Mark R. Cheathem Bobby Fischer, Chess, Early Republic, Paul Morphy

Paul Morphy: Antebellum Chess Champion

One day, when I have the time and the money to do the research, I would like to write a biography of Paul Morphy (1837-1884), the greatest American chess player of the nineteenth century. He was the Bobby Fischer of his era, a natural talent without the extreme paranoia and anti-Semitic rants. Born in New … Continue reading Paul Morphy: Antebellum Chess Champion

Mark R. Cheathem Civil War, Old South, Slavery, The Hermitage

Exhibit A: Why Studying History Is Important

Ed. note: In yesterday's blog post, Michael Lynch has reaction to the online comments about my TSLA opinion piece. I usually ignore the anonymous online comments left on websites, but Monday's Tennessean opinion piece on slavery at The Hermitage offers an illustration of why reading and studying history is so important. Sample comments (as originally … Continue reading Exhibit A: Why Studying History Is Important

Mark R. Cheathem Andrew Jackson Donelson, Doug Spence, Robert Beeler Satterfield

Other Perspectives on Andrew Jackson Donelson

Fellow Tennessee blogger and historical writer Kevin McCann posted a question on the Jacksonian America Facebook page about another Andrew J. Donelson biography. I thought I would answer him here for other interested readers. The only other published Donelson biography is Robert Beeler Satterfield's Andrew Jackson Donelson: Jackson's Confidant and Political Heir. While at Vanderbilt, … Continue reading Other Perspectives on Andrew Jackson Donelson

Mark R. Cheathem Tennessee, Tennessee history

Editorial on TSLA Budget Cuts in Today’s Tennessean

The Nashville Tennessean published the editorial that I submitted early in the week. I find it fascinating that comments on the newspaper website are already critical of my stance. I never thought that maintaining public access to state historical resources was that controversial, but, apparently, I was wrong. Again, the taxpayer is being asked to fund … Continue reading Editorial on TSLA Budget Cuts in Today’s Tennessean

Mark R. Cheathem Tennessee Conference of Historians, Tennessee history

2011 Tennessee Conference of Historians

Tennessee Conference of Historians Annual Meeting Call for Papers and Panels -------------------------- The Tennessee Conference of Historians gathers for its 2011 meeting Thursday, September 1 through Saturday, September 3, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The meeting offers the historians of Tennessee an opportunity to meet and to share current research and to discuss issues of interest. The … Continue reading 2011 Tennessee Conference of Historians

Mark R. Cheathem Tennessee, Tennessee history

Update on TSLA Budget Cuts

At the recommendation of Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Librarian Chuck Sherrill has replied to an e-mail that I sent him summarizing my arguments in this blog post. His e-mail hewed closely to what Gordon Belt posted on Monday, but with some additional information. First, Sherrill noted that TSLA will have a Tu.-Sat. 8:00-4:30 schedule that will … Continue reading Update on TSLA Budget Cuts

Mark R. Cheathem Tennessee, Tennessee history

Budget Cuts Affecting Tennessee History

Update: Gordon Belt has added some additional perspective and provided State Librarian Chuck Sherrill's official response to questions about the cuts. Upcoming budget cuts will affect those interested in studying Tennessee history. The budget proposed by Governor Bill Haslam recommends the cutting of seven full-time positions at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) [1]. … Continue reading Budget Cuts Affecting Tennessee History

Mark R. Cheathem Andrew Jackson Donelson, Historical methods, Writing advice

Responding to Criticism of Your Scholarship

I hate to be criticized. As an historian, it's not fun to be told that your interpretation of historical evidence is wrong or lacking. The immediate reaction that I have is a desire to dig through my research files and prove the critic wrong. Honestly, though, once I've taken a few moments (or days), I … Continue reading Responding to Criticism of Your Scholarship

Mark R. Cheathem Andrew Jackson, The Hermitage

The Hermitage: A Near Miss

I was very surprised to see a local news report last week that The Hermitage has been in serious financial trouble over the past year. The economic recession, combined with the Middle Tennessee flooding of last May, not only cut into attendance but also destroyed the climate control system used to keep the house and its … Continue reading The Hermitage: A Near Miss

Mark R. Cheathem Early Republic, John C. Calhoun, Nullification, W. Kirk Wood

Nullification, the South, and Historiography

UPDATE: Coincidentally, Andy Hall at Dead Confederates also posted about Clyde Wilson and the Abbeville Institute yesterday. As I was writing the chapter on the 1832-33 nullification crisis recently, I came across a reminder that I had written to myself to read W. Kirk Wood's article, "In Defense of the Republic: John C. Calhoun and State … Continue reading Nullification, the South, and Historiography