Friends of the Tennessee State Library and Archives was established in 2010 to support and celebrate the activities of the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Current projects include preserving the historic records of the Supreme Court, and assisting with research on the soldiers buried at the Nashville National Cemetery. Though we are a young organization, we have already enabled significant donations of time, talent and resources to assist with these and other worthwhile projects, including the furnishings of the new Rare Books Room.
Officers and Board of Directors, 2024-2025
Bill Hickerson, President
Scott Williams, Vice-President
Lisa Oakley, Secretary
David Brown, Treasurer
Susan W. Knowles, Immediate Past President
Andy Bennett, Past President
Sally Evans (West TN)
Steve Cotham (East TN)
Melissa Barker (Middle TN)
DeLisa Minor Harris (Middle TN)
Bonnie Winn (Middle TN)
Jim Long (At Large - Middle TN)
Committee Members, 2024-2025
Steve Richards
Virginia Gooch Watson
Betty Jane Hylton
Zach Johnson
Chuck Sherrill
Ex Officio Members, 2024-2025
Jamie Ritter, State Librarian and Archivist
Carroll Van West, State Historian
Jami Awalt, Assistant State Archivist
Founding Members
A Founding Member of the Friends group is anyone who joined prior to and at the FIRST public meeting of the Friends on October 10, 2010 and those who joined before Dec. 31, 2010.
It should be noted that in August 2009, the Steering Committee of the Friends of TSLA (appointed by the then-State Librarian & Archivist, Jeanne Sugg) met to discuss the formation of a friends group for the State Library and Archives. The committee was chaired by Sandra Nelson and attendees were Connie Albrecht, Jami Awalt, Mary Carpenter, Norma Myers and Tom Taylor. After a second meeting, the committee approved a set of by-laws and appointed the first slate of officers for the Board of Directors who were President, Steve Richards; Vice-President & President Elect, Ellen Myrick; Treasurer, Gordon Belt; and Secretary, Mary Helms and Jami Awalt as Friends Liaison. These seven (7) Steering Committee members are Founding Members of the Friends group.
Albrecht, Connie
Awalt, Jami
Belt, Gordon T.
Byrne, Thomas E.
Carmack, Catherine E.
Carpenter, Mary Vaughn
Carter, Genny
Charlet, Jim
Clements, Paul
Coke, William D. & Fletch
Conard, Dr. Rebecca
Crowell, Brooks E.
Darnell, Frances C.
Davis, Brenta
Earl, Susan R.
Ewing, David
Fairbend, Lee
Gerdeman, Martha O.
Gregath, Kay
Haley, Martha Word
Hargett, Tre, Hon., TN Secretary of State - Honorary Life Member
Harris, Ray & Peggy
Hassler, Kassandra
Hastings-Johnson, Jill
Helms, Mary
Helms, Mr. & Mrs. Nolan Davis, Jr.
Hemphill, Paul & Ruth
Henderson, Cherel B.
Holdredge, Faith
Hoover, Kim
Hopkins, Kathryn
Kies, Joni Hunter
King, Frankie Ann
Koelz, Rick
Masters, Jack
Matthews, Paul A.
McDaniel, Honorable Steve K., TN Representative
Moore, Dr. Wayne
Myers, Norma
Myrick, Ellen
Nelson, Charles L. & Sandra
Orr, Patricia S.
Patton, Juanita M.
Pinkston, Beverly Jane
Richards, R. Stephen (Steve) - Honorary Life Member
Roberts, Carol
Sexton, Lanita - Honorary Life Member
Sherrill, Charles A. “Chuck”, State Librarian and Archivist 2010 - 2021
Sloan, Theodore B. “Tim”
Smith, Kathleen
Smith, Susan
Staub, James
Sugg, Jeanne, State Librarian & Archivist 2005-2010
Sutherland, Laine
Taylor, Tom
Walker, Celia S.
Watson, Virginia Gooch - Honorary Life Member
Wheeler, Dr. Bruce