John M. Allen Papers Regarding East Tennessee University
These papers document John M. Allen's work at East Tennessee University in the late 1870s. They include a marble notebook of chemistry notes, legal-sized pages bearing history notes tied with a ribbon, individual assignments, awards, and a letter to Isabella (Boyd) Allen from a former classmate.
The chemistry notes date from Allen's sophomore and junior years and include the lecture's number and date. The history notes begin on January 12, 1877 and end with notes about the application of steam to manufactoral industry. Writing assignments include a description of a trip to the Centennial in Philadelphia (December 4, 1876), a description of College Hill (October 2, 1876), and a survey sketch of field 3A (December 31, 1877). Allen's awards include a testimonial ranking him third of 28 (June 14, 1876), an appointment as Lieutenant in the Corps of Cadets of East Tennessee University (September 12, 1878), and a certificate of distinction for his classes during the school year 1879-1880 (March 10, 1881) signed by president Thomas W. Humes and Registrar S. H. Lockett. The letter to Isabella (Boyd) Allen is from George W. Ochs (Oakes) regarding a photo of the class that she had published in the newspaper on October 17. It also shares many details of Ochs' life since attending East Tennessee University with John Allen.
Dates
- 1876 December 4-1929 October 21
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 oversize folder)
Abstract
These papers document John M. Allen's work at East Tennessee University in the late 1870s. They include a marble notebook of chemistry notes, legal-sized pages bearing history notes tied with a ribbon, individual assignments, awards, and a letter to Isabella (Boyd) Allen from a former classmate.
Biographical/Historical Note
John Mebane Allen was born on July 18, 1857 in St. Francis County, Arkansas, to John Abijah and Celia (Mebane) Allen. He attended East Tennessee University from 1874 to 1878 and married Isabella (Cinnie) Kennedy Boyd (1860-1936) on October 6, 1881. Their children were Samuel Boyd (1883-1932), John Mebane (1886-1939), Isabel (Allen) Kipp (1889-), Cecelia (Allen) Smith (1892-), Cynthia M. (Allen) Hill (1897-1970), Richard Kendall (1899-1913), and Elizabeth Caswell (Allen) Lockwood (1903-). John Allen went into the mercantile business and served as alderman of Mountain View, Tennessee, as trustee of the Tennessee Deaf and Dumb School, as president of the Knoxville YMCA, and as elder of First Presbyterian Church (from 1891). He also originated the John M. Allen medal for excellence in mathematics, which the University of Tennessee has awarded since 1890. Allen died on March 17, 1917 while visiting his sister in Florida.
Arrangement
This collection consists of two folders.
Acquisition Note
Mrs. Elizabeth Allen Lockwood donated these papers to Special Collections.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository