By: John L. Kiener, General Sessions Judge, Washington County
(This article is compiled from the original information)
Have you ever had a problem finding a document in another Tennessee county? To whom do you write for information?
Linda M. Williams, Knox County Records Manager, has compiled a very useful list of individuals who can be contacted for information concerning the records of many Tennessee counties The list will follow in several parts.
If you need to contact Linda, her address is 400 West Main Ave., Suite 615, City-County Bldg., Knoxville, TN 37902; telephone: 615-521-2687. The Knox County Department of Records Management is located at 300 West Main Ave., Room 135, Knox County Courthouse, Knoxville, TN 37902.
An individual list of county records information sources for the state of Tennessee is as follows:
Anderson County – Mary Sue Harris, County Historian, Rt. 2, Clinton, TN 37716, phone 615-457-5509; and Joel Meredith, Register of Deeds, Anderson County Courthouse, Clinton, TN 37716, phone 615-457-5400 ext. 235.
Bedford County – Ms Ann O. Clanton, County Clerk, Bedford County Courthouse, Shelbyville, TN 37160, phone 615-684-1921.
Benton County – Gordon Pafford, County Clerk, P.O. Box 6, Camden, TN 38820, phone 901-584-6053.
Bledsoe County – Ed Frazier, County Executive, P.O. Box 149, Pikeville, TN 37367, phone 615-447-6855; and Mickey Harwood, Chairman, County commission, County Government, Rt. 2, Pikeville, TN 37367, phone 615-447-2074.
Blount County – Howard Loveday, Register of Deeds, Blount County Courthouse, 301 Court St., Maryville, TN 37801-4987, phone 615-982-5741 , FAX 977-1276; and Inez Burns, County Historian, 308 Brannon Drive, Maryville, TN 37801, phone 615-983-0050.
Bradley County – Roy G. Lillard, Chairman, Archives Committee, Bradley County, 2800 Westdell lane N.W., Cleveland, TN 37312, phone 615-479-4652; and Ralph B. Mitchell, Archives Administrator, Bradley County, 2546 Pleasant Grove Rd., S.W., Cleveland, TN 37311, phone 615-472-1454.
Campbell County – Don L. Nance, County Clerk, P.O. Box 13, Jacksboro, TN 37757, phone 615-562-4985 or 615-424-8809.
Cannon County – Bobby Smith, Cannon County Courthouse, Woodbury, TN 37190, phone 615-563-4278.
Carroll County – Mary Jane Ezell, Purchasing Agent, County Executive, Ct. Sq., Huntington, TN 38344, phone 901-986-3762; and Wanda Compton, County Executive Ct., Sq., Huntington, TN 38344, phone 901-986-3762.
Carter County – Lou Eller, Deputy Clerk, County Clerk’s Office, Courthouse Building, Elizabethton, TN 37643, phone 615-542-1815; and Suzi Wallace, Deputy Clerk, County Clerk’s Office, Courthouse Bldg., Elizabethton, TN 37643, phone 615-542-1814.
Cheatham County – James H. Hallums, County Historian, 106 Smith St., Ashland City, TN 37015, phone 615-792-4587; and Patsy L. Balthrop, County Clerk, 100 Public Sq., Ashland City, TN 37015, phone 615-792-5179.
Chester County – Johnny W. Garner, County Clerk, Box 205, Henderson, TN 38340, phone 901-989-2233; and Don Ellis, Register of Deeds, Courthouse, Henderson, TN 38340, phone 901-989-4991.
Claiborne County – Director, Claiborne County Historical Society, P.O. Box 32, Tazewell, TN 37879, phone 615-626-3283.
Clay County – L. Mayfield Brown, School Superintendent, Brown St., Celina, TN 38551, phone 615-243-3310; and Coell Hickman, Clay County Executive, Courthouse, Public Square, Celina, TN 38551, phone 615-243-2161.
Cocke County – Eddie Walker III, County Historian, 203 Iris St., Newport, TN 37821, phone 615-623-2023; and Dan Boley, County Clerk, Courthouse, Main Ave., Newport, TN 37821, phone 615-623-6176.
Coffee County – James Wilhelm, County Executive, 300 Hillsboro Hwy., Manchester, TN 37355, phone 615-723-5110; and Mrs. Betty M. Majors, 111 Oak Dr., Tullahoma, TN 37388, phone 615-455-4098.
Crockett County – Mrs. Annie Laurie James, County Historian, Rt. 1, Humboldt, TN 38343, phone 901-784-1731 or 901-784-1449; and Jim Jerman, County Executive, Crockett County Courthouse, Alamo, TN 38001, phone 901-696-5460.
Cumberland County – Pete Stubbs, Cumberland County Clerk, Courthouse, Box 2, Crossville, TN 3855, phone 615-484-6442, FAX 484-4374; Barbara Parsons, Past Pres., Historical Society, P.O. Box 1001, Crossville, TN 38555, phone 615-484-6111 FAX 484-7363; and Ralph Baisley, Circuit Court Clerk, Courthouse Box 4, Crossville, TN 38555.
Davidson County – Mrs. Virginia Lyle, Metro Archivist, Library and Archives, 1113 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210, phone 615-259-5084.
Decatur County – R.C. Montgomery, County Clerk, P.O. Box 488, Decaturville, TN 38329, phone 901-852-3417; and Don Davis, Recorder of Deeds, P.O. Box 488, Decaturville, TN 38329, phone 901-852-3712.
Dekalb County – David Foutch, County Clerk, Room 205, Dekalb County Courthouse, Smithville, TN 37166, phone 615-597-5177.
Dickson County – Suzanne Robinson, Librarian, Dickson County Library, 305 Hunt St., Dickson, TN 37055-2098, phone 615-446-8293 or 615-446-9835.
Dyer County – Judy Peel, Register of Deeds, Dyer County Courthouse, P.O. Box 1360, Dyersburg, TN 38024, phone 901-286-7806, FAX 286-6462; and Janie Putnam, Secretary to Committee, Rt. 2, Friendship, TN 38024, phone 901-285-7771.
Fayette County – Wm. David Smith, County Executive, P.O. Box 218, Somerville, TN 38068, phone 901-465-5202; and Edward P. Pattat, County Register, P.O. Box 218, Somerville, TN 38068, phone 901-465-5251.
Fentress County – George Mullinix, County Executive, County Government, Fentress County Courthouse, Main St., Jamestown, TN 38556, phone 615-879-7713; and Robert S. Arms, Register of Deeds, Registers office, Fentress County Courthouse, Main St., Jamestown, TN 38556, phone 615-879-7818.
Franklin County – Mrs. Thomas Ogden Bigger, CGRS, Chairman, Project Preservation, Franklin County Historical Society, 1002 Bragg Circle, Tullahoma, TN 37388 or Brandy Way, Winchester, TN 37398, phone 615-455-2440; and Mr. George Fraley, County Executive, Franklin County Courthouse, Courthouse Sq., Winchester, TN 37398 or Old Estill Springs Rd., Winchester, TN 37398, phone 615-967-5041.
I will continue this listing of sources of information on Tennessee County Records in another article. Some 26 counties, from Anderson through Franklin, have been listed in this Part I. If you know of additional sources in these counties, I would appreciate hearing from you at the Jonesborough Genealogical Society.