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08 | World War I Relics | Gold Star Records | Military Branch Museum | November 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Release Date: 11/01/2018

13 | Larry Brinton | Cash-for-Clemency Scandal, ‘Marie’ Movie | JFK Visit, Janet March Murder | August 2019 Issue show art 13 | Larry Brinton | Cash-for-Clemency Scandal, ‘Marie’ Movie | JFK Visit, Janet March Murder | August 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Veteran reporter Larry Brinton recalls growing up in Nashville, how he became a reporter, and more of this big news stories, including the Janet March murder, President Kennedy’s Nashville visit, and the cash-for-clemency scandal, which led to his portrayal of himself in the 1985 movie “Marie.” This special podcast, on the occasion of Brinton’s recent death, is a continuation of the interview from Episode 01. The contents of the August 2019 Nashville Retrospect are reviewed.

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12 | Early TV, Hermitage Hotel, WWII Marriage | ‘Near You’ and Music City USA | March 2019 Issue show art 12 | Early TV, Hermitage Hotel, WWII Marriage | ‘Near You’ and Music City USA | March 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

At 94 years old, Mary B. Williams remembers being a teenager in East Nashville during World War II, dancing at the Hermitage Hotel, and her TV career at the birth of the medium. Historian Don Cusic tells the story of Nashville’s first big hit record, “Near You” in 1947, and the beginnings of Music City USA. And the contents of the March 2019 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

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11 | Slavery, Runaways, Fancy Girls | Alex Haley’s ‘Roots’ | African-American Genealogy | February 2019 Issue show art 11 | Slavery, Runaways, Fancy Girls | Alex Haley’s ‘Roots’ | African-American Genealogy | February 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Bill Carey relates how pervasive the institution of slavery was in Tennessee, as evidenced by ads in newspapers, including runaways and fancy girls. Taneya Koonce discusses the novel “Roots” and African-American genealogy. Also hear “Roots” author Alex Haley speak at the state capitol. And the contents of the February 2019 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

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10 | War of 1812, Andrew Jackson, Creek War | Richard Fulton’s Country Music Record | Sulphur Water | January 2019 Issue show art 10 | War of 1812, Andrew Jackson, Creek War | Richard Fulton’s Country Music Record | Sulphur Water | January 2019 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Dr. Tom Kanon discusses the War of 1812, including: Tennessee’s rise to national prominence, becoming known as “The Volunteer State”; Native-Americans’ loss of millions of acres of territory in the Creek War; Gen. Andrew Jackson becoming president after a lopsided victory in the Battle of New Orleans; and how a comet and earthquakes helped launch the war. Also hear U.S. Congressman Richard Fulton’s country music record. And the contents of the January 2019 issue are reviewed.

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09 | Christmas Eve River Rescue | Bygone Old Christmas | December 2018 Issue show art 09 | Christmas Eve River Rescue | Bygone Old Christmas | December 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

A woman jumped off the Shelby Street Bridge on Christmas Eve, 1956, with a baby in her arms. Interviews with Harold Hogue, Anne Knox, and Judy Hunt Charest about the tragic yet heroic event and its aftermath decades later. Also, Tennessee folk singers Dee and Delta Hicks discuss the lost tradition of Old Christmas. And the contents of the December 2018 issue are reviewed.

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08 | World War I Relics | Gold Star Records | Military Branch Museum | November 2018 Issue show art 08 | World War I Relics | Gold Star Records | Military Branch Museum | November 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Dr. Lisa Budreau discusses World War I relics in the Tennessee State Museum, including a German cannon and Sergeant York’s medals. Allison Griffey relates stories from the Gold Star Records, as well as stories about women factory workers, the influenza epidemic, and the Mexican village at the Old Hickory gun powder plant. Dan Pomeroy tells the history of the Military Branch Museum. And the contents of the November 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect are reviewed.

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07 | City Cemetery | Dr. Lucifur and Sir Cecil Creape | Halloween | October 2018 Issue show art 07 | City Cemetery | Dr. Lucifur and Sir Cecil Creape | Halloween | October 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Fletch Coke tells the history of Nashville City Cemetery (established in 1822) and the stories of the people buried there. Jeff Thompson and Larry Underwood discuss Nashville legendary TV horror hosts Dr. Lucifur and Sir Cecil Creape. And the spooky contents of the October 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

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06 | Glenn School Integration | 1957 Desegregation Hearings | Brown v. Board of Education | September 2018 Issue show art 06 | Glenn School Integration | 1957 Desegregation Hearings | Brown v. Board of Education | September 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

In 1957, the desegregation of Nashville public schools involved protests by white supremacists, political stalling, and a school bombing. Hear interviews with people who were there, including Lajuanda Street Harley, Sorena Street, Debi Oeser Cox, Joe Casey and Larry Brinton. Dr. Bobby Lovett explains Brown v. Board of Education. Also hear excerpts of desegregation hearings, and a review of the contents of the September 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper.

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05 | Settlement of Nashville, Indian Wars | Elvis at the State Capitol | August 2018 Issue show art 05 | Settlement of Nashville, Indian Wars | Elvis at the State Capitol | August 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Paul Clements relates stories about the first settlers to arrive in the Nashville area in the late 1700s, including why they came and why Native Americans attacked them. Hear Elvis Presley speak to the Tennessee legislature in 1961. And the contents of the August 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed. (This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence.)

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04 | Dutchman’s Curve Train Wreck | Elmer Hinton’s Humor Album | July 2018 Issue show art 04 | Dutchman’s Curve Train Wreck | Elmer Hinton’s Humor Album | July 2018 Issue

Nashville Retrospect

Betsy Thorpe tells the stories from the 1918 Dutchman’s Curve train wreck in West Nashville, the deadliest in U.S. history. Also hear excerpts from humor columnist Elmer Hinton’s 1968 album “Down to Earth.” And the contents of the July 2018 Nashville Retrospect newspaper are reviewed.

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More Episodes

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, we take a look at artifacts and monuments of The Great War found throughout the city. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) interviews Dr. Lisa Budreau, senior curator of military history at the Tennessee State Museum, about relics and souvenirs collected from Tennessee soldiers after World War I, including a German cannon and Sergeant Alvin C. York’s war medals. Dan Pomeroy, senior curator and director of the state museum, relates the history of the Military Branch Museum, located in the War Memorial Building. And Allison Griffey of the Tennessee State Library and Archives discusses stories from the Gold Star Records, including soldier’s letters, as well as women factory workers, the influenza epidemic, and the Mexican village at the Old Hickory gun powder plant. (Segment begins at 03:22)

Some of the uniforms featured in the new Tennessee State Museum temporary exhibition titled “Tennessee and the Great War: A Centennial Exhibition” (left to right): aviator Lieutenant Charles McGhee Tyson of Knoxville (the boots belonged to his father, General Lawrence Tyson), Rebekah Dodson Senter of the Army Nurse Corps, and Captain Albert Harris Jr. of Davidson County and part of the Vanderbilt Medical Unit in France.

The German breastplate armor discussed by Dr. Budreau in the podcast can be seen in the upper left. Beside it is a gas mask case. At the bottom is a Colt-Vickers water-cooled .303 caliber British machine gun, which were used by many countries during WWI, including the U.S. 30th Division troops attached to the British army.

This German field cannon can be seen in the new Tennessee State Museum temporary exhibition about WWI. The 7.7 cm, Model 1896 cannon by Krupp was likely captured by the U.S. 30th Division near the German Hindenburg line in 1918. It took over two and a half years to restore it to operational condition. 

This Sergeant Alvin C. York collection is part of a permanent WWI display at the new Tennessee State Museum. York's Medal of Honor and Croix de Guerre with palm can be seen in the middle right of the picture.

The gold star flag of Nashvillian Johnny Overton, held in the Gold Star Records at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, features the popular WWI phrase “Over There.” Overton was killed on the battlefield in France on July 18, 1918, at the age of 24. You can read more about Johnny Overton in the November 2018 issue, in the article "A Nashville Soldier of the Great War Remembered," by John P. Williams. (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives)

At left is Cecil Calvert Bain, whose items in the Gold Star Records include a letter home about influenza in his camp. Like many soldiers in World War I, he would ultimately die of the disease at age 27 in Camp Gordon. At right is Private Luther Gilbert, Company B, 804th Pioneer Infantry, United States Army. Pvt. Gilbert was a member of one of the 14 African-American Pioneer Infantry units in World War I. Men in these units were often given dangerous maintenance and engineering tasks on the front lines. He died of pneumonia at 22 years old in France and was most likely a victim of the Influenza Epidemic of 1918.(Images: Tennessee State Library and Archives)

Sue Howell (Mrs. A.C. Adams) is pictured with her seven sons, all of whom were involved in World War I and survived. She displayed seven blue stars on her service flag. The photo appears in the book Davidson County Women in the World War, 1917–1919, published in 1923, which you can read more about in the October 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect in the "Artifacts" column by Clinton J. Holloway. (Image: Clinton Holloway)

The Old Hickory DuPont gun powder plant is shown circa 1918. (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives)

Also hear the song “Over There” from World War I and lines from patriotic songs written by two Nashville women for the war. (Segment begins at 54:40)

The cover of the sheet music for “Over There” credits the Nora Bayes version of the song with introducing it to the country. A recording of Bayes singing the song can be heard at the end of the podcast. “Over there” became a common phrase during WWI, indicating where American troops were fighting. (Image: Library of Congress)

The cover illustration for the sheet music of “Over the Top” dramatically captures the meaning of the title. Nashvillian Marian Phelps wrote the lyrics for the patriotic song. (Image: Washington University)

And finally, Allen Forkum reviews some of the contents of the November 2018 issue, including such stories as: the toll of the 1918 influenza epidemic on Nashvillians; the city’s joyous reaction to news of the end of the Great War; and a Nashvillian’s letter from the front lines of the war. (Segment begins at 01:30)

 

SHOW NOTES

A list of articles relating to this episode contained in archive issues of The Nashville Retrospect (archive issues can be ordered by clicking here or on the issue links below):

• “Tennessee’s Gold Star Soldiers of WWI,” by Allison Griffey, The Nashville Retrospect, June 2016

• “Artifacts: ‘Davidson County Women in the World War, 1917–1919’” by Clinton J. Holloway, The Nashville Retrospect, October 2018

• “Kidnap the Kaiser” by Tom Henderson III, The Nashville Retrospect, January 2013

• “Sword Unsheathed By Uncle Sam,” Nashville Banner, April 6, 1917 (The Nashville Retrospect, April 2018)

• “Old Hickory’s ‘Swinging Bridge’,” Nashville Banner, April 25, 1919 (The Nashville Retrospect, April 2010)

• “1918 Flu Epidemic ‘Horrible’,” Nashville Banner, April 26, 1976 (The Nashville Retrospect, March 2018)

• “Nashville Welcomes Home Tennessee’s Gallant Sons,” Nashville Banner, March 31, 1919 (The Nashville Retrospect, March 2019)

• Also see the November 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect for articles about life in trenches of WWI, the flu epidemic in Nashville, and extensive coverage of Nashville’s reaction to the end of the Great War.

 

Other related articles:

• “Tribute Paid To Vanderbilt Unit,” Nashville Tennessean, Nov. 3, 1917

• “Lack of Patriotic Spirit,” Nashville Tennessean, March 5, 1918

• “Mrs. Ashford Writes Patriotic Song” (“Old Glory”) Nashville Tennessean, June 17, 1917

• “Miss Phelps, Author of Patriotic Song” (Over the Top”), *Nashville Tennessean, Nov. 14, 1917

• “Nashville Woman Writes Patriotic Song” (“Over the Top”), Nashville Tennessean, Nov. 14, 1917

 

Links relating to this episode:

The Military Branch of the Tennessee State Museum

Tennessee State Museum

“Tennessee and the Great War: A Centennial Exhibition” at the State Museum

Tennessee State Library and Archives

Bodies of War: World War I and the Politics of Commemoration in America, 1919–1933 (2010) by Dr. Lisa M. Budreau

"Tennesseans, and their families, made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I | Opinion" by Dr. Lisa Budreau in The Tennessean

“Alvin C. York Collection” at Tennessee Virtual Archives

“Old Hickory DuPont Gunpowder Plant Photographs” at Tennessee Virtual Archives

“Over Here, Over There: Tennesseans in the First World War” at Tennessee Virtual Archives

“Record of Ex-Soldiers in World War I, Tennessee Counties, 1917–1919” at Tennessee Virtual Archives

“Tennessee in World War I” at Tennessee Virtual Archives

Tennessee Great War Commission

American Gold Star Mothers Inc.

“Over There” song info at Library of Congress

“‘Over There’ At 100” by National Public Radio

“Over the Top” sheet music at Washington University

“Over the Top” sheet music at Library of Congress

“Over the Top” song info at Wikipedia

“Old Glory” sheet music at Library of Congress

“World War I Sheet Music” at the Library of Congress

“Music of Emma Louise Ashford” at Evensong Music

Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation

"The Deadly Virus: The Influenza Epidemic of 1918” by the National Archives

 

Audio excerpts from: “Over There” sung by Nora Bayes; “Over There” sung by Billy Murrayclip of “Sergeant York” (1941) by Warner Bros.

Music: “Near You” by Francis Craig and His Orchestra (Bullet, 1947); “Quiet Outro” by ROZKOL (2018); “Covered Wagon” by Ted Weems and His Orchestra; and “The Buffalo Rag” by Vess L. Ossman