<p align="center">Known & Notable Tennesseans</p>

<p align="center">Governors</p>

This section highlights materials related to Tennessee's governors. They are listed in chronological order based on their terms. The accompanying descriptions are not a complete history of their lives or time in office, but instead provide a brief look at some of the materials related to each governor as found in the Library & Archives' collections.

Click on each governor's name to access the finding aid for their respective Governor's Papers. Presently, the papers of governors John Sevier (GP 1) through Phil Bredesen (GP 55) have been fully processed, and they are available to view onsite at the Library & Archives. Some additional materials have been digitized and are available to view on the Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA).

Governor John Sevier, 1796-1801, 1803-1809

A Revolutionary War veteran and frontiersman, John Sevier was first elected governor of the failed State of Franklin in 1785. He became the first governor of Tennessee in 1796. After waiting a mandatory two years after his first two terms, Governor Sevier was re-elected to the office in 1803. He served a total of six terms before leaving office in 1809.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>John Sevier's Proclamation from the State of Franklin, May 15, 1785.</i> Before he was elected governor of Tennessee, John Sevier served as governor of the failed State of Franklin.</align>
2. <i>Letter from Governor John Sevier to Gen. Andrew Jackson regarding a duel, 1803.</i> As bitter enemies, Gen. Andrew Jackson challenged Governor John Sevier to a duel. In this letter, Sevier responds: "I have heard after all your gasconading conduct that you are preparing to leave town within a day or two, you have not named a place out of the limits of this State when you and myself can have a personal interview."
3. <i>Photograph of John Sevier's home.</i> From 1790-1815, John Sevier and his family lived in this log cabin in present-day Knox County. Today, it is a state historic site. <br>

Governor Archibald Roane, 1801-1803

A lawyer and judge, Archibald Roane was the first governor to use the state seal that was created while he was in office. In 1803, Roane cast the deciding vote for Andrew Jackson over John Sevier in the election for the Major General of the State Militia. Sevier defeated Roane in the next gubernatorial election.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Great Seal of the State of Tennessee as it was designed under Governor Roane in 1796.</i> This document with the 1796 seal was reproduced in 1974.
2. <i>Commission of Abraham Murry [sic] as Entry-Taker for Williamson County, 1801. </i> The commission was signed by Roane.
3. <i>Letter written by Governor Archibald Roane to citizens of Anderson County who settled in Indian territory in violation of existing land treaties, 1803.</i> Roane tells the settlers that if they do not follow his warning and move off the land, they will be forcibly removed either by the courts or by federal troops.

Governor Willie Blount, 1809-1815

Willie Blount was the half-brother of the territorial governor William Blount. As the governor of Tennessee, Willie (pronounced "Wiley") Blount focused on removing Native American claims in order to open up the land for white settlement. During the War of 1812, Tennessee became known as the Volunteer State due to the overwhelming number of volunteers authorized and organized by Governor Blount.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Engraving of Gen. Andrew Jackson and troops at Battle of New Orleans, about 1861.</i> The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, ending the War of 1812. Before the news of peace could reach the rest of the United States, the Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815. The American victory over the British was the last major battle of the war before the treaty was ratified in February 1815.
2. <i>Hand-drawn map depicting the Battle of Horseshoe Bend from General Andrew Jackson to Governor Willie Blount, 1814.</i> In his official report of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Jackson sent a hand-drawn map of the battle around the Tallapoosa River in present-day Alabama. He also includes the locations of different military officials, artillery, and Indian villages. It was a decisive battle during the Creek War.
3. <i>Warrant to pay John Sevier, 1812.</i> Governor Willie Blount signed this warrant to pay John Sevier $287.50 as compensation for Sevier buying 575 pounds of gunpowder for the state.

Governor Joseph McMinn, 1815-1821

Governor Joseph McMinn oversaw the removal of the Cherokee people to Arkansas. During his administration, the 1818 Jackson Purchase opened up West Tennessee to white settlers after the federal government purchased Chickasaw lands. McMinn was later appointed agent of the United States to the Cherokee Nation.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Map of Tennessee showing western lands that were acquired from the Jackson Purchase, 1822.</i>
2. <i>Letter to Governor McMinn written by Chief John Ross and the Cherokee Council for publication in the Raleigh Register, 1818.</i> The Council states they have reviewed the proposal for a total cession of their lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States. They express their desire for members of the Cherokee Nation to have a choice between removal or staying on their ancestral lands. They reject any proposal for total cession.
3. <i>Monument to Governor Joseph McMinn erected by the State of Tennessee near Calhoun.</i>

Governor William Carroll, 1821-1827, 1829-1835

A populist governor, William Carroll used his influence with the General Assembly to promote state reforms, which included funding a mental hospital and a penitentiary, establishing chancery courts, and revising the penal code. He and John Sevier are the two longest-serving Tennessee governors.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Letter from General William Carroll to General James Winchester, January 3, 1815.</i> Gen. Carroll describes the night of December 23, 1814, during a battle against the British in New Orleans. This took place before the larger Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815.
2. <i>Hand-drawn map of Carroll County outlining civil districts, 1836.</i> The map features the numbered districts and the county seat of Huntingdon. Carroll County was named for Governor Carroll.
3. <i>Portrait of William Carroll on silk.</i> Above Carroll, a latin phrase is printed: "Possunt Quia Posse Videntur, Virtute Ac Labore" It roughly translates to "They are able because they seem to be able, through virtue and hard work."

Governor Sam Houston, 1827-1829

Before he was governor, Sam Houston lived with the Cherokee. After his wife left him, Governor Houston resigned, fled the state, and joined Cherokee associates in the territory that is now Oklahoma. He was elected president of the Republic of Texas after it seceded from the Union. In 1859, the U.S. annexed Texas and he was elected governor. He is the only person to become governor of two states.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Handwritten copy of the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation, 1827.</i> This version of was possibly written by Sam Houston.
2. <i>Engraving of Sam Houston showing him as an ambassador of the Cherokee Nation, 1830.</i>
3. <i>Governor Sam Houston's letter of resignation to Speaker of the Senate William Hall, 1829.</i> When Governor Houston resigned, he wrote, "I can only regret that my capacity for being useful was so unequal to the devotion of my heart." He then stated he was consoled by "my countrys generous support in every vicissitude of my life."

Governor William Hall, 1829-1835

After Governor Sam Houston resigned, William Hall was elevated from Speaker of the Senate to Governor. During his brief tenure, he implemented the Carroll Administration's plans to open a penitentiary and revise the penal code.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Illustration of the Tennessee State Penitentiary, about 1831.</i> The State Penitentiary was located on Church Street at Stonewall Avenue (present-day 15th Avenue) in Nashville.
2. <i>Governor Sam Houston's letter of resignation to Speaker of the Senate William Hall, 1829.</i> When Governor Houston resigned, he wrote, "I can only regret that my capacity for being useful was so unequal to the devotion of my heart." He then stated he was consoled by "my countrys generous support in every vicissitude of my life.
3. Warrant of payment to Daniel Graham signed by Governor William Hall, 1829.</i> The governor issued a payment of $40.42 in exchange for postage and stationery.

Governor Newton Cannon, 1829-1835

The state's first Whig governor, Newton Cannon served two terms in office. The Cannon Administration orchestrated the final forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from the state. This displacement became known as the Trail of Tears.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Notice to the Cherokee from General Nathaniel Smith, Superintendent of Cherokee Removal, 1838.</i>
2. <i>Proclamation issued by Governor Newton Cannon requesting 2,500 volunteers from Tennessee, 1836.</i> Governor Cannon's proclamation was in response to President Andrew Jackson's call for a war on the Creek Indians. It outlines the reasons for a call to arms and explains how volunteers are to be organized and outfitted.
3. <i>List of members of the Tennessee militia, 1838.</i> The note above the list indicates that the militia has volunteered to serve under Captain George W. Hudlow and participate in the Cherokee Indian Removal. The note also mentions General Winfield Scott, who was put in charge of the Cherokee Indian Removal by President Andrew Jackson.

Governor James K. Polk, 1839-1841

As a young lawyer in Maury County, Polk was elected to the state legislature and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1835. Polk was elected Governor of Tennessee in 1839 and won the presidency in 1844. President Polk’s legacy is that of territorial expansion, his administration acquired most of what is now the American West. While he purposefully served only one term as president, his administration is recognized for achieving every one of his major policy goals.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Invitation to the democratic inauguration ball, 1845.</i> James K. Polk was president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. As promised in his presidential campaign, Polk only ran for one term in office.
2. <i>Political cartoon for the election of 1844.</i> During the election of 1844, the annexation of Texas and the expansion of slavery was a major issue. The Whig Party nominee, Henry Clay, adopted an anti-annexation platform on preserving North-South unity and avoiding war by respecting Mexico's claims to Texas. The Democrats nominated James K. Polk, who ran on a platform that embraced America's popular commitment to territorial expansion, referred to as Manifest Destiny.
3. <i>Arrangements for the Inauguration of the President Elect, February 26, 1845.</i> This document describes the plans for Polk's presidential inauguration, prepared by the Committee of Arrangements of the Senate on February 26, 1845. Polk gave his inaugural address in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 1845, from a platform over the Capitol steps. Many people gathered to hear the speech, but rain spoiled the occasion.

Governor James C. Jones, 1841-1845

James C. Jones defeated incumbent governor James K. Polk in the 1841 election. While governor, Nashville was designated as the state capital and schools for the blind and deaf were established. His administration purchased the land and initiated the construction of the State Capitol.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Engraving of the Tennessee State Capitol, 1855.</i>
2. <i>Plat of land around the Tennessee State Capitol during the final phases of construction, about 1855.</i> It shows property lines, lot widths, and landowners. The purpose of this map was probably to determine the landowners so the state could purchase the surrounding land to clear capitol hill.
3. <i>Cartoon depicting the Tennessee gubernatorial campaign between James K. Polk and James C. Jones, 1841 or 1843.</i>

Governor Aaron V. Brown, 1845-1847

During the Mexican-American War, Governor Aaron V. Brown upheld Tennessee's reputation as the “Volunteer State." When he called for 2,600 men and nearly 30,000 volunteered, the state militia had to implement a lottery system to select who would serve.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Engraving of the Tennessee State Capitol, 1855.</i>
2. <i>Plat of land around the Tennessee State Capitol during the final phases of construction, about 1855.</i> It shows property lines, lot widths, and landowners. The purpose of this map was probably to determine the landowners so the state could purchase the surrounding land to clear capitol hill.
3. <i>Cartoon depicting the Tennessee gubernatorial campaign between James K. Polk and James C. Jones, 1841 or 1843.</i>

Governor Neill S. Brown, 1847-1849

Governor Neill S. Brown urged the General Assembly to make improvements to the underfunded state mental hospital. Prominent activist Dorothea Dix visited the hospital and her recommendations to the legislature led to the construction of a new building. Brown also served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, minister to Russia, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1870.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of a historical drawing of Central (State) Hospital for the Insane, located near Nashville.</i>
2. <i>Tennessee Constitution of 1870.</i> It was ratified after the Civil War and Governor Brown was one of its signers. The constitution remained essentially unchanged until 1953 and became “the nation’s oldest unamended state constitution.” It is still the fundamental charter for the State of Tennessee.
3. <i>Photograph of Neill S. Brown's 1850 commission as Minister to Russia.</i> The original commission was signed by President Zachary Taylor.

Governor William Trousdale, 1849-1851

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Letter to General William Trousdale from Benjamin F. Allen, April 30, 1855.</i> In the letter, Allen discusses the Know-Nothing party.
2. <i>A detailed map of Trousdale County, 1930.</i> Trousdale County was established in 1870 from parts of Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Wilson counties. It is named for Brigadier General and Governor William Trousdale. Its county seat and largest city is Hartsville. Trousdale County is Tennessee's smallest in land area.
3. <i>Copy of a circular sent to the governors of the sixteen Southern states, 1851.</i> The author, W.B. Davis, tried to encourage the governors to correspond with each other on the issue of slavery. He writes, "That deep 'Yankee trick' of Abolition and 'free-soil' conspiracy and corruption and imposition of that Wilmot proviso on California, has given the North all she wants at present.

Governor William B. Campbell, 1851-1853

A veteran of the Creek and Seminole War, Congressman William Campbell later served as colonel of the First Tennessee Volunteers during the Mexican-American War. His command, “Boys, follow me!” during the Battle of Monterey later became his campaign slogan for governor in 1851. Fort Campbell located on the Tennessee-Kentucky border is named after him.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>The Bowen-Campbell House.</i> Located near Goodlettsville, it was built by Captain William Bowen in 1787 on Mansker Creek. It was later the birthplace of Captain Bowen's grandson, General and Governor William Bowen Campbell.
2. <i>Saber of William Bowen Campbell used during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.</i>
3. <i>Former Governor William Campbell's military commission as Brigadier General, July 3, 1862.</i> It was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Governor Andrew Johnson, 1853-1857, Military Governor 1862-1865

Andrew Johnson is best known as the 17th president of the United States from 1865 to 1869. He worked as a tailor before entering politics. He served Tennessee in the U.S. House, Senate, and as governor. He became vice president in 1864 and president after Lincoln's assassination in 1865. Johnson’s reconstruction policies were at odds with Congressional Republicans and led to his impeachment. He avoided conviction in the Senate by one vote.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Ticket no. 250 admitting the bearer to the gallery of the United States Senate for the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson.</i> In February 1868, the House of Representatives voted 126 to 47 to impeach Johnson of high crimes and misdemeanors. In May, the Senate voted on three of the articles of impeachment but ultimately acquitted Johnson.
2. <i>Election certification of Andrew Johnson as State Representative, 21st General Assembly, signed by Sheriffs of Greene and Washington Counties, 1835.</i> Andrew Johnson was elected Representative to the 21st General Assembly of the State of Tennessee in August 1835, jointly representing the counties of Greene and Washington. The document is signed by the two election officers: Richard M. Woods of Greene County and William Dosser of Washington County. This was the first state election held after the ratification of the 1835 Constitution of the State of Tennessee.
3. <i>Letter by Andrew Johnson, military governor of Tennessee, 1864.</i> Johnson expressed his support for the adoption of a constitutional amendment to ban slavery in the United States. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, slavery was still legal in several states. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially outlawed slavery and was ratified on December 6, 1865.

Governor Isham G. Harris, 1857-1862

After serving in the State Senate and House of Representatives, Isham G. Harris moved to Memphis to practice law. In 1857, he became the first governor to be elected from West Tennessee. He led the state in its secession from the Union and joining the Confederacy.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Proclamation broadside, about 1861.</i> Governor Harris issued the proclamation in response to the President of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis, calling on 6,000 troops from Tennessee for a six-month term during the Civil War, under an act of the Confederate Provisional Congress to provide for local "defence." It was approved August 21, 1861, and signed by Governor Harris on June 22, 1863, in Winchester.
2. <i>General orders No. 5 issued by Governor and Commander-in-Chief Isham G. Harris and Adjutant General W. C. Whitthorne, about 1862.</i> It called for the organization of the state's Reserve Military Corps as required by an act of the General Assembly, passed March 18, 1862.
3. <i>Tennessee secession election returns from Maury County, 1861.</i> 58 residents voted for "no separation" while 2,731 residents voted for "separation." The numbers for and against representation reflect the interest in providing representation to the government of the Confederate States of America.

Governor Robert L. Caruthers, 1863

Born in Smith County, Robert Caruthers was a lawyer before being elected to the state legislature and later Congress. Governor William B. Campbell appointed him to the state Supreme Court in 1853. He was elected governor in 1863, but he was never inaugurated due to the Federal army occupation of Nashville during the Civil War.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Portrait of Robert L. Caruthers in masonic regalia, 1849.</i> The photograph of the portrait was taken by the Calvert Brothers Studio in Nashville.
2. <i>Lithograph of Nashville during the Civil War, created between 1863 and 1865.</i>
3. <i>Illustration of the stockades and fortifications around the Capitol, 1864.</i> During Federal military occupation, the Tennessee State Capitol eventually came to be known as Fort Andrew Johnson due to the mounting fortifications that built up around it.

Governor William G. "Parson" Brownlow, 1865-1869

During the Civil War, William "Parson" G. Brownlow was imprisoned for publishing anti-Confederate and anti-secession newspaper editorials. As governor, he supported Congressional Republicans' reconstruction policies. Tennessee was fully restored to the Union when the state legislature ratified the 14th Amendment. He backed government bonds to rebuild infrastructure though it indebted the state.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Handwritten letter from President Andrew Johnson to Governor William G. Brownlow regarding voting and the upcoming election, 1865.</i>
2. <i>Albumen print of William Gannaway Brownlow.</i>
3. <i>Letter from U.S. Secretary of State William Seward to Governor William G. Brownlow, 1866.</i> Seward instructs the governor to prevent any "scheme" encouraging freedmen to migrate to foreign countries.

Governor DeWitt C. Senter, 1869-1871

The 1870 Tennessee State Constitution was written and enacted during Dewitt C. Senter's term. In addition to other measures including restricting the power of the governor, the 1870 State Constitution formally abolished slavery in Tennessee. Governor Senter also reversed many of the Reconstruction programs enacted during the Brownlow Administration.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Ticket advertising Republican candidates in the campaign of 1868.</i> The list of candidates include Ulysses S. Grant for president. Dewitt C. Senter is listed as a presidential elector from Grainger County.
2. <i>Document restoring the voting rights of Richard Houston Palmer of Wilson County, 1869.</i> The restoration of voting rights for former Confederates was enacted under the administration of Governor Senter.
3. <i>Autograph of Governor Senter for "Miss Sallie," 1887.</i> It reads: "Miss Sallie, as you ascend the hill of fame may you ever meet with friends. Is the wish of your true friend, DWC Senter, 1/3/1887."

Governor John C. Brown, 1871-1875

Brother of Governor Neill S. Brown, John C. Brown practiced law in Pulaski. He was president of the 1870 Tennessee Constitutional Convention. As governor, he worked to reduce the state's debt that grew from lending credit to transportation companies that closed during the Civil War. He supported legislation that established state, county, and city superintendents and other education initiatives.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Rules and Regulations for Pardon Applications, 1870.</i> The broadside was issued by Governor Brown.
2. <i>Photograph of a portrait of General John Calvin Brown wearing masonic regalia, 1870.</i>
3. <i>Photograph of two men next to a railroad train engine and a coal car, 1920.</i> The Bon Air Coal and Iron Corporation was located in White County. When the company was established in 1882, former governor John C. Brown served as president.

Governor James D. Porter, 1875-1879

Born in Paris, Tennessee, James D. Porter served as a state legislator and was elected as a circuit judge before running for governor. During his term, he worked with philanthropist George Peabody to establish a new normal school that became George Peabody College for Teachers. While he was in office, the deadly yellow fever epidemic of 1878 broke out in Tennessee and surrounding states.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Telegram to Governor James D. Porter from Humboldt Mayor J.C. Hailey, 1878.</i> During the yellow fever epidemic, some health boards thought that the germs could be killed by firing cannons into the air. Mayor Hailey asked Governor Porter to send Humboldt a “canon” so they could try to stop the virus from spreading.
2. <i>Pamphlet describing the establishment of the Office of the State Board of Health, 1884.</i> The pamphlet also includes a copy of the public "Act to create a State Board of Health for better protection of life and health, and the prevention of the spread of diseases in the State of Tennessee." The original act passed by the Tennessee House and Senate on March 26, 1877, and approved by Governor James D. Porter
3. <i>Illustrated page, likely from Harper's Weekly.</i> It shows five scenes of quarantine rule in Memphis during the yellow fever epidemic.

Governor Albert S. Marks, 1879-1881

Albert S. Marks was a lawyer and state legislator who fought for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Governor Marks and the state legislature dealt with the Memphis economic plight created by the yellow fever epidemic. He faced opposing factions that were divided over how to resolve the state's debt. After declining the nomination for a second term, he returned to practice law in Winchester.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Hundred Oaks in Winchester, the home of Governor Albert S. Marks.</i>
2. <i>Portrait of Governor Albert S. Marks.</i> It was taken by the Calvert Brothers Photography Studio in Nashville.
3. <i>Print of the Battle of Stones River by Kurz & Allison, 1893.</i> The scene shows the Federal troops of General William Rosecrans fighting against Confederate troops under General Bragg. A Union column marches toward the action and a battery of cannon fires on Confederate troops as they charge. Albert S. Marks was wounded during the battle.

Governor Alvin Hawkins, 1881-1883

Alvin Hawkins was a lawyer in West Tennessee when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was later appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court but resigned after the state adopted the 1870 Constitution. Hawkins was member of the National Union Party, an early name for the Republican party. In 1881, he became the first Republican elected as governor of Tennessee.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Western Union telegram inviting Governor Hawkins to the funeral of President James Andrew Garfield, 1881.</i>
2. <i>Report on coal oil used in Nashville sent to Governor Hawkins, 1881.</i>
3. <i>Letter requesting aid for Tennessee victims of the Mississippi River Flood, 1882.</i> Governor Hawkins sent this request to Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln. After the 1882 flood devastated West Tennessee and most of the Lower Mississippi Valley, Governor Hawkins and other southern governors requested Congressional funds for those affected.

Governor William B. Bate, 1883-1887

Davidson County Attorney General William B. Bate later rose to the rank of Major General in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He fought in notable battles including Shiloh, Chickamauga, and in the Atlanta campaign. In 1882, his gubernatorial platform united the previously divided Democratic party. He supported regulation of the railroad industry, education funding, and tax reform.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Civil War veterans reunion at the Bate Monument at Shiloh National Battlefield, 1905.</i>
2. <i>Photograph of a crowd gathered for the funeral for Governor Bate at the Tennessee State Capitol, 1905.</i>
3. <i>Military pass for William Ferguson and John Branham, signed by Colonel William B. Bate, 1861.</i> Colonel Bate signed these orders permitting two soldiers of the Walker Legion with the 2nd Tennessee Infantry to pass through the country. The two men were required to "keep out of sight of the river" and prepare a map of certain designated localities to be used by Colonel Bate.

Governor Robert L. Taylor, 1887-1891, 1897-1899

A charismatic speaker, Robert "Bob" L. Taylor is remembered for defeating his older brother Alfred "Alf" A. Taylor in the 1886 gubernatorial campaign known as "The War of the Roses." Although they attended campaign events together, Bob Taylor ran as a Democrat whereas Alf Taylor ran as a Republican. Governor Bob Taylor's third term coincided with Tennessee's centennial celebration.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Letter to General Marcus J. Wright from Governor Robert Taylor, 1880.</i> General Wright worked for the United States War Department collecting Confederate military records. In his letter, Governor Taylor tells the general that he is sending him "maps and descriptive matter of Tenn.
2. <i>Photograph of a crowd in front of Lincoln County Courthouse in Fayetteville, 1886.</i> The crowd attended a debate between gubernatorial candidates and brothers Robert L. Taylor and Alfred A. Taylor. The campaign was known as Tennessee's "War of the Roses" because voters would wear red or white roses to show their support for each candidate.
3. <i>Advertisement for a lecture by Governor Bob Taylor, 1904.</i> The broadside advertises the governor as a lecturer at an unidentified Opera House on December 30, 1904.

Governor John P. Buchanan, 1891-1893

John P. Buchanan was a farmer in Rutherford County and served as president of the Tennessee Farmers' Alliance. During his term, the Tennessee House and Senate were known as the "Farmer Legislature" because 54 Alliance members were elected to office. The Coal Creek War, in which striking miners attacked mines that were using the convict-lease system, also took place while Buchanan was in office.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Receipt and letter from the office of George Brown to Adjutant General Norman.</i> George Brown was an importer and jobber of hardware and cutlery, and he wrote to Norman regarding goods purchased "during the Coal Creek trouble." Goods include rifles, cartridges, knives, and a hatchet.
2. <i>Image of the Company C in camp at Coal Creek in August 1892 from page 27 of the book "Souvenir of Company C, First Regiment, N.G.S.T., 1893."</i>
3. <i>Petition from the Committee of Citizens of Coal Creek in Anderson County, submitted to the Tennessee National Guard, 1892.</i> The residents requested the return of James Muldoon, who was in custody of the state militia. They pledged to keep him in their custody until he has been tried by the civil courts of Anderson County.

Governor Peter Turney, 1893-1897

A staunch secessionist, Peter Turney raised the first Tennessee infantry regiment for the Confederate Army. He became chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1886. Governor Turney ended the convict-lease system, which leased inmate labor to private entities, such as the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. He secured funding for new prisons, including Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Telegram to Governor Turney about an attack on the Tennessee Coal and Iron convict stockade in Tracy City, April 1893.</i> This took place near the end of the Coal Creek War.
2. <i>Proclamation of Governor Turney, 1896.</i> The governor declared June 1 and 2 as official state holidays to honor the 100th anniversary of Tennessee's admission into the Union.
3. <i>Photograph of a political rally in Chapel Hill, 1892.</i> These citizens participated in a political rally in support of Peter Turney for Governor and Grover Cleveland for President. The side of the wagon is painted with both Cleveland and Turney's names.

Governor Benton McMillin, 1899-1903

Benton McMillin was a presidential elector in almost every election from 1876 to 1932. He served in the Tennessee and U.S. House of Representatives. A supporter of public education, he signed legislation to adopt uniform textbooks in public schools. During his two terms, the minimum age for factory employment was raised from 12 to 14 years, and the disputed Virginia-Tennessee boundary was settled.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor McMillin signing House Bill 545 into law, 1901.</i> The bill raised the minimum age limit of child workers from 12 to 14 years old.
2. <i>Governor McMillin's proclamation of Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 1901.</i> It states, "The prosperity of the republic and the moral and financial well-being of the people both rest upon energy and toil...Everything that will dignify labor must be beneficial to our people and government."
3. <i>Halftone print of Benton McMillin signed by the governor.</i>

Governor James B. Frazier, 1903-1905

James B. Frazier was a school teacher before passing the bar in 1880. After being elected governor, he supported public education in rural communities, coal mine safety regulations, and temperance legislation to control the sale of alcohol. Frazier resigned during his term to assume a seat in the U.S. Senate that became vacant upon the death of former governor William B. Bate.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Invitation to speaking engagement for Democratic candidate for governor James B. Frazier at the Masonic Theater, 1902.</i>
2. <i>Letter to Robert T. Quarles from Governor Frazier to establish the State Archives in 1903.</i>
3. <i>A proclamation signed by Governor James B. Frazier designating Monday, September 7, 1903, as Labor Day.</I>

Governor John I. Cox, 1905-1907

When Governor Frazier resigned, Speaker of the House John I. Cox assumed the position of governor. While he was governor, Tennessee adopted the official state flag. He was a fiscal conservative as he had previously reduced Sullivan County's debt while county judge. He supported improving the pensions of Civil War veterans and widows. After losing his re-election, Cox returned to the State Senate.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Drawing of the proposed state flag designed by Le Roy Reeves, 1905.</i>
2. <i>Letter from J. A. Albright of the Tennessee State Board of Health to Governor Cox, 1906.</i> Albright wrote to the governor regarding the legislature's depleted Epidemic Fund after the the last major Yellow Fever outbreak in 1905.
3. <i>Postcard sent by the governor's daughter Mary Cox to her father, 1905.</i> 14-year-old Mary Cox wrote the postcard's photo of their hometown of Bristol was “a picture of your first day…after being elected governor.”

Governor Malcolm R. Patterson, 1907-1911

Malcolm R. Patterson first served in the U.S. House of Representatives. As governor, he supported public education, the creation of the State Highway Commission, and signed many pardons. In 1909, he went with the Tennessee National Guard to Obion County to quell the Night Riders of Reelfoot Lake, a vigilante group that turned violent over disputed claims to the area.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Colonel William Clinton Tatom and his staff in Tiptonville, 1908.</i> Under the direction of Governor Patterson, Colonel William C. Tatom led 114 men of the Tennessee National Guard to Lake County to combat the Reelfoot Night Riders. He enforced martial law until the accused murderers were arrested.
2. <i>Photograph of the trial jury for the Night Riders, 1909.</i> The men known as the Night Riders were with charged with the murder of Captain Rankin at Reelfoot Lake, 1909.
3. <i>Political cartoon from Nashville Tennessean newspaper, June 13, 1908.</i> The cartoon features Governor Patterson sitting in a rocking chair with a larger character sitting in his lap representing "liquor interests." The phrase, "Just a Little Rocking-Chair and You," was the title of a popular song released in February 1906.

Governor Ben W. Hooper, 1911-1915

During his campaign, Ben W. Hooper received bipartisan support due to his strong stance on prohibition. He supported many bills related to child labor, women's rights to their own wages, mandatory school attendance for children ages 8 to 14, and construction of new hospitals. The intrastate delivery or shipment of more than a gallon of liquor was also banned.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Senate Bill 867, 1911.</i> This act forbids the employment of children under 14 years of age. It allowed the employment of children from 14 to 16 years old under certain conditions.
2. <i>Letter sent by the Tennessee Anti-Saloon League, 1911.</i> The league encouraged people to attend the governor's 1911 temperance conference.
3. <i>List of talking points for Governor Hooper's temperance conference, 1911.</i> The conference focused on the enforcement of anti-liquor laws, the lack of cooperation from local law enforcement, and lessons that could be learned from other states pursuing prohibition.

Governor Thomas C. Rye, 1915-1919

Thomas C. Rye first served as the Henry County district attorney general. Governor Rye created the state highway department, board of education, and was known for enforcing prohibition through law enforcement. He signed the “Ouster Law," allowing for removal of public officials for not enforcing the law. It unseated powerful Memphis mayor Edward "Boss" H. Crump for failing to enforce prohibition laws.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of portrait of Memphis Mayor Edward H. "Boss" Crump.</i> Governor Rye's signing of the Ouster Law led to the removal of Memphis Mayor Edward H. Crump.
2. <i>Highway map of Hamblen County, 1938.</i> Governor Rye helped establish the State Highway Department in 1915 to oversee both publicly and privately funded highways. The Highway Department later issued maps with road and town information for counties across the state. This map shows the roads, towns, businesses, schools, and other points of interest in Hamblen County.
3. <i>"Votes for Women" poster stamp with a map of the United States, 1913.</i> This stamp shows the extent of women's suffrage in each state as of 1913. The Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association included the stamp in a letter to Governor Rye on February 19, 1917.

Governor Albert H. Roberts, 1919-1921

While in office, Governor Albert H. Roberts sponsored a tax reform meant to lower taxes, but alienated voters and his party when it failed. He also supported legislation to create a state police force to respond to striking workers. While in office, the long fought battle for women's suffrage came to a head. Roberts called the special General Assembly that would ratify the 19th Amendment.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Article titled "Signature Clinches Suffrage Act" from the Nashville Tennessean, 1920.</i> The photograph shows Governor Albert Roberts signing the adoption of the 19th Amendment by the Tennessee State Legislature.
2. <i>Telegram from President Woodrow Wilson to Governor Albert H. Roberts, 1920.</i> In the telegram, President Wilson asked Governor Roberts to call a special session of the Tennessee legislature in order to consider the women's suffrage amendment.
3. <i>Article titled "Suffrage Scenes and Leaders" from the Nashville Tennessean, 1920.</i> The photos show suffrage leaders, including Carrie Chapman Catt, Elsa McGill, and Kate Warner. They also depict politicians such as Governor Albert H. Roberts, Rep. Joe Hanover of Memphis, Rep. Simpson of Humphreys County. In his photo, Rep. Harry T. Burn holds telegrams congratulating him on the passing of women's suffrage.

Governor Alfred A. Taylor, 1921-1923

Alfred "Alf" A. Taylor ran against his brother in the 1886 gubernatorial election known as the "War of the Roses." When he ran for governor again at age 70, he embraced his age by having the "Old Limber Quartet" open for his campaign events. During his term, Governor Taylor focused on taxation, rural education, highways, and the economy, but he faced opposition in the legislature.

1. <i>Photo of a crowd in front of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Fayetteville, 1886.</i> The crowd attended a debate between gubernatorial candidates and brothers Robert L. Taylor and Alfred A. Taylor. The campaign was known as Tennessee's "War of the Roses" because voters would wear red or white roses to show their support for each candidate.
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Alfred Taylor (center) on the steps of the Capitol, 1921.</i> He is standing with H.A. Morgan, Billy Bond (Speaker of the Senate), Andrew Todd (Speaker of the House), and Judge Terry Sanford.
3. <i>Front cover from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper that shows Taylor brothers playing their fiddles at a campaign event, 1886.</i> The bottom caption reads, "Novel political campaign in Tennessee - the rival candidates, 'Alf' Taylor and 'Bob' Taylor, fiddling for votes."

Governor Austin Peay, 1923-1927

Under Governor Austin Peay, the executive branch increased in power with the Administrative Reorganization Act. He also raised sales taxes to support education and infrastructure, including the state's first highway from Memphis to Bristol. In 1925, Governor Peay signed the Butler Act, outlawing the teaching of evolution in public schools. Peay died at the start of his third term.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Political rally for Austin Peay in Union City, 1922.</i>
2. <i>Highway map of Tennessee showing the construction progress from 1918-1926, on federal and state aid roads.</i> Governor Peay played a major role in expanding Tennessee's highway system. During his administration, state highways expanded from 244 miles to over 4,000 miles.
3. <i>Letter from A.L. Maxwell, owner of Maxwell and Company of Los Angeles, California, to Governor Peay, 1925. Maxwell wrote in support of Tennessee's anti-evolution law. The letter states that: "I heartily agree with you that such a theory; being taught to children is hurting our children, state and nation."

Governor Henry H. Horton, 1927-1933

Speaker of the Senate Henry H. Horton became governor after Governor Peay's death. He continued many of Peay's programs, including road improvement and launching the state's first eight-month school. During his second term, he was accused of fraud and many called for his impeachment. The House of Representatives voted against it and he served the remainder of his term.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>"Vote for Democratic Nominees” campaign poster, 1930.</i> This poster includes photos of nominees Henry Hollis Horton, Cordell Hull, William Emerson Brock, and H.H. Hannah.
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Horton and his cabinet.</i> Governor Horton is standing in the middle of the last row.
3. <i>Side profile of Governor Henry H. Horton.</i>

Governor Hill McAlister, 1933-1937

During the Great Depression, Governor Hill McAlister was a strong supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs. Governor McAlister balanced the state's budget and secured federal funds and programs for Tennesseans. The New Deal also established the Tennessee Valley Authority. While McAlister was in office, the prohibition of alcohol was repealed with the passing of the 21st Amendment.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor McAlister’s inauguration on the steps of the War Memorial Building in Nashville, January 17, 1933.</i>
2. <i>Letter from Governor McAlister to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1935.</i> Gov. McAlister requested an allocation of funds from the Public Works Administration to build National Guard armories in Tennessee.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor McAlister, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt seated in the back of an automobile, 1934.</i> Congressman Joseph W. Byrns is seated in front of them.

Governor Gordon W. Browning, 1937-1939, 1949-1953

Gordon W. Browning served in both World War I and World War II. In 1937, Governor Browning signed the "Organic Act," officially establishing the Division of State Parks. He supported election reform including abolishing poll taxes for women and veterans and providing permanent voter registration. He was also the first governor to live at the Tennessee Executive Residence.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of the 114th and 115th Field Artillery regiments marching towards the State Capitol, 1919.</i> The regiments returned to Nashville after the fighting ended in 1919. Gov. Browning served as a captain in the 114th.
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Browning duck hunting on the Obion River, 1948.</i> He was a member of the Davy Crockett Hunting Club.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Gordon Browning with the cornerstone for the State Office Building, 1952.</i> Today, the building is named the Cordell Hull State Office Building.

Governor Prentice Cooper, 1939-1945

Prentice Cooper served three terms as governor during World War II. During the war, his administration appointed the country's first State Defense Council, built statewide defense plants that also provided jobs to Tennesseans, and purchased the Sewart Air Base in Smyrna. His other initiatives included increasing education funding, financial assistance for the elderly, and access to public lands.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and Gov. Prentice Cooper at the dedication of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 1940.</i> President Roosevelt dedicated the park from the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap.
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Cooper and military officials at his inauguration, 1942.</i> This was the beginning of his third term.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Cooper and James Farley, Chairman of the National Democratic Committee, 1940.</i> Governor Cooper and Chairman Farley were part of the Mule Day Parade in Columbia. Farley was also the U.S. Postmaster General during this time.

Governor Jim Nance McCord, 1945-1949

Before elected as governor, Jim Nance McCord served in the U.S. House of Representatives for two years. After his election, the McCord Administration passed the state's first sales tax. The revenue funded improvements in public education, including building new schools, purchasing new buses, and establishing a school program for grades one through twelve.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Jim Nance McCord at his governor's desk, about 1947.</i>
2. <i>Photograph of Jim Nance McCord speaking at the Rhododendron Festival on Roan Mountain, 1956.</i> At the time, McCord was the Conservation Commissioner.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor McCord signing of the bill to build the new State Library and Archives, 1947.</i> He is with Graeme McGregor Smith (left) and Mary Daniel Moore (right), State Librarian and Archivist.

Governor Frank G. Clement, 1953-1959, 1963-1967

Frank G. Clement was Tennessee's first four-year governor after the passing of the amendment in Tennessee's Constitution to change the term from two years to four years. Under Clement's administration, free books were made available in public schools and the Tennessee State Library and Archives opened in a new building on Seventh Avenue in Nashville.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor Clement with Walt Disney and actors Buddy Ebsen and Fess Parker, 1950s.</i> The photograph was taken during the filming of <i>Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.</i> Part of the movie was filmed at the State Capitol. Governor Clement is second from left and Walt Disney is second from right.
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Clement and Goddard Lieberson, President of Columbia Records.</i>
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Clement speaking to a crowd on Roan Mountain, 1954.</i>

Governor Buford Ellington, 1959-1963, 1967-1971

During his first term as governor, Buford Ellington pushed for raises for teachers while adhering to an economically conservative budget. When he was elected again in 1967, Ellington's administration supported the U.S. Supreme Court's verdict in Brown vs. The Board of Education (1955) and ordered the desegregation of public schools.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Elvis Presley meeting with Governor Ellington at the State Capitol, March 8, 1961.</i> Elvis Presley stands third from left. Governor Ellington stands on one side of him and the governor's daughter Ann Ellington stands on the other side.
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Ellington (center, holding paper) with singers Carl Perkins (left of governor), Johnny Cash (right of governor), and others.</i> The governor was signing a proclamation in his office at the State Capitol.
3. <i>Photograph of Commissioner Boyd Garrett, Gov. Buford Ellington, and Albert F. Harris, Superintendent of the T. O. Fuller State Park, 1967.</i>

Governor Winfield C. Dunn, 1971-1975

In 1971, Winfield Dunn became the first Republican to be elected governor of Tennessee in fifty years. His administration instituted a kindergarten program for Tennessee children. In an attempt to unify the state's three Grand Divisions, he issued an executive order to change billboards at state lines from "Welcome to the Three States of Tennessee" to "Welcome to the Great State of Tennessee."

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor Dunn and Senator Douglas Henry, Jr., in the governor's office, 1972.</i>
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Dunn and Richard M. "Pek" Gunn, 1972.</i> Gunn was the first Poet Laureate of Tennessee. He is holding a copy of his poem, "Little Mischief." Granville Hinton, Commissioner of Conservation, and Representative William L. Jenkins are standing with Governor Dunn and Poet Laureate Gunn.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Dunn and a school group of migrant workers' children at the State Capitol, 1972.</i>

Governor Ray Blanton, 1975-1979

During his campaign, Ray Blanton faced 11 other opponents. Because of this division of the vote, he won the 1974 Democratic primary for gubernatorial nomination having secured only 23% of the vote. During his administration, Tennessee established the first State Department of Tourism in the nation.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor Blanton and Johnny Cash, 1977.</i> Governor Blanton presented the singer with an Award of Merit at the nationally televised American Music Awards show. His wife June Carter Cash and son John Carter Cash are also pictured.
2. <i>Governor Blanton's statement on the death of Elvis Presley, 1977.</i> The governor celebrated Elvis's contribution to Tennessee and music. He declared that the Tennessee flag would fly at half-mast.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Ray Blanton in office, 1976.</i>

Governor Lamar Alexander, 1979-1987

Lamar Alexander was Tennessee's first governor to serve consecutive four-year terms. The Alexander Administration recruited Nissan, Saturn, and auto suppliers to build factories in Tennessee, which created thousands of jobs. He enacted programs to expand tourism and improve highways with zero debt. He also advocated for public and higher education initiatives, including raising teachers' salaries.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor Alexander announcing the Nissan plant in Smyrna, 1985.</i>
2. <i>Photograph of Lamar Alexander posed in front of Tennessee State Flag.</i>
3. <i>Copy of Elvis Presley Day Proclamation made by Governor Alexander, 1980.</i> For many years, Governor Alexander made a state proclamation to establish an Elvis Presley Day. They were made in honor of Elvis' contribution to music and popular culture. The singer was recognized for bringing Tennessee to an international stage.

Governor Ned R. McWherter, 1987-1995

Ned R. McWherter served as Speaker of the House prior to being elected governor. His administration advocated for new roads, increased funding for public education, and passed annual balanced budgets. Governor McWherter also pushed for healthcare reform by replacing the state Medicaid system with TennCare, a plan meant to provide affordable healthcare to disadvantaged citizens.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Ned McWherter, Joe C. Carr, and others.</i> They are standing in front of a bust of the Secretary of State installed at the State Capitol.
2. <i>Photograph of Ned Ray McWherter announcing his candidacy for governor from the front porch of Rocky Mount, April 30, 1986.</i>
3. <i>Speaker of the House Ned Ray McWherter greeting Governor Winfield Dunn prior to an address to a Joint Convention, Tennessee General Assembly, 1971.</i> McWherter served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1973-1987 before becoming governor.

Governor Don Sundquist, 1995-2003

Under Governor Don Sundquist, Tennessee became the first state to connect all public schools and libraries to the internet. His administration passed comprehensive welfare reform and created a record 300,000 new jobs.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Congressman Bob Cooper, Vice President Al Gore, Governor Don Sundquist, and Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen, 1998.</i> They were speaking with victims of the Nashville tornado.
2. <i>Thank you card sent by Percy Priest Elementary School class, 1997.</i> The Nashville students sent Gov. Don Sundquist a card to thank him for providing their school with an Internet connection.
3. <i>Broadside of Tennessee 200 "Colors of the Bicentennial", signed by Governor Don Sundquist, 1996.</i> The Bicentennial celebrated 200 years of Tennessee statehood.

Governor Phil Bredesen, 2003-2011

The Bredesen Administration laid the foundation for education reforms that made Tennessee the fastest-improving state in the history of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation's Report Card. When Governor Bredesen was re-elected to a second term in 2006, he won all 95 counties.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Pamphlet for Governor Bredesen's Voluntary Pre-K program, 2005-2006.</i>
2. <i>Letter from Governor Bredesen to singer Taylor Swift, 2007.</i> The governor one-page letter congratulated Swift on receiving the 2007 CMA Horizon Award.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Bredesen and Dolly Parton reading to children in Pigeon Forge, 2004.</i>

Governor Bill Haslam, 2011-2019

*Governor Papers not yet available

During Governor Bill Haslam's administration, Tennessee became the first state to offer tuition-free community and technical college. The state also regained and held a AAA bond rating from all three credit rating agencies.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor Haslam visiting the Tennessee State Library and Archives in its old location, July 2011.</i>
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Haslam and others breaking ground on the new Library & Archives building, December 2017.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Haslam giving a speech at the grand opening of the new Library & Archives building, 2021.</i>

Governor Bill Lee, 2019-Present

*Governor Papers not yet available

Since being elected in 2019, Governor Bill Lee has focused on several priorities including quality education, economic development, public safety, and supporting families, all with a particular focus on the accelerated transformation of rural Tennessee.

<strong><p align="center">Library & Archives' Collection Highlights</strong></p>

1. <i>Photograph of Governor Lee visiting the new Library & Archives building before the grand opening in 2021.</i>
2. <i>Photograph of Governor Lee viewing an exhibit case in the lobby of the new Library & Archives building.</i> This was the governor's official visit to the new building prior to the grand opening in 2021.
3. <i>Photograph of Governor Lee giving a speech at the grand opening of the new Library & Archives building, 2021.</i>