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Shelby County, Tennessee: A Partial Bibliography

(Updated 06/10/09 by Rose-Anne Cunningham)

Bibliography information has been gleaned from community and university library databases. Your local library may be able to request a document on interlibrary loan.

| County & Community Histories | Ethnic Roots | Education / Schools | Historical Sites | Civil War Era |
| Family Histories | Churches |Government Records | Census Records |
| Vital Records - General / Births / Marriages / Deaths | Funeral Homes & Cemetery Records |
| Lawyers, Merchants, Physicians & Others | Miscellaneous |

County & Community Histories:

Baer, Emily Angel. Breaking patterns, creating patterns : images of the Pinch in Memphis, Tennessee, 1900-1948 . Emily Angel Baer, 1992.

Battersby, William John. The Christian Brothers in Memphis; a chronicle of one hundred years, 1871-1971, by W. J. Battersby. [Memphis, Christian Brothers College, 1971]

Beyond the parkways [videorecording] / the Mid-South Public Communications Foundation.. Memphis, Tenn. : WKNO, c2002.

Bickford, W. A. Memphis directory, 1834-1838 / [compiled by W.A. Bickford] Memphis? : Bickford?, 19--?]

Biles, Roger. Memphis in the Great Depression. Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, c1986.

Bishop, Andrew N. Memphis historical memorials / compiled ... by Andrew N. Bishop. Memphis, Tenn. : A.N. Bishop, 1981.

Blank, Linda Cornish. The evolution of Beale Street / Linda Cornish Blank. 1990.

Brown, James. Early reminiscences of Memphis and West Tennessee. [Memphis, Tenn: 1875].

Burrow, Rachel Herring Kennon. Arlington: a Short Historical Writing of the Town. Memphis, Tennessee: E.H. Clarke and Brother, 1962.

Busby, William W. Little stories of yesteryear about Memphis and surrounding area / by William W. Busby ; aided and abetted by Paul R. Coppock... [et al.]. [Memphis : Busby, 1974?]

Busby, William W. Memphis at the turn of the century with a "Pinch" flavor : 18 previously unpublished stories / by W.W. Busby ; edited and published by William F. Currotto -- Pinch Association. Memphis, Tenn. : Pinch Association, 1993.

Capers, Gerald Mortimer, The biography of a river town; Memphis: its heroic age. [New Orleans], 1966.

Cargill, Bernice Taylor and Brenda Bethea Connelly, editors. Settlers of Shelby County, Tennessee and adjoining counties . Memphis, TN : Descendants of Early Settlers of Shelby County, Tenn., c1989.

Chamberlin, Shirley Sigler. A history of Cuba, Tennessee : with family accounts and genealogy / by Shirley Sigler Chamberlin. Millington, Tenn. : S.S. Chamberlin, c1984.

Commercial appeal. City of Memphis illustrated. With portraits of the mayors of this enterprising city. Memphis, Memphis appeal co., 1888.

Commercial appeal. Commercial appeal, Memphis; centennial ed., January 1, 1940. [Memphis, Commercial appeal] 1940.

Commercial appeal. Commercial appeal, Memphis, southern prosperity ed., December 30, 1913. [Memphis, Commercial appeal, 1913?]

Commercial appeal. Memphis, 1819-1969; a special sesquicentennial supplement. Edited by James Killpatrick. Memphis, Tenn., 1969.

Commercial appeal. The Memphis appeal; souvenir edition, December, 1890. Fiftieth anniversary, 1840-1890. [Memphis] 1890.

Commercial appeal. Pages from the past : fifty famous front pages from 1863 to 1978 / The Commercial appeal. [Memphis] : Commercial appeal, [1978]

Commercial appeal. Pages from the past : sixty famous front pages from 1863 to 1984 / The Commercial appeal. [Memphis] : Commercial appeal, [1984]

Coppock, Paul. Memphis sketches . [Memphis] : Friends of Memphis and Shelby County Libraries, [c1976]

Coppock, Paul. Mid South memoirs (The Commercial appeal) / by Paul R. Coppock ; compiled by Joan Cannon. [Memphis : s.n.] , 1983.

Coppock, Paul. Paul R. Coppock's Mid-South / edited by Helen M. Coppock and Charles W. Crawford. Memphis : West Tennessee Historical Society, c1985-c1994.

Currotto, William F. A great island called Mud : a brief history of Mud Island by newspapers accounts from the Press-Scimitar and the Commericial appeal from 1913-1968. Memphis, Tenn. : Patchwork Books, 1993.

Currotto, William F. Clarence Saunders : the man who put the "super" in supermarket / compiled by William F. Currotto. Memphis, TN : W.F. Currotto, [1998?]

Currotto, William F. The Pinch, Market Square, Brinkley Park neighborhood story and a guide map of historical places . Memphis, Tenn. : Pinch Association, [1993?]

Currotto, William F. Tracking the Wolf : one hundred and seventeen miles, mostly from an armchair ; adventures of a river, 1828-1997 ; The Sultana / by William F. Currotto. Memphis, TN : W.F. Currotto, [2000?]

Curry, James H. Memphis life during the war years 1916-1918 / James H. Curry. [Memphis, Tenn. : J.H. Curry, [19--].

Daniel, Jack. Southern Railway, from Stevenson to Memphis : a history of the Memphis Division, Southern Railway System : including a scrapbook, seniority lists, depots, locomotive roster & stories / edited by Jack Daniel. Germantown, Tenn. : Grandmother Earth Creations, c1996.

Davis, James D. History of Memphis. The history of the city of Memphis, being a compilation of the most important documents and historical events connected with the purchase of its territory, laying off of the city and early settlement. Also, the "Old times papers," being a series of reminiscences and local stories written by the author, and published ... over the signature of "Old Times" ... Memphis, Tenn., Hite, Crumpton & Kelly, 1873.

The Delta review. Memphis anniversary issue, 1819-1969. Memphis, Tenn., W.K. Self, 1969.

Dougan, John. Binding the free : apprentice indentures in Shelby County, Tennessee, 1829-1858 / by John Dougan. Memphis, Tenn. : J. Dougan, 1994.

Douglass, a community of the people, by the people, for the people : expo-'77 history and directory. [Memphis? : s.n., 1977?]

Egerton, John. Visions of Utopia. Nashoba, Rugby, Ruskin, and the "New Communities" in Tennessee's Past. Knoxville, Tenn.: The University of Tennessee Press (published in cooperation with The Tennessee Historical Commission). [1988]

Farrow, Kathryn (1975). History of White Haven. Memphis, TN: No Publisher Given, 1975.
(Reprint edition of Kathryn Farrow's tome on White Haven, a suburb of Memphis, which appeared as the Commencement Edition. Illustrations from the White Haven School News. Ms Farrow was a beloved teacher at the high school.)

Findlay, Stephen Morrison. The Memphis Navy Yard, 1845-1854 / by Stephen Morrison Findlay. Memphis : Memphis State University, 1980

Gambill, Louise. Memphis, in the heart of the Mid South : a story of progress made possible by taxes. Memphis, Tenn., E. H. Clarke & bro., 1935.

Gambill, Louise. Territorial expansion, City of Memphis, 1826 - 1929 : map : growing with the years. Memphis, Tenn.: E.H. Clarke & Bro., 1936.
(Map taken from the book: Memphis, in the heart of the Mid South)

Greater Memphis, the hub of the South. Montgomery, Ala. : North & South, 1901.

Hammond, Tom. Showdown in Memphis : an epic tale of the forties. Dallas : Retrospective Productions, c1997.

Harkins, John E. Metropolis of the American Nile : an illustrated history of Memphis and Shelby County / by John E. Harkins ; edited by Charles W. Crawford ; with business histories by Berkley Kalin. Woodland Hills, Calif. : Windsor Publications, c1982.

Hensley, Andrew A. Memphis: an illustrated review of its commercial progress and importance. January, 1886. Memphis: Published by Enterprise Pub. Co.,1886.

Hammond, Tom. Showdown in Memphis : an epic tale of the forties. Dallas : Retrospective Productions, c1997.

Howard, Memucan Hunt . Recollections of Tennessee; written at the request of Governor James D. Porter in years 1883 and 1885. Bolivar, Tennessee, 1938.

Jemison, Peggy B. Greenlaw rediscovered : a history / by Peggy Boyce Jemison, with Virginia Dunaway and Ray Ann Kremer. Memphis : Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, 1979.

Jemison, Peggy B. Cherokee : a history of change / by Peggy B. Jemison ; assisted by Pat Faudree, Ray Ann Kremer and Virginia Dunaway. [Memphis : Jemison, 1978]

Jemison, Peggy B. Vollintine-Evergreen, a diverse community : a history / by Peggy Boyce Jemison, with Virginia Dunaway and Ray Ann Kremer. Memphis : Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, 1980.

Jenkins, Irene B. Old roads of Memphis. [n.p., 191-]

Jones, James Boyd. A history of the Memphis Volunteer Fire Department, 1848-1860. University, Miss. : Jones, 1978

Jones, O. Alan. History of Kerrville, Tennessee / edited by O. Alan Jones. Piketon, OH : O.A. Jones, 1993.

Jorgensen, Lisa Katherine. Binghamton, east of the park : a history of Binghamton, Tennessee / by Lisa Katherine Jorgensen. Memphis, Tenn. : L.K. Jorgensen, 1984.

Keating, John McLeod. History of the city of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent citizens. Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & co., 1888.

Lanier, Robert A. Memphis in the twenties : the second term of Mayor Rowlett Paine, 1924-1928 / by Robert A. Lanier. Memphis : Zenda Press, 1979.

Lindsay, Bertha Belle. The early development of Memphis, Tennessee. [Madison] University of Wisconsin, 1928.

Lyle, Mary Willett. Early settlements of Memphis, recollections of Mary Willett Lyle. [s.l.] [s.n.] 1917.

Magness, Perre. Past times : stories of early Memphis / Perre Magness. Memphis, Tenn. : Parkway Press LLC, c1994.

Malone, James H.. The Chickasaw Nation: A Short Sketch of A Noble People. Louisville: John P. Morton & Co. 1922.
(Enlarging on a abbreviated work under the same title which had been published in 1919 as a Souvenir of the Memphis Centenary Celebration. Fold-out map at rear. Malone was a Memphis attorney and historian who served as mayor 1905-1910.)

Malone, James Henry. The Pigeon Roost road. [s.l., s.n., 1928]

Marshall, Sarah. Annesdale Park, Annesdale-Snowden, and Evergreen : the founding and development of Memphis suburbs : 1880-1910 . [Memphis, Tenn. : 1999].

Marvel, Robin A. Cooper-Young on a shoestring & other essays / by Robin A. Marvel ; illustrations by Jeanne Seagle. [Memphis, Tenn.] : R.A. Marvel, c1995.

McCorkle, Anna Leigh. Tales of old Whitehaven. Jackson, Tenn., McCowat-Mercer Press, 1967.

McIlwaine, Shields. Memphis down in Dixie. New York, E.P. Dutton , 1948.

Meeks, Ann McDonald. Whitehaven and Levi : the evolution of rural communities in Southwest Shelby County, 1819-1970. Memphis, Tenn. : A.M. Meeks, 1984.

Memphis Commission Government. Memphis : City of Memphis. [1912]

Memphis and Shelby County Centennial Celebration. The blossoming of the century plant: Memphis centennial celebration, May nineteenth to twenty-fourth, 1819-1919. [Memphis, Hood printing co., c1919].

Memphis Street Railway Company. Memphis Street Railway Co., 1905-1930 microform Memphis, Tenn. : Memphis Street Railway Co., 1905-1930.

Memphis (Tenn.). Fire Dept. History of the Memphis fire department, 1830-1900. Published in the interest of the Fire and relief association. Memphis, Press of S.C. Toof & co., 1900.

Mehrling, John C. The development of Memphis as a railroad center, 1831-1861. John C. Mehrling. 1965.

Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. A history of the Cooper Young neighborhood / [Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association ; Peggy B. Jemison, assisted by Vida Andersen, Bettie Shenk and Virginia Dunaway]. [Memphis : The Association, 1977?]

Miller, William D. Memphis During the Progressive Era 1900-1917. Memphis State University Press, 1957.

Millington Starr. Tracks to the Past: A Pictoral History of Millington, North Shelby Coutny and South Tipton County Tennessee. Millington Star, 1977.

Morrison, Andrew. Memphis, Tenn. The Bluff City: Mistress of the Valley of the "Lower River". St. Louis and Memphis: Geo. W. Engelhardt, 1892..

Old folks' historical record. A monthly, devoted to the collection and perpetuation of historical facts and incidents pertaining to Shelby county, West Tennessee, and the southwest; also to agriculture, commerce, science, the arts, and literature. v.1 (no. 1-12); Oct. 1874-Sept. 1875. Memphis, R.C. Hite, 1875.

Phillips, Virginia. Rowlett Paine's first term as mayor of Memphis, 1920-1924. [Memphis?] 1958.

Pinch reunion videorecording / G. S. Currotto, organizer. [Memphis, Tenn.] : Baldridge Studios, 1991.

Recollections of the "Pinch" [videorecording] / Joseph Padawer, narrator and videographer. [Memphis, Tenn.] : Joseph Padawer, [2003?].

Renshaw, Paul. Memphis; the capital of the Mississippi Valley. [Memphis, Chamber of Commerce, 1922?]

Roberson, Mabel Daugherty. The history of Memphis, Tennessee, 1861-1865. Thesis(M.A.)--University of Mississippi, 1934.

Robertson, Rebecca. City on the bluff : history and heritage of Memphis / by Rebecca L. Robertson. Memphis : St. Luke's Press, c1987.

Roper, James. The founding of Memphis, 1818-1820. [Memphis] Memphis Sesquicentennial, inc. [1970].

Rowland, Guy. History of Sea Isle Park neighborhood / prepared by Guy and Kay Rowland ; and History of Sea Isle Park Neighborhood Association / prepared by Pat Merrill. Memphis, Tenn. :[ s.n.], ; 1986.

The Shelby County Centennial Souvenir : issued by direction of the Shelby County Centennial Committee. Fort Wayne, Ind. : Wayne Publishing Co., [1919?].

Shelby County (Tenn.). County Court. Agricultural Committee. Shelby County, Tennessee, "the heart of the South"; facts about agriculture, industry, health, roads, education and other desirable living conditions. Memphis, 1927.

Smith, Jonathan Kennon. A genealogical miscellanea from the antebellum Memphis, Tennessee Appeal / by Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith. [Jackson, Tenn.] : J.K.T. Smith, c1998.

Smith, Jonathan Kennon. Genealogical nuggets from some of the antebellum newspapers of Memphis and Randolph, Tennessee newspapers / by Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith. [Memphis, Tenn.] : J.K.T. Smith, c1998.

Strub, Denise. Stories behind the street names of Nashville and Memphis. Chicago : Bonus Books, c1993.

Swayne, John T. "Old folks at home." Anniversary addresses, by Hon. J.T. Swayne, Sept. 11, 1873, and Col. W.B. Waldran, Sept. 12, 1872. Memphis, Tennessee, Hite, Crumpton & Kelly, 1873.

Tennessee settlers and their descendants : genealogical data about some of the men and women who helped shape the Volunteer State. Memphis, TN (P.O. Box 111249, Memphis 38111-1249) : Tennessee Genealogical Society, c1994.

Tilly, Bette Baird. A visit to Buntyn / by Bette B. Tilly, with Pat Faudree and Bettie Shenk. Memphis : Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, 1979.

Tilly, Bette B. Evergreen neighborhood history : then and now. [Memphis, Tenn. : Memphis Heritage, Inc.], 2002.

Tilly, Bette B. Yesterday's Evergreen today's Mid-Memphis : a history / by Bette B. Tilly with Pat Faudree. Memphis, : Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, 1980.

Tilly, Bette B. Rozelle-Annesdale : a community with a past--and a future?. [Memphis? : Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, 1978]

Universal Life Insurance Company. Universal Life Insurance Company salutes Douglas, Hyde Park and Hollywood. Memphis : The Company, [1956?]

Uselton, Darrell B. Irish Immigration and Settlement in Memphis, Tennessee: 1820s-1860s. West Tennessee Historical Society Papers ,50 (Dec. 1996), 115-29. (Available here: http://register.shelby.tn.us/wths/ )

Vance, Calvin F. Address of Calvin F. Vance on the past and future of Memphis. Memphis, Tenn., S.C. Toof & co., 1882.

Walk, Joe. Highland Heights and Memphis : some historicam memories. [Memphis, Tenn.] : J. Walk, 2000.

Walk, Joe. More history of Highland Heights. [Memphis, Tenn.] : J. Walk, 1999.

Walk, Joe. History of Highland Heights. [Memphis, Tenn.] : J. Walk, 1994.

Walk, Joe. Memphis and Shelby County government buildings : county courthouses, jails and workhouses, city halls ; the early yhears: 1820 to 1880. [Memphis, Tenn.]: J. Walk, 1996.

Walk, Joe. Supplement to the histories of Treadwell School and Highland Heights, now including High Point Terrace / by Joe Walk. [Memphis, Tenn.] : J. Walk, 1998.

Waschka, Ronald William. Transportation at Memphis before the Civil War . Ronald William Waschka. 1970.

Westside Community Education Council. West Frayser history / [Westside Community Education Council]. [Memphis : The Council, 1982?]

White, Virginia Fay. A town on the threshold of the South and West, a survey of Memphis, Tennessee, prior to 1860. [S.l. : s.n.] 1941.

Williams, Edward F. Early Memphis and its river rivals, by Edward F. Williams. Memphis, Historical Hiking Trails [1968].

Williams, Joseph R. The builders of the pyramid; the story of Shelby County: its resources and developments. Written for the Shelby County centennial board by Jospeh R. Williams. Memphis, De Garis printing company, 1897.

Williamson, James and Carl Awsumb. The Central Gardens handbook. Memphis : Central Gardens Association, c1981.

Witherington, Albert Sidney. The history of the Wolf River : diamond in the rough. [Germantown, Tenn.] : A.S. Witherington, c1997.

Wrenn, Lynette Boney. The Taxing District of Shelby County : a political and administrative history of Memphis, Tennessee, 1879-1893 . Memphis : Memphis State University, 1983.

Young, John Preston. De Soto at Chickasaw Bluffs / by J. P. Young. [S.l.] : Mississippi Historical Society, 1918.

Young, John Preston. Early beginnings of Memphis. [S.l., s.n.] [1916]

Young, J.P. (Editor) (1912). Standard History of Memphis, Tennessee, From a Study of the Original Soources. Memphis: West Tennessee Historical Society, 1974. Second edition.
( reprinting the essential and scarce history first published in 1912. Included is an 1827 Plan of Memphis and portraits of Hernando DeSoto and 28 others prominent in the city's early history, including Andrew Jackson, John Overton, James Winchester, and Nathan Bedford Forrest)

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