The West Tennessee Historical Society (WTHS) is a

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

historical society A historical society (sometimes also preservation society) is an organization dedicated to preserving, collecting, researching, and interpreting historical information or items. Originally, these societies were created as a way to help future gen ...

servicing the twenty-one counties that comprise

West Tennessee West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions (Tennessee), Grand Divisions of the U.S. state of Tennessee that roughly comprises the western quarter of the state. The region includes 21 counties between the Tennessee River, Tennessee and Miss ...

. Headquartered in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

, the society was officially founded in 1935, but traces its roots to a series of preceding historical societies in the West Tennessee area, the oldest of which was founded in 1857. The society is involved in the publication of several books about West Tennessee history, as well as a peer-reviewed journal known as the ''West Tennessee Historical Society Papers'', released annually. The society is also involved in the preservation of historic landmark structures in the West Tennessee area and in maintaining an archive of West Tennessee history-related historical documents and books at the

University of Memphis } The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The university maintains the Herff College of Engineering ...

History

The West Tennessee Historical Society traces its history back to the Old Folks of Shelby County, a historical society founded in 1857. The Old Folks of Shelby County later became part of the Confederate Relief and Historical Association, which was founded in 1866 and reorganized twice, first into the Confederate Historical Association in 1869 and then into Camp 28 in 1884. The Memphis Historical Society succeeded Camp 28 in 1900, which expanded its scope from the history of the city of Memphis to the history of the entirety of West Tennessee in 1935, with Dr. Marshall Wingfield becoming the first President of the West Tennessee Historical Society. The first edition of the society's annual, peer-reviewed journal, the ''West Tennessee Historical Society Papers'', was published in 1947, and the society incorporated in 1950. In 1974, the society's archive of historic documents and books relating to West Tennessee history was moved from the

Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium The Museum of Science & History - Pink Palace in Memphis, Tennessee, serves as the Mid-South's major science and historical museum and features exhibits ranging from archeology to chemistry. Over 240,000 people visit the museum each year.

to the Special Collections Department of the

. The society's role in protecting landmark structures in West Tennessee began in 1989, when it played a critical role in saving the historic John Gray House in

Germantown Germantown or German Town may refer to: Places Australia * Germantown, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region United States * Germantown, California, the former name of Artois, a census-designated place in Glenn County * Ge ...

from demolition. The society also intervened to save the

Mississippi River Museum The Mississippi River Museum is a museum located on Mud Island, in Memphis, Tennessee. History The museum opened in 1982 with the goal of "preserv ngand promot ngthe natural and cultural history of the Lower Mississippi River Valley". In 1990 ...

Mud Island Mud Island is a small peninsula located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is bordered by the Mississippi River to the west and the Wolf River and Harbor Town to the east. Mud Island River Park is located within the Memphis city limits, 1.2 miles fr ...

in 1990.

Services

In addition to its annual journal, the ''West Tennessee Historical Society Papers'', the society has also been involved in the publication of several books about West Tennessee history. The society also puts out a monthly newsletter. The society annually hands out an award to "an individual or organization for outstanding contribution to est Tennesseehistory." The society maintains a list of historical markers of Shelby County.

References

{{Southern U.S. historical societies History museums in Tennessee Historical societies in Tennessee Non-profit organizations based in Tennessee Organizations based in Memphis, Tennessee Organizations established in 1935