Title: J. Fain Anderson Letter

Date/Date Range :   1905 May 6

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

The J. Fain Anderson Letter, 1905, was written to author and historian Gentry R. McGee about the schoolbook A History of Tennessee by McGee and about the possibility of developing a history of Sullivan County.

Call number: MS-2333

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

The Special Collections Library purchased this collection in June of 2002.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], J. Fain Anderson Letter, MS-2333. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection consists of a single folder.

John Fain Anderson was born in Sullivan County, TN, in 1844 to Samuel Anderson and Hannah Fain Anderson. During the Civil War, he served as a messenger boy for the Union in Knoxville and Loudon, TN. Until retirement in 1881 to run a farm, Anderson operated a mercantile business in Washington County, TN. As a local historian, he wrote several articles on East Tennessee history for the Knoxville Tribune and other newspapers and was a member of the East Tennessee Historical Society. Anderson died in 1929.

Gentry R. McGee (1840-1922) worked as a school history teacher, principal, and superintendent with his wife Sallie, a schoolmistress. Also, he was the founder and first principal of the Peabody High School in 1918 and the writer of the schoolbook A History of Tennessee: From 1663-1900.

The J. Fain Anderson Letter, 1905, was written to author and historian Gentry R. McGee about his book A History of Tennessee and about the history of Sullivan County. He discusses the possibility of writing about the history of Sullivan County, TN, and how important that would be to the entire history of Tennessee. He also references mentions of other Andersons, related to him, "By Ramsy."

• Anderson, John Fain, 1844-1929.
• McGee, Gentry R., 1840-1922.
• Sullivan County (Tenn.) -- History.