McMinn County Historical Society and Archives

18/08/2026

106 years ago today!

On August 17, 1920, Febb Burn sent a letter to her son, Tennessee state representative Harry T. Burn of McMinn County, urging him to vote for ratification of the 19th Amendment, which would allow women the right to vote.

Burn had originally voted NO on the Amendment, but after receiving his mother's letter, which instructed him to “…vote for suffrage and don't keep them in doubt…Don't forget to be a good boy," the next day he changed his vote to YES and the 19th Amendment passed.

Today, the letter is at the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, and has been digitized and made available in our online Women's Suffrage Collection for all to read. Link in comments.

Watch a circa 1969 WBIR interview with Harry T. Burn, courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound, also linked in comments.

08/08/2026

We are so excited for the return of the East TN History Fair hosted by the East Tennessee Historical Society! We will have a booth there on Market Street across from the ETHS building. On Sat. Aug 15 from 9 AM to 4 PM, come see us and engage in the many fun events at this fair! See less

This is the OFFICIAL page of the McMinn County Historical Society & Archives (MCHSA). We meet the 1st Sunday of each month from October - May at 2:00 PM in the Blue Room of the McMinn County Courthouse in Athens.

25/07/2026

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SaRMuLpEInIKue9yQWMi6

The Tennessee History Nerd stopped by our office a couple of weeks ago and interviewed our president, Tyler L. Boyd, about the Battle of Athens. Check it out, and subscribe to their page!

The Tennessee History Nerd · Episode

10/07/2026

RARE BOOK FOR SALE: "Torment in the K***s"

We have come into possession of an original copy of the historical novel "Torment in the K***s" by the late R. Frank McKinney. These usually go for over $100 on Amazon. We are selling it for $35. First come, first serve. We are not taking reservations over the phone or via email. Our office is open from 10 AM to 2 PM every weekday.

This is the OFFICIAL page of the McMinn County Historical Society & Archives (MCHSA). We meet the 1st Sunday of each month from October - May at 2:00 PM in the Blue Room of the McMinn County Courthouse in Athens.

04/07/2026

From all of us here at the MCHSA, we wish you and your family and friends a very happy America 250 on this Independence Day! 🇺🇸💥📜❤️🤍💙

We love all history, especially local history. All across this nation, historical/genealogical societies and archives like us work to preserve the stories of the people and institutions who shaped our hometowns, states, and nation. The history of our amazing country, which has survived for a quarter of a millennia, is not just at the Smithsonian or the National Archives (or on the Internet!). It is inside the file cabinets, archives, and books at little organizations like us. It is in the heads of our members!

We do so much more than help people find their ancestors, learn more about an old house, view photos of an old business, locate where an old road used to be on a map, print out old newspaper articles, find someone's grave, or sell books by our local authors. We work as a team everyday and have a great time in the process. We are active in our local community and in the history community in Tennessee. We have so much to offer to so many people. Our officers, volunteers, and members invite you to join us at a meeting, special event, do some research, or become a member and volunteer with us! Help us preserve the next 250 years of the United States of America (and Tennessee and McMinn County!)

02/07/2026

AMERICA 250 - The Founding and Early History of McMinn County, Tennessee

McMinn County was established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1819. Named for Governor Joseph McMinn, the county was created from lands ceded by the Cherokees in the Hiwassee Purchase.

Calhoun, the county's first town, was established in 1819 across the Hiwassee River from the Cherokee Indian Agency. The first County Court meetings were held in the home of Major John Walker in Calhoun. The first sheriff was Spencer Beavers.

Athens, fifteen miles north of Calhoun, was chartered on August 23, 1822, by an act of the state legislature. In 1823, they finally moved the courts to the county seat of Athens. William Lowry gave land to establish Athens. Built circa 1820, his home still stands on E. Madison Avenue, and is believed to be the oldest standing home in Athens.

In 1824, former Governor Joseph McMinn passed away. He had been working as an Indian Agent on the Hiwassee River on Cherokee land (the present site of the city of Charleston). McMinn is buried in the Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Calhoun. He passed away two years before the United States celebrated its 50th birthday in 1826.

18/06/2026

It rained before and after, but not during! Thanks to everyone who attended the dedication ceremony for the new Tennessee Historical Commission highway marker for former Tennessee Governor DeWitt Clinton Senter, who was born in McMinn County in 1830. He is the only Tennessee governor ever born in this county. We appreciate the local elected officials for their participation in our ceremony, and we especially thank Dr. William Hardy for his brief remarks about Governor Senter's legacy. Lastly, we thank everyone who donated to purchase this marker, which was not cheap! This was a project listed by the founders of the MCHSA going back to 1959, and we are so grateful that it is finally complete!