The Tennessee State Library (TSLA) was founded in 1854 in the old Davidson County courthouse but spent most of the next one hundred years in the State Capitol. In 1953, the Tennessee State Library and Archives building, directly across from the capitol, was formally opened. The building was constructed as a memorial to the men and women of Tennessee who served in World War II. In 2003, the building was listed on the National and Tennessee Registers of Historic Places.
TSLA’s Mandate
The Tennessee State Library and Archives is mandated by the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA 10-1-104) to provide for “the collection and preservation of archival material and materials of historical, documentary and reference value, and such literary works or printed matter as may be considered by the division to be of special interest to the citizenship of Tennessee.”
TSLA’s Mission
The Tennessee State Library and Archives serves Tennessee government and all its citizens by acquiring, organizing, preserving and making accessible public and historical records and other resources; by providing statewide consultation services in support of public libraries and local archives; and by offering alternative formats for reading for those Tennesseans unable to use standard print material.
The Exhibits Committee of the Tennessee State Library and Archives is responsible for developing exhibits that are in keeping with TSLA’s mandate and mission. Exhibits are an important part of educational outreach and are designed to engage visitors with items from TSLA’s vast collections. The Exhibits Committee works diligently to create exhibits that are engaging, informative and have a human touch. All exhibits are free and open to the public.
Hours and Holidays
The Tennessee State Library and Archives is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00am - 6:00pm CST, excluding state and federal holidays.
TSLA will be closed on the following holidays:
New Years
Martin Luther King Day
President's Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day**
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
** The Governor may, at his discretion, substitute the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November for the Columbus Day holiday.
Contact Information
For more information about exhibits at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, please contact the Exhibits Committee Chairman:
Lori Lockhart, M.A.Ed.
Archival Technical Services
Current Exhibits
Collection Highlights from the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA)
The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) in Nashville opened a new exhibit, Collection Highlights from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, opened on April 1, 2008, at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Visitors’ Center on 600 James Robertson Parkway. This small exhibit showcases some of the remarkable holdings of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, including rare prints of Native Americans, early photographs of the Ryman Auditorium, and a number of Civil War photographs.
For more information about locating this venue, please go to: <http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Bicentennial/> or call (615) 741-5280. For more information about the Tennessee State Library and Archives, please visit our website at: <http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/> or call our Public Services Department at (615) 741-2764.
This exhibit is free and open to the public. Limited street parking is available for visitors near the Bicentennial Mall. For further information about this exhibit, please contact Gwynn Thayer at 615-253-3469.
“Remember the Ladies!” -Women Struggle for an Equal Voice
August 11, 2008 - January 30, 2009
On August 11, 2008, you are cordially invited to an exhibit that will have you wearing roses. By the way, are you yellow or red? Mark your calendars for the debut of “Remember the Ladies!”: Women Struggle for an Equal Voice, presented by the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Tennessee played a pivotal role in gaining women the right to vote and this exhibit will show you how we became the “Perfect 36.”
In a letter, dated March 31, 1776, to her husband, President John Adams, Abigail Adams declares that if particular care is not paid to the ladies, they would be determined to form a rebellion and “will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” From the very beginning, Tennesseans have been at the forefront of that rebellion and supported the state’s well deserved nickname, “The Volunteer State.” The exhibit will introduce you to Tennesseans who “volunteered” their time and did what they could for the cause of suffrage. It will also delve into the role that Tennessee played in gaining women the right to vote on a national level and discuss the place Tennessee landmarks, like the Hermitage Hotel, played in the suffrage and anti-suffrage movements. So, come join us at the exhibit and see how Tennessee’s “volunteers” won it.
This exhibit will run through January 29, 2009. The Tennessee State Library and Archives is located downtown at 403 7th Avenue North, across from the State Capitol. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Limited street parking is available for visitors near the archives building.
