Bartlett Historical Society, Bartlett, TN

08/31/2026

-Bartlett Historical Society Meeting-

Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:15pm

The meeting will be held at the Bartlett Senior Center (5727 Woodlawn St)

I am excited to announce that our September Speaker will be none other that Mayor Emeritus A. Keith McDonald. Mayor Emeritus McDonald recently retired in 2022 after five terms as Mayor of Bartlett. Mayor McDonald was also Alderman from 1997-2002. Mayor McDonald oversaw several big events in Bartlett including the creation of Bartlett City Schools from the ground up. Mayor McDonald also carefully planned the transition from small town Bartlett to a major industrial development center bringing in businesses from around the world. Mayor McDonald also co-owned McDonald Insurance Company for over thirty years with his sons.

Mayor Emeritus McDonald has been married to his beautiful wife Patty for over 50 years. He also has two grown sons, Brooks and Ryan and is a grandfather. Mayor McDonald has also spent time as a foster parent.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our September Meeting.

Brandon Weise
Program Director
Bartlett Historical Society

Save the date- Monday, October 12, 2026, will be the next meeting. The meeting will be at the Gotten House/Bartlett Museum.

07/16/2026

Come hear the Bartlett Community Concert Band on August 9th, 2026. Free admission. At the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center

I always try to let you know when the Bartlett Community Concert Band is performing, so mark your calendars for Sunday August 9th at the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center. See you there .

06/05/2026

- Bartlett Historical Society Meeting -

Monday, June 8, 2026, at 6:15pm

The meeting will be held at the Bartlett Senior Center (5727 Woodlawn St)

Our June 8, 2026, Bartlett Historical Society speaker will feature Audio Digitization and Preservation at Chucalissa.

Grace McCommon is a PhD student at the University of Memphis and graduate assistant at the Chucalissa Archaeological Museum, where she is currently in charge of digitizing and preserving the museum’s physical media archives.

Chucalissa has long been an integral part of the Memphis community, and many Memphians have strong memories of the Choctaw families that helped to cement the museum’s unique legacy. Newly digitized recordings – taken from vinyl records, cassette tapes, and reel-to-reels recently rediscovered in the museum’s archives – are providing current museum staff with a new window into the museum’s past, particularly concerning the Choctaw families that made (and continue to make) Chucalissa such a special place for generations of Memphis school children.

This lecture will feature several of the recordings unearthed throughout the project – including a surprising connection to Memphis legends Carl Perkins and Scotty Moore.

No meeting in July

Save the date- Monday, August 10, 2026, will be the next meeting.

04/27/2026

- Bartlett Historical Society Meeting -

Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:15pm

The meeting will be held at the Bartlett Senior Center (5727 Woodlawn St)

Our May 11, 2026, Bartlett Historical Society Speaker will be Ms. Emmi Dunn. Ms. Dunn is known as a regionally recognized expert on the history of the Chinese people in the Mid-South.

Ms. Dunn was born in the Mississippi Delta and has a long list of achievements including Co-founder of the Chinese Historical Society of Memphis and the Mid-South. Ms. Dunn's speech will be titled "How the Chinese arrived in the South."

Many students of history have heard of the Chinese being involved in the California Gold Rush, the transcontinental Railroad and other major events in early American History. Did you know that the Chinese have been in the Mid-South for almost 150 years? In the late 1800's, the railroad network across America was still being expanded throughout the South and Texas. Some of those Chinese eventually settled in the greater Memphis area.

Ms. Dunn will explain more of the personal stories involved and will share her joy of promoting local Chinese history.

Save the date- Monday, June 8, 2026, will be the next meeting

04/13/2026

Bartlett Historical Society Meeting

Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:45pm.

The meeting will be held at the Bartlett Senior Center (5727 Woodlawn St)

Our Guest Speakers for the April meeting will be our Board members Suzanne and Jack Coleman.

Mrs. Suzanne Coleman will share a wonderful Daily Memphian article about late 1800's stories about the city of Bartlett. The life and times of the city was remarkably different than the thriving city we see now in 2026.

Mr. Coleman will speak on the founder of Bartlett, Gabriel Maston Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett was born in 1821 in Robertson County, TN but later moved to the area that would become Bartlett, TN.

The talk will discuss some of the historical early days of Bartlett.

Save the date- Monday, May 11, 2026, will be the next meeting.

03/08/2026

Bartlett Historical Society Meeting

Monday, March 9th, 2026, at 6:45pm.

The meeting will be held at the Bartlett Senior Center (5727 Woodlawn St)

Our March speaker will be long time Memphis radio DJ, Stan "The Bell Ringer" Bell. Mr. Bell is an award-winning, top-rated radio DJ for the Memphis radio market. Mr. Bell spent several years DJ'ing at K97 and is now on the morning show 6:00am-10:00am at WDIA. Mr. Bell is also a 2nd generation teacher with the Memphis City and Shelby County Schools.

Mr. Bell has an undergraduate degree from UT Martin and Master's and Eds degrees from Union University. He is married with three sons and is a proud alum and supporter of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.

Save the date-
Monday, April 13, 2026, will be the next meeting.

11/19/2025

It's a great time of year to stop by the Bartlett Museum, Bartlett, TN and see the Gotten House decorated for Christmas. Open Sunday, December 7, 2025 from 2pm-4pm. FREE Admission

11/11/2025

What a great presentation at our monthly meeting at the Bartlett Senior Center by the Bartlett Bee Whisperer. Thank you!