West Tennessee Historical Society

04/29/2026

- 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

04/29/2026

04/29/2026

Hello Heritage Friends: REGISTER BY MAY 1 BY 5PM.

West Tennessee Heritage Initiative
Consortium Meeting
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
McNairy County Visitors and Cultural Center
205 West Court St., Selmer, TN 38375

REGISTER BY FRIDAY, MAY 1 BY 5:00PM.
Please register by e-mail to [email protected] and ensure that you have answered the items in below.

Name:
Organization:
Location of Organization:
County of Organization:
Your address:
Your contact telephone:
Your e-mail address:

There will be a $15 registration fee for each attendee to cover the cost of lunch. The meal is catered by a local restaurant and will consist of grilled chicken, green beans, baked potato, a side salad, dessert, and a soft drink. The fee is payable at the registration desk on the day of the event – cash or check made out to “Erik Nordberg.” REGISTER BY FRIDAY, MAY 1 BY 5:00PM.

Please share this widely with anyone involved in heritage activities in West Tennessee. This includes museums, archives, historical commissions, genealogical societies, and others involved in preserving, sharing, and celebrating the history of Tennessee's West Grand Division. All are welcome!

Program
9:30 – Registration, coffee, and social
9:55 – Welcome
10:00 – Panel Discussion: “Interpreting Difficult History”
Jeffrey Bibbee, National Trail of Tears Board
William H. Mulligan, Civil War Historian
Heritage Representatives from McNairy County
11:00 – Interactive Discussion: “Experiences from West Tennessee”.
Bring your stories of “difficult history” you’ve addressed at your location, in your collections, or with your community.
12:00 – Lunch
12:15 – 5-minute reports from each agency
1:30 – Tour to McNairy County Archives and McNairy County Museum
3:00 – Meeting concludes

REGISTRATION IS FRIDAY, MAY 1 BY 5:00PM

Old Monterey Trail Committee
Shiloh National Military Park
Ramer Ruritan Club
Bethel Springs Rosenwald
Ramer Museum
Sheriff Buford Pusser Museum
McNairy County Museum
Tennessee River Museum
West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center
West Tennessee Historical Society
Purdy Historical Society
Arts in McNairy
McNairy County Tourism
Historic Downtown Selmer Today

10/28/2025

10/28/2025

Mark your calendar for this upcoming event in Finger, TN (in McNairy and Chester counties)!

Did you miss our cemetery workshop last weekend? You're in luck! We're hosting another free Cemetery Preservation Workshop with Mike Alexander!

Join us on November 8th from 9:00 am to 3:00pm at the Old Friendship Cemetery, 100 Hunter Lane, Finger, TN 38344. No registration required.

10/28/2025

10/28/2025

10/28/2025

04/25/2024

Please join us at 1:00 PM this Sunday at Hillwood at Davies Manor in Bartlett for "Historical Features of Rural Shelby County" - A Talk by Jimmy Ogle. A brief business meeting of the Board and Society members will follow. Not yet a member? Contact us now or join us Sunday! All WTHS events are free and open to the public.

"Historical Features of Rural Shelby County" - A Talk by Jimmy Ogle