Karnes (1830-1902) are on the site. Susan married William Booher Shoemaker on 27 November 1850.
Many publications can be purchased from the society, which incorporate:
- Candlelight Tours DVD 2010-2011
- Claiborne Co. Afghans
- Claiborne Co. History Books
- Pictorial History of Claiborne Co. 1801-2001
- Reflections Newsletter (Back Issues)
Links to other sites you may find useful are also accessible.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnccths/
Franklin County Historical Society
Muster Rolls of the Peter Turney Regiment are available on the site.
The association is based in the History Room of Franklin County Library. Many archives can be accessed, which include:
- Bible Records
- Birth Index 1908-1912
- Census Returns 1820-1930
- Death Records
- Deed Books
- Divorces
- Family Files
- Marriages
- Military Discharge Records
- Newspapers on Microfilm
- Obituaries from 1980
- Old Maps
- Plat Books
- Tax Books
An index to the Franklin County Historical Review 1969-1995 is accessible on the site.
Numerous publications can be purchased from the society, which comprise:
- Cemetery Books
- Chuwalee, Chronicles of Franklin Co. by Major MacKellar
- William Crabtree of Crow Creek by Woodall with Index
Website:
http://www.franklincountytnhistory.com/
Giles County Historical Society
The Society is situated in the Main Pulaski Public Library.
Website:
http://www.gilescountylibrary.org/historical-society.html
Grundy County Historical Society
The association was established more than 25 years ago by women wishing to preserve the history of Grundy County.
Many Photographs are accessible, which incorporate:
- Bonnie Oaks Cemetery Sign
- Coalmont Church
- Coalmont Methodist Church
- Fiery Gizzard
- Foster Falls
- Greeter Falls
- Tracy Lake
- Wildlife in Grundy Co.
Links to other sites you may find of use are also accessible.
Numerous publications are sold by the society, which include
- Beersheba Springs: A History Vols. I-III
- Biographies
- Cemetery Transcriptions
- Dad’s Railroad – Mary Priestley
- Episcopal Church Records
- Family History of Flury
- Family Portraits
- Grundy County – James L. Nicholson
- The Heritage of Grundy County
A full of publications available for sale is on the site.
Website:
http://grundycountyhistoricalsociety.com/
Hamilton County Genealogy Society
The association was established in 2001 by genealogists who wished to share their knowledge of the area. Anyone with an interest in the region’s past is welcome to join the association.
Numerous databases and information is on their site, which include Bible Records, Biographies, Cemeteries of the area along with Location Maps and Census Transcripts.
Databases and information also incorporate:
- 1913 and 1914 Chattanooga City Deaths
- Church Histories
- Court Records
- Deeds
- Early Hamilton Co. Weddings
- Genealogies
- Hamilton Co. Marriages 1857-1919
- Hamilton Co. Wills
- Index to Tennessee State Death Certificates 1908-1912, 1914-1932 and 1949-1960
- James Co. Weddings 1913-1919
- Marriage Licence Images
- Newspaper Articles
- Obituaries
- Schools
- Submitted Weddings
- Tombstone Photos
Many publications are sold by the society, which incorporate:
- 1837 TN Volunteers: Muster Rolls from Various Counties
- 1904 Biography and Achievements of the Coloured Citizens of Chattanooga
- The Chattanooga Daily Rebel from 28 June 1863
- Confederate Soldiers of Hamilton Co. Complete Details and Surname Index
Surname Indexes for sale also include:
- 1860 and 1880 Census Returns
- Abstracts of Ocoee District Early Land Records
- Along the Pike – The History of Walden’s Ridge Along Anderson Pike
- Marriage Books 1853-1870, 1864-1874 and 1874-1880
- Roster of CSA Soldiers buried in Chattanooga
- Will Book I covering 1862-1892
Website:
http://www.hctgs.org
Hancock County Historical and Genealogical Society
Many publications are available for sale, which incorporate Hancock Co. and It’s People Volumes 1-3 and the Hancock Co. Pictorial History Book.
Links to other sites you may find of use are also available.
Website:
http://www.overhomesneedville.com
Lawrence County Archives
The Archives has a Loose Records Collection, which comprise:
- Apprentice Indentures 1818-1909
- Bastardy Cases
- Co. and Chancery Court Petitions
- Deeds 1820-1959
- Divorces 1820-1970
- Family File Folders
- Land Grants
- Marriages 1818-2000
- Merchants Licences
- Tax and Voter Records
- Wills 1820-1959
Many databases are accessible, which include:
- 1818 Voters List
- 1820 Census Transcription
- 1826 Tax List
- 1830 Census Heads of Household
- 1842 Delinquent Poll Tax List
- 1868 Tax List
- 1890 Veterans Census Returns for Dickson, Hardin, Hickman, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury and Wayne Counties
- 1908-1912 and 1914-1930 Deaths Index for Tennessee
Databases also comprise:
- Bible Records
- Births Abstracted from the Explosive Licence Applications in the 1940s
- Cemeteries
- Deaths 1881-1882 and 1908-1912
- Deaths Taken from Chancery and Co. Court Petitions
- Lawrence Co. Births 1881-1882 and 1908-1912
- Military Sources, which include Lawrence Co. Veterans from all Wars
- Obituaries and Wills 1829-1847
- Revolutionary War Soldiers
Old Letters from Early Tennessee Settlers are also available along with links to other sites you may find of use.
Many Books are sold by the society, including:
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Census Returns
- Marriages 1818-2011
- Obituaries 1846-2012
- Second Creek Baptist Church 1830-1948
Website:
http://home.lorettotel.net/~lcarchives/archives.htm
Macon County Historical and Genealogical Society
The association has an extensive collection of resources including Revolutionary, War of 1812, Mexican and Civil War Material, Tennessee Census Returns 1820-1880, Clerk and Master Court Records 1844-present and Macon Co. Census Returns 1880-1920.
Resources also include Cemetery Transcripts, Funeral Home Books and Sumner, Smith and Wilson Co. Records and Kentucky Marriages and Obituaries.
In addition, Virginia Census Returns and Marriages, North Carolina and Kentucky Land Grants, Family Histories and Genealogies, Macon Co. Times Newspaper on Microfilm, Minutes from Area Churches, Native American Records and Cal’s Column – 927 pages of Genealogical Research by Rev. Calvin Gregory, are also available.
Resources on Microfilm which include Doctor and Store Ledgers, Personal Papers and pre 1900 Deeds can also be accessed.
Numerous databases are accessible, including Bible Records, Cemetery Index, Partial Index of Deaths 1908-1939 and Obituaries.
Many publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- 1850/1860, 1870/1880 and 1900/1910 Census Books
- Funeral Home Books
- History of Macon Co. by Harold Blankenship
- Macon Co. Cemetery Map
- Macon Co. History and Families Book
- Newsletters and Indexes
A list of Surnames currently being researched by Members is also available.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnmchs/
Overton County Historical Society
Many databases and Indexes are available, which comprise:
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Divorces 1852-1861, 1857-1868 and 1865-1866
- Family Bibles for Curtis-Hardy Webb and Green
- Joseph Copeland’s Will of 1852
- Overton Co. Records 1852-1862 (Deaths 1852-1862, Bastardy, Murder and Divorces)
- Pension Records (John Gore)
- Wills (Joseph “Big Joe” Copeland 1852)
Numerous publications are sold by the society, which incorporate:
- Birth and Death Records 1908-1912 and 1925-1938
- Checklist of Cemeteries and Graveyards
- Newsletters 1997-2007
- Overton Co. WPA Writers Project 1941
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnoverto/OCHS/
Polk County Historical and Genealogical Society
Polk County Historical Society was established in 1955 and incorporated in 1962. The association changed its name in 1995, adding the word ‘genealogical’. By the end of their first year they had 160 members, and now have approximately 450.
These members do not only come from Polk Co., but from all over the country.
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Back Issues of the PCHGS Quarterly
- Cemetery Inscriptions
- Census Returns
- Fun, Facts and Philosophy: The Diary of John Coffee Williamson 1858-1861
- Marriages 1894-1970
- Polk Co. Confederate History
- Polk Co. Heritage 1839-1997
- Polk Co. History 1839-1999
- Vital Statistics 1911-1912
Website:
http://www.tngenweb.org/polk/p_publ.htm
Smith County Historical and Genealogical Society
The society was organised in 1965 and now has nearly 300 members across the United States. They are currently involved with the maintenance and restoration of Rome Ferry, Dixon Springs, Stonewall Bridge and the Heritage Museum.
Indexes to Smith Co. Cemeteries North and South of the Cumberland River is accessible. These Indexes can be searched by Location or by Name.
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Cumberland Pioneer Settlers Volume I – Founding of the Cumberland Settlements: The First Atlas 1779-1804
- Volume II – Thoroughfare for Freedom: The Second Atlas of the Cumberland Settlements 1779-1804
- Volume III – The First Southwest: The Third Atlas of the Cumberland and Duck River Settlements
It is also possible to join the Smith County Mailing List, which is maintained by Rootsweb.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/hg/
Vonore Historical Society
Their aim is to document the heritage of Vonore and the surrounding area.
Publications sold by the society include:
- Biereley-Hale Funeral Home Books 1937-1967 and 1968-2003
- Burials
- Cherokee Co. 1870 Census
- Deaths
- Deeds 1819-1837
- Deeds Books 1852-1858(Part of ‘O’ and all of ‘P’) for Monroe Co.
- Dog Registry 1901-1908
- Loudon Co. 1880 Census
Volumes available also include:
- Marriages 1838-1890 and 1891-1925
- Minute Book Volume I 1858-1875
- Minute Book Volume II 1875-1888
- Monroe Co. Cemeteries
- Monroe Co. Census Returns 1850-1930(Excludes 1890)
- Vital Statistics 1908-1912 and 1914-1925
- Vonore Families: Yesterday and Today
- Wills 1824-1945
- WWI Military Discharges
A list of places to visit in Vonore is also accessible.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~vhgs/
Watauga Association of Genealogists
Numerous publications are available for sale, which comprise:
- Back Issues of WAGS Bulletins
- Cemetery Transcriptions
- Connection in East Tennessee – Olga Jones Edwards and Izora Waters Frizzell
- Dugger Family – Frances D. Rowan
- Elisha Wallen: The Longhunter – Carolyn D. Wallin
- Genealogies
- History Books
- Johnson Co. Census Returns 1870-1920(Excludes 1890)
- Keepsakes for the Heart – Amelia Townsend
- Military History Books
- Subject Index of WAGS Bulletins 1972-2001
- Tennessee Bible and Family Records 1796-1996
- Unicoi Co. Cemeteries
- Washington Co. Marriages 1871-1899
For a full list of Books, please visit their site.
A list of links to other sites you may find useful are also accessible.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnwag/
Weakley County Historical and Genealogical Society
The society was established in 1978, its aim being to collect, preserve and share archives relating to the county’s history.
Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- Back Issues of Forget-Me-Not, their quarterly publication
- Cemetery Transcriptions
- Family History Book: includes photographs, maps and illustrations
- Marriages 1843-1886
- People and Places of Downtown Martin
- They Served the Flag: The Second World War Veterans of Weakley Co.
- Weakley Co. 1880 Census
- Weakley Co. Schools
- Weakley Remembered Volumes 1-4
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnweakle/Weakley_Co_Historical_Genealogical_Society.html