American History Books

The Vietnam War era (1961-1975), one of our country's most turbulent periods, was also a time of change and social evolution. Seeded in the aftermath of World War II, the nation enjoyed a remarkable economic boom. Knoxville and East Tennessee stood witness to the transformation of American society and the problems that came with the new success. From the first recognized combat casualty of the Vietnam War to the evacuation of Saigon, Knoxvillians were there, and their stories of sacrifice and service earned little mention or were forgotten in historical texts. At home, urban decay gained a grip on Knoxville's once vibrant downtown, and protests were not an uncommon sight on the evening news, but there was progress too. This volume documents the start of a new beginning for Knoxville as the city tried to hold onto its traditional Appalachian values and move into a new era.

Cleveland's rich history includes serving as the last Cherokee Indian capital in the East and as the headquarters for eight Pentecostal denominations. The images in Postcard History Series: Cleveland depict the residences, businesses, churches, motels, and schools of the area. Most of the cards have been carefully selected from Mitchell T. Kinder's collection, the largest known postcard accumulation featuring Cleveland and Bradley County, totaling over 500 cards.

From the beginning, East Tennessee State University has placed great emphasis on creating a football program that would give their studentathletes
training unlike any other for sportsmanship, leadership, and academic excellence. During its 80 years, the football program grew from barely fielding enough able-bodied students to going undefeated and winning its first bowl game. Although the program was discontinued after the 2003 season, there is a renewed commitment by the university to restore the program and its strong traditions with the help of the community and groups like the Buc Football and Friends Foundation.

The fertile agricultural lands and majestic Cumberland Mountain wilderness that constitute Warren County belonged to the Cherokee Indians until the signing of the Third Treaty of Tellico on October 25, 1805, which officially opened up the region to pioneer settlers. Records show that a hunting party of white explorers made its way into the area from North Carolina and Virginia in 1769, and there is evidence that some families had settled in the territory as early as 1800. One of the earliest land grants is dated 1785 and was issued to Samson Collins in the vicinity of Rock Island. Warren County was officially established on November 26, 1807, by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly when the recently established county of White was divided. Within a decade, the population numbered almost 20,000. The authors present this book in celebration of Warren County's bicentennial in 2007, with its population currently numbering well over 40,000.